HR Monitor

LaAndy

Hi guys

I have just bought a new GPS to replace my old Geko 301, I went for the Edge 705 in the end.

The Edge comes with a Heart Rate monitor which is something new to me. Whilst I understand what it does I am not 100% sure how it will help me train better.

Can anyone tell me the best way to use a HR monitor to boost my performance.

Thanks
Andy

amaferanga

What are you training for?

LaAndy

Ha, good question, nothing specific, just the same as everyone else......more miles, faster.

I am doing London 2 Paris next month, 300 miles in 4 days so need to ensure I don't burn myself out too quickly on each day.

I have heard that monitoring your heartbeat can help conserve energy rather than over exerting, I was really looking for a more scientific answer than that though

Andy

Butterd2

There is loads of stuff on the web about heart rate zones, this will help you focus your training and get the most benefit out of your time.

I find my 705 most useful when climbing. When on tour doing climbs of 5, even 10+ miles it is a very useful tool for managing my effort so I do not blow up half way up. Personally I know that keeping my heart rate below 155bpm I can ride for hours, 155-160bpm and I will begin to tire, over 160bpm and I had better be near the top or I will bonk.

carbon337

On the subject of HRM's ive just dug mine out of a drawer to wear on tonights ride - is an average (sitting at a computer doing nothing ) resting HR of 81 a bit too high.

From a quick Google it suggests it is - I'm scared now!

MountainMonster

I have a resting heart rate of about 90 normally, but I also smoke and drink alot of red bulls, which with the increased blood pressure raises the resting rate. I wouldn't worry too much about the resting heart rate, as long as you feel fine with it.

As far as training with a HRM, it can help gauge intensity you are pushing yourself at. It also can help tell when your pushing a bit too hard for the distance you need to cover, and avoid the dreaded bonk. You need to find where your sweet spot is with your HR, to bring good distance but still push yourself hard enough to gain in fitness. Mine is about 165-180, above that and i'm pushing myself too hard, below that and I don't feel I get enough of a workout.

Paul E

I need to start using mine again, last time I checked my resting rate it was about 51, no idea what my sweet spot is as I always foget to put it on in the morning.

velvetytoast

I use the 705 HRM all the time - anyone know what happens when the battery starts to go - I've been getting a lot of readings of 240 recently

For me the 705* comes into its own with the training plan side of things. I put the 'Training - Ride harder after work' article workouts in the Training Centre on Sunday - now all I need to do is get on and run the plan - it tells me what to do (and I don't have to think about it)

*Other training aids are available at stockists near you

Bobbinogs

velvetytoast wrote:

I use the 705 HRM all the time - anyone know what happens when the battery starts to go - I've been getting a lot of readings of 240 recently

Does it rely on a band that goes around your chest? If so then it is possible that the band is loosing contact with your skin. I find that I need to splash some water on the contact points before I start and then sweat will kick in after a while. However, if i don't use the water then the reading maxes out every now and then at the start of a ride.

I just used my HRM for the first time in a year. Interested to see the high I managed to get without going into a max zone has dropped by about 15, which I am assuming means I am fitter (and a bit older).

I am hoping to start using the HRM for time trialling, as in getting used to working out the max level that can be sustained over 10M or 25, etc. I know the real answer is a watt meter but they are blinking expensive and out of my reach.

amaferanga

velvetytoast wrote:

I use the 705 HRM all the time - anyone know what happens when the battery starts to go - I've been getting a lot of readings of 240 recently

If it happens at the start of a ride its probably due to poor a contact. Licking the contacts works better than just water. Another cause of high readings are flapping jerseys (have you started using a new jersey or base layer recently?).

When the battery starts getting low you get erratic readings as well.

DaveL

velvetytoast wrote:

I use the 705 HRM all the time - anyone know what happens when the battery starts to go - I've been getting a lot of readings of 240 recently

If the strap is like the Polar ones, the contacts in the pod that holds the battery, become corroded, and either need a clean or a new strap.

Dave

kettrinboy

DaveL wrote:

velvetytoast wrote:

I use the 705 HRM all the time - anyone know what happens when the battery starts to go - I've been getting a lot of readings of 240 recently

If the strap is like the Polar ones, the contacts in the pod that holds the battery, become corroded, and either need a clean or a new strap.

Dave

You can stop that happening by putting a bead of araldite or silicone around the battery cover, araldites better as you can easily peel it off when battery replacement time comes, its worked for over 4 yrs on my Garmin hard strap after the original thin o-ring got damaged.

