Heart Monitor

[Aquila]

Hi Folks,

I'm thinking about getting a heart monitor for riding, just a really basic one so that I could get an idea of how hard my heart is working at various places and on different rides. BUT, I could just stop for a sec and count, right?

And a heart monitor would be expensive for me (even a basic one).

SO, can I ask those of you who have them how much you use them? Do they help you, or do they add frustration? Are they more of a toy or really helpful in motivating you?

(I'm in between casual and not-quite as casual a rider, trying to lose some weight and increase my fitness. My typical rides are 15-30 miles, most days during the season which is ending all too soon. I'm not interested in racing, though I'd like to get faster and stronger.)

If you use and like one, what functions do you find most useful? What could you do without?

Thanks!

[wildeny]

I use Sigma Onyx Fit. I wear it all the time on my ride (except the casual ones).

I record the data on my log for every ride so that I get some idea about the distribution of my heart rate over three zones. I like to check the data, so just seeing how much calorie burnt is motivating to me
It's useful because you don't need to stop and count the heart rate. It also helpful in training.

If you can only afford the basic one (ie no three-zone setting etc), then don't bother buying one and just use your sense (perception of effort).

[DDH]

When I was still riding regularly, I used it without fail. I use a sigma pc-14 and I don't know how fancy or good that is, but it has the basics and that is all I need. It has some thing that I don't use or don't know how to use, but for the most part I really like mine. It helps me keep track of times, calories burned and stuff about whether I was in the training or aerobic or whatever level but that's the part I don't really know how to use.

I use mine when doing regular exercise on the treadmill also, or use to, but haven't gotten back into the habit since I have started exercising again. It's wrapped around my bike. LOL

[alpinerabbit]

I've more or less stopped using one cycling or running - except for races (tri) to monitor that I'm not going all out (and then crash&burn)

[OakLeaf]

Depends how serious you want to be about your training.

On the bike, I like to look at the tracks in retrospect to monitor my fitness, see whether "that hill" was really as difficult as it felt, whether I was having trouble with the heat, etc. I don't use it while riding at all.

Running, I do use it for training, to make sure I'm not going harder than I want to during recovery intervals between repeats, and on my long runs.

[Aggie_Ama]

I wear a Polar F6 (about $100). I use mine soley to base why I felt so good or so awful. The other night I attempted to mountain bike after a brief lay off. It has been about 2 weeks with no activity and my heartrate was staying high (it was also 100 degrees out). It gave me a clear picture that when I turned in early my body was needing it since my average HR was pretty high for me but I wasn't riding hard. Sometimes I have trouble listening to how I feel but when my HR won't come down I can be forced to see it in a number.