Knowledge Level: Intermediate
All of the British Training Plans use either heart rate or power to monitor intensity on the bike. Although power meters are still too costly for many riders, heart rate monitors are affordable and should be considered an essential item of kit.
It is of course possible to train on feel and use the various scales of perceived exertion and cyclists fared perfectly well in the days before heart rate monitors. However that is no real reason not to get one and, with reliable heart rate monitors now available for under £30, you will really be doing yourself a big disservice by attempting to follow a structured training plan without one. Without a monitor to objectively and accurately monitor intensity, most riders make the mistake of riding too hard when they should be taking it easy and going too slow when they should be making big efforts. They end up riding the majority of the time at a “No-Man’s Land intensity” that results in poor performance gains and unnecessary fatigue. People also argue that they are not a professional rider and therefore using a heart rate monitor is just taking things too seriously.
However a heart rate monitor helps to ensure that you are maximising the effectiveness of your training and, for time constrained amateur riders, this is essential. The British Cycling Training Plans use heart rate and cadence to ensure that you are getting the most from every pedal stroke you make. If you are going to be investing significant amounts of your precious time training, surely a device that optimises that time for a minimal financial outlay is a no-brainer?
As we have already said a heart rate monitor doesn’t need to be expensive and, if you are a technophobe, it doesn’t need to be complicated either. Look for a monitor that allows you to custom set at least one training zone, recall time spent in, above and below that zone and, important for threshold testing, also recalls average heart rate.
We can’t force you to get a heart rate monitor but with the benefits it has to your training, we are struggling to find a reason why you wouldn’t.
