Heart rate monitors provide the ability to track your workout intensity, but a cyclist requires a heart rate monitor with additional features. Along with the basic heart rate information, the best cycling heart rate monitor has a handlebar mounted display and accessories that track cycling data such as power output and stroke cadence. As a result, a heart rate monitor for cyclists is a motivational tool during training rides while improving workout performance and reducing the potential for overtraining.
Components
The basic components to a heart rate monitor for cycling includes the chest strap and monitor or wrist watch. The chest strap communicates relevant heart rate information to the monitor that displays the information on the screen. A mounting attachment allows you to place the monitor on the handlebars for easy reading as you ride. Additional accessories such as power and cadence sensors can be mounted to the forks, pedals or wheels to display your revolutions per minute and overall power output. A GPS receiver is another component that allows you to accurately track speed, distance and elevation.
Training Zones
A cyclist's training program includes various workouts that require different heart rate intensity zones. To meet these requirements, the best cycling heart rate monitor has five customizable training zones based on your maximum heart rate. Training zone one is 65 percent maximum heart rate and used for recovery rides while zone two is 65 to 72 percent and is intended for long endurance rides. Zone three and four range from 73 to 90 percent and are intended for lactate threshold training or time trials and zone five is limited to anaerobic training, intervals and sprints. The heart rate monitor tracks your heart rate according to the intended training zone and sounds an alarm when your heart rate leaves the target zone.
Display
The best cycling heart rate monitor features an easy-to-read display with large numbers and big buttons for easy adjustments. The large display allows you to view your workout intensity and heart rate without taking your eyes off the road for a significant amount of time, while the big buttons are easy to adjust on the fly. Big display screens can also be customized to show multiple types of information on one screen, such as speed, distance, heart rate and time.
Prices
The price for the best cycling heart rate monitor is dependent on the number of additional components and features included in the package. Basic heart rate monitors can be purchased for around $100 as of 2011, but the best cycling heart rate monitors with power sensors, cadence sensors and GPS can cost more than $300.
References
- Dick's Sporting Goods: Heart Rate Monitor Buying Guide
- Cycling Performance Tips: Heart Rate Monitors; August 2010
- Beginner Triathlete: The Best Heart-Rate Monitors Around; November 2004
- Bicycling Magazine: Gear and Bike Reviews; February 2009
- Exercise Equipment Expert: Polar s720i Review; Bret Spottke
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