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HR Training

  • 15-07-2013 10:51pm
    #1
    messi1900
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 ✭


    Hi all, so bout an Edge 500 last week and went on my first Heart Rate ride this evening. Did 2hrs in zone 2, was fairly boring and at times pretty embarrassing. On some hill's I had to basically come to a standstill otherwise my Heart Rate would be too high. Just wanted to get some feedback/advice as to whether its worth it or not to do HR training. I dont mind putting in the boring hours but just want to hear from anyone that does this type of training.

    Cheers


Comments

  • #2
    Ryder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 995 ✭✭✭Ryder


    messi1900 wrote: »
    Hi all, so bout an Edge 500 last week and went on my first Heart Rate ride this evening. Did 2hrs in zone 2, was fairly boring and at times pretty embarrassing. On some hill's I had to basically come to a standstill otherwise my Heart Rate would be too high. Just wanted to get some feedback/advice as to whether its worth it or not to do HR training. I dont mind putting in the boring hours but just want to hear from anyone that does this type of training.

    Cheers

    I think most people do some kind of heart rate training. What is your goal? How did you work out your zones....can be reasonably difficult? Where did you get the plan that called for 2hrs at zone 2? Those are the questions you'll need to answers before anyone can advise


  • #3
    TinyExplosions
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,860 ✭✭✭TinyExplosions


    If you're going to do zone2 training, don't go for the hills! Choose a fairly flat route so that you don't have to come to a standstill :)


  • #4
    messi1900
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 ✭messi1900


    @Ryder, my goal is to become an all round better cyclist and beat the times i have currently set on certain routes. I worked out my resting heart rate and max heart rate and then the Garmin worked out the zones. Got the plan from an article written in bike radar, it said to do 3hrs in zone 2 but i didnt have that much time.
    At the moment if I was to go out for a spin I would only do about an hour or so and go to the mountains and get as far up the mountain as I could until I was shattered and had to turn back so basically wondering if doing HR training would be far more productive in improving me as a cyclist


  • #5
    Ryder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 995 ✭✭✭Ryder


    messi1900 wrote: »
    @Ryder, my goal is to become an all round better cyclist and beat the times i have currently set on certain routes. I worked out my resting heart rate and max heart rate and then the Garmin worked out the zones. Got the plan from an article written in bike radar, it said to do 3hrs in zone 2 but i didnt have that much time.
    At the moment if I was to go out for a spin I would only do about an hour or so and go to the mountains and get as far up the mountain as I could until I was shattered and had to turn back so basically wondering if doing HR training would be far more productive in improving me as a cyclist

    heart rate is a great tool.....but just an indicator of the work done. Depending on fatigue fro life etc, your rates can vary even when doing the same intensity. Max hr is also difficult to get right....really need an all out effort...imo, warm up, cycle uphill for 5 mins at max intensity, and then do an out of the saddle sprint. That should be your max.

    If you're starting, regular cycling will improve you even without a plan. If yoir time is limited doing zone 2 rides is probably a waste of time. Imo you'd be better off doing o e long spin a week (at a moderate intensity (exertion level 5-6 out of 10). Start off at 2hrs and try to increase by 10% each week. Try and get 2 shorter mid week rides in of higher intensity (hilly route sounds fine) in about 6 weeks when you're more comfortable, start looking for a more structures pls. If you want. In the beginning at least, I'd ignore the hrm and just go on feel


  • #6
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,520 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    Moved to main forum


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  • #7
    Hmmzis
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,004 ✭✭✭Hmmzis


    Zone 2 is for increasing basic endurance, useful if you are lacking it. Let's say you are preparing for a 200k sportive, then zone 2 with a bit of zone 3 thrown in is very effective but you need to spend lots of time doing it.

    On the other hand if you are trying to improve on a 20k or 40k loop you like then sitting in z2 might be barking up the wrong tree. For that you need to work on your lactate threshold. You basically need more power at the very top of zone 4 and zone 5a (I'm using Friel's zones here). For that it's all about intervals, short ones, long ones, pyramid ones and so on. Plus you need to recover right. It might sound trivial but a lot of people get it wrong a lot. HR can help you with that, too. Joe Friel's Cyclists Training Bible is goog read if you want to try it for real.


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