DaveL

kettrinboy wrote:

You can stop that happening by putting a bead of araldite or silicone around the battery cover, araldites better as you can easily peel it off when battery replacement time comes, its worked for over 4 yrs on my Garmin hard strap after the original thin o-ring got damaged.

Sorry my bad explanation, on the Polar ones, the pod that holds the battery, clips off the chest strap completely, by means of 2 push studs. Because these push studs are in the firing line of all the sweat, they can corrode, thus not making a very good contact between the chest strap and the pod that holds the battery (and sends the info to the watch), giving false readings. I knew I should of just put a picture up

Dave

Nerrep

velvetytoast wrote:

I use the 705 HRM all the time - anyone know what happens when the battery starts to go - I've been getting a lot of readings of 240 recently

Have you been loosing weight? If so, do it up a bit tighter. Also, make sure the strap is *just* below your nipples. These two things in combination have stopped me getting random chunks of 240bpm appearing.

kettrinboy

DaveL wrote:

kettrinboy wrote:

You can stop that happening by putting a bead of araldite or silicone around the battery cover, araldites better as you can easily peel it off when battery replacement time comes, its worked for over 4 yrs on my Garmin hard strap after the original thin o-ring got damaged.

Sorry my bad explanation, on the Polar ones, the pod that holds the battery, clips off the chest strap completely, by means of 2 push studs. Because these push studs are in the firing line of all the sweat, they can corrode, thus not making a very good contact between the chest strap and the pod that holds the battery (and sends the info to the watch), giving false readings. I knew I should have just put a picture up

Dave

Yeah I know what you mean as ive also got a Garmin soft strap which is apparently identical to the Polar except the Polar ones seem to be a lot more reliable than the Garmins,mines on the blink already, so i might get a Polar one to replace it instead of another Garmin which will probably fail again,thats what several people on the Garmin forums have done,I think it might be something in the strap itself rather than to do with the press studs though.

velvetytoast

Thanks guys - I have been losing a bit of weight for the summer - down to 10.5 st now - I'll tighten the strap a bit more and stop losing the weight I'll try the sealant if that doesn't work

Fat-Boy-Roubaix

I find HRM useful. Here is what I think I know, bound to be shot down by someone lol.

The first thing you need to know is what your predicted max heart rate is the very basic method of working out your heart rate max is 220 minus your age. So mine is predicted to be 174. This method I would say is fairly accurate for people who have not excercised on a very regular basis for a large proportion of thier life. The only real way to get your max heart rate by yourself would be fairly danagerous to do without proper professional help. So use the 220 - age as a base point.

So now you have a predicted MHR you need to see what zone you want to train in, I try and average @ 75%-80% on my one hour ride, and peak at 85-90% for hills. ( Cycle 95% of my time commutting the same route)

So 75% of 174 is 130 and 85% is 148. So when you upload to garmin connect you will have this data in front of you, and you can choose to either show BPM or % Of Max or Zones on Garmin Connect. I think both your device and garmin connect, will predict your HRM based on the age you have given it.

I have also started at the end of the ride to sit next to the bike for two minutes after stopping the ride before I stop the garmin 705 this give me a HR recovery figure, which is how fast your rate slows post exertion. you are looking for a reasonable drop. Improvement in your fitness will show in how hard it is to maintain 70-80% of max, and if the post exertion HR drop starts getting bigger.

Having said all that its well worth consulting Dr Google to see what you think as this is just my view on what I have read up on, I am no Cardio expert!, and have no idea of your overall medical history or fitness level :-)

Fat-Boy-Roubaix

Regarding the belts, I sweat a fair bit and I find giving the contact parts of the belt a good rub down with unscented baby wipes after use keeps it going and of course adjusting the belt. I have had far less trouble with the Garmin belt than I did with the polar one.

andrewjoseph

regarding resting heart rate:

this is best taken in bed, first thing in the morning, before getting up for anything. This is as soon as you realise you are awake.

Any other time is not resting heart rate.

Take your monitor and strap to bed with you, put it beside the bed so you can put it on with little effort. Do this for several days and take the average. This will give a more accurate figure.

I don't worry too much about this and work on my max heart rate and percentages.

I try to keep under 85% for long rides, up to my max for several times on short hard training rides.

andrewjoseph

Fat-Boy-Roubaix wrote:

.. The only real way to get your max heart rate by yourself would be fairly danagerous to do without proper professional help. So use the 220 - age as a base point....

Sorry my friend, but I have to disagree, in part at least.

It is hard work getting your max hr, but really dangerous, unless you are really unfit/dangerously obese or have other physical problems.

You can get a very close approximation of the max hr by pushing yourself to the point of greying out, your peripheral vision starts to close down and you feel close to falling over.

