Hey,
I'm fairly new to cycling. But I've been a mountain biker and a runner for a while. I've done two marathons and was thinking about giving triathlons a try. I've never used a heart rate monitor in any of my training before (besides taking my resting pulse every morning). I was wondering if anyone had any advice on: 1)whether I need a HR monitor and 2)what would be a good product. Thanks.

Like yourself, I recently started road biking after 4 years of MTB. I'm not a pro but just a freeride weekend warrior.

I recenlty got a Supergo HR2000. It's a wireless computer and a wireless HRM. Works great for me for only $25. The only thing I don't like is the heart rate meter stops when my bike stops. For $25, I can get use to it.

Good luck.

I also have dabbled with numerous different sports such as hockey,baseball,weightlifting etc. I started cycling in 2001 and just started to get serious with the running this year. I just ran 6 miles the other day with a friend who has competed in the boston marathon finished in the top 10% and numerous other races, he finished 13th overall in a big marathon in new hampshire, anyway where am I going with this? I asked him the same very questions as he is a very experienced runner and tri-athlete and he has never used a heart monitor,just a stopwatch.

You asked do you need a HRM, based on his performances I would say no, but I myself am very interested in technology and taking advantage of everything available that can help me train more efficiently.

I am currently running a cateye micro wireless on my trek 2100 and love it, it tells you everything you need to know, the only thing I wish it had was cadence.

I also have been researching HRM's and have decided to purchase the Polar S210 check out the polar website and you will be able to find the one that suits you. I plan to purchase th s210 for christmas if the boss gives me the go ahead. Basically I decided when I do get the HRM that I wanted my cycling data separate from my HRM data because I also am training to do a duathlon(can't swim to good) and I wanted an easy transition from bike to run.

You asked do you need a HRM, based on his performances I would say no, but I myself am very interested in technology and taking advantage of everything available that can help me train more efficiently.

I'm generally going to disagree with you here. I know later in your post you mentioned that you are looking at the Polar s210 which is a good monitor. In general, Polars are great products.

Unlinke running a marathon where you are trying to keep a fairly standard pace through the whole race, in cycling, there are significantly harder and easier intervals. Yes, they are great training products, but I think a cycling race is very different to a running race and can't be compared evenly.

For example, if you are in a crit and there is a prime lap, the pack might be going really hard and taking you anarobic. You can go by feel, but a HRM helps. You can also better guage your recovery time. For me, My hard efforts take me close to 185 bpm. When I'm in shape, I can recover to a sustainable 165 bpm in about 45 seconds. Only a HRM can tell you exactly where your are.

Another example would be if you are in a break in a road race. There are 3 other guys with you and you are pulling 25% of the time. The HRM will really help you gauge your work level and when to back it off and rest more. Again, there are simply some times when "how you feel" is not the best indicator.

I'm generally going to disagree with you here. I know later in your post you mentioned that you are looking at the Polar s210 which is a good monitor. In general, Polars are great products.

Unlinke running a marathon where you are trying to keep a fairly standard pace through the whole race, in cycling, there are significantly harder and easier intervals. Yes, they are great training products, but I think a cycling race is very different to a running race and can't be compared evenly.

For example, if you are in a crit and there is a prime lap, the pack might be going really hard and taking you anarobic. You can go by feel, but a HRM helps. You can also better guage your recovery time. For me, My hard efforts take me close to 185 bpm. When I'm in shape, I can recover to a sustainable 165 bpm in about 45 seconds. Only a HRM can tell you exactly where your are.

Another example would be if you are in a break in a road race. There are 3 other guys with you and you are pulling 25% of the time. The HRM will really help you gauge your work level and when to back it off and rest more. Again, there are simply some times when "how you feel" is not the best indicator.


Wilier,

The question was do you "need" a HRM? What do you consider a need vs. a want I offered merely an opinion based on information I had been given by an experienced "tri-athlete" who had posted very respectable times cycling and running without using a HRM.

However I agree with you that a HRM is a very useful training tool, but does that make it a necessity? Can an athlete not perform without one? Can an athlete perform better with the use of an HRM? Certainly it will assist them to understand their energy output and recovery rates, but in my opinion that does not make it a necessity for the recreational racer who most likely is not going to make a living riding a bike.