I do mine on a turbo trainer or on hills on my mountain bike.

It is not pleasant doing this, but the only danger for a reasonably fit person in good health, is by doing it on the road in traffic. Getting wobbly with cars around you is not safe.

Fat-Boy-Roubaix

Well that is kind of my point, I am not sure I would suggest anyone trys reach max heart rate to the point of maxing out without either a Doctors consent and or under medical conditions.

"Any one who is overweight or over the age of 35 is advised to see their doctor before under going a stress test. I hope that you get the idea that a maximum heart rate stress test is not easy. It is the very limit of your heart and bodies capability and should not be treated lightly."

Taken from a very good website http://www.brianmac.co.uk/hrm2.htm

As with anything taken to its limit it has the potential to break and I wouldn't really advise anyone to do it unless they are very fit or have some professional advice, hence me suggesting the safety zone of the 220-age and only peak at 85-90% if comfortable with it.

andrewjoseph

My point is that you don't need a doctors consent, just common sense.

It really isn't that dangerous to do, unless you have other conditions. people will know if they are obese or have other problems.

If pushing yourself to the max was dangerous to the body, our species would have died out long ago.

The only dangerous part of doing it on a road bike, is the traffic.

The test can be done by running up a hill several times though.

These books and websites have to cover themselves against litigation, so they give out warnings about doctors advice.

If you're unfit and have a known, pre existing condition, your doctor would have advised you on discovering it, and you'll know how to manage it.

If you are in good health/reasonably fit but you've got an unknown pre existing condition, your doctor doesn't know about it, and won't order tests to check things out. They'll tell you to 'see how it goes'.

If you are unfit with no known problems, the doctor will tell you to loose weight and build up slow.

For healthy people with no known problems, testing your max hr is not dangerous.

The problem with recommending the 220 plus age, is that it may be too much for a few, for many it will be ridiculously low and be of no help at all, possibly even holding back people who use follow the monitor slavishly.

Finding your own max has only benefits and no cons.

piquet

andrewjoseph wrote:

regarding resting heart rate:

this is best taken in bed, first thing in the morning, before getting up for anything. This is as soon as you realise you are awake.

.

but no tif you have just been woken by a partner getting frisky for early morning nookie!

Fat-Boy-Roubaix

Andrew, just guess we beg to differ a little, neither of us know the person asking for HRM advice, let alone know thier age or their condition so at least they now have a balanced view from both of us

Out of interest how does you MAX heart rate compare to the predicted MHR 220 - age?

piquet

Fat-Boy-Roubaix wrote:

The first thing you need to know is what your predicted max heart rate is the very basic method of working out your heart rate max is 220 minus your age. So mine is predicted to be 174. This method I would say is fairly accurate for people who have not excercised on a very regular basis for a large proportion of thier life. The only real way to get your max heart rate by yourself would be fairly danagerous to do without proper professional help. So use the 220 - age as a base point.)

220 - age is a very poor estimate. By that mine is 165, but i was riding up coldharbour lane out of dorking the other day at a comfortable 165 and peak of 173.

A propee max test is potentially hazardous but there are "sub-max" tests that will give a better estimate than 220-age

Fat-Boy-Roubaix

[/quote]

220 - age is a very poor estimate. By that mine is 165, but i was riding up coldharbour lane out of dorking the other day at a comfortable 165 and peak of 173.

A propee max test is potentially hazardous but there are "sub-max" tests that will give a better estimate than 220-age[/quote]

thats really useful thanks, I had never heard of the sub max tests, i will troty off and have a look around

andrewjoseph

Fat-Boy-Roubaix wrote:

Andrew, just guess we beg to differ a little, neither of us know the person asking for HRM advice, let alone know thier age or their condition so at least they now have a balanced view from both of us

Out of interest how does you MAX heart rate compare to the predicted MHR 220 - age?

No problems my friend.

At the moment, my max hr is 190. Classic equations is: 220-50= 170, this gives a big difference, if I was working on this I'd be at max and finding it easy.

This has increased from 187 (220-40= 180) when I started using hrm 10 years ago.

My wife is my age and has a max hr of 203, my daughter is 30 and has a max of 207, my brother is 4 years younger than me and has a max of 191.

So, for some people it correlates fairly closely, and for others it's way out.

velvetytoast

When people talk about the submax test they may be talking about the Chris Catmichael (Lance Armstrongs trainer) CTS field test. The book is the best bet as it gives the whole methodology and the training plans, but for how to do the test and the zones for various rides try the link below

http://nencycling.org/wiki/cts_trainrig ... calculator

When I started using the HRM I did the field test - it hurts if you do it right