| Traditional heart rate monitors have a chest strap that | | | | ascent which can be useful when you're on the bike. |
| picks up impulses from your heart and transmits them | | | | All of the higher end heart rate monitors and a few of |
| to the monitor, usually a watch in your wrist. The heart | | | | the entry level ones can download your workout data |
| rate monitor watch processes the data received from | | | | to your computer so allowing you record and monitor |
| the strap and displays it to you. Your heart beat is then | | | | all of your workouts so that you can keep track of |
| read constantly and displayed. | | | | progress. |
| One issue with this type of HRM is that it is reliant on | | | | How do I get the most from my heart rate monitor? |
| the chest strap making good contact with the skin of | | | | No matter what level of fitness and what your goals |
| the wearer to pick up the signal. Usually you'll have to | | | | and targets are monitoring your heart beat and |
| make the electrodes on the strap damp and in some | | | | keeping track of progress is invaluable. You can make |
| cases a special gel is required. Synthetic fabrics can | | | | sure you're not over training or over doing it and seeing |
| interfere with the signal by building up a static charge, | | | | your progress is a great motivator. You don't have to |
| as can microwaves, radios and other electronic | | | | be a competitive athlete to get the most out of your |
| devices. | | | | HRM. Using the data will help you design your ideal |
| On the plus side this style of heart rate monitor is the | | | | training schedule, even if it's just a brisk walk 3 or 4 |
| most accurate with a host of functions. The decision | | | | times a week. By using the data you can develop a |
| as to which type of monitor you'll want will depend on | | | | plan that incorporates your minimum and maximum |
| the type of exercise you do and what you aim to | | | | heart rate zones setting up a schedule that varies in |
| achieve using your HRM. | | | | duration and intensity. This will help you get the most |
| A wealth of functions to choose from | | | | from each session and you'll know what adjustments |
| The main job of all heart rate monitors, strapless or | | | | need to be made to the plan by looking at your heart |
| otherwise is to measure the speed your heart is | | | | rate data. |
| beating at. This is shown on the receiver which is | | | | Introducing the strapless heart rate monitor |
| usually a wrist watch. There are also more specialized | | | | By far and away the biggest benefit of the strapless |
| monitors designed for triathletes and for cyclists which | | | | heart rate monitor is that it can measures your heart |
| are designed to be multi-purpose fitting on a bike as | | | | beat without using a chest strap. The vast majority of |
| well as on your wrist. This specialized type will have a | | | | strapless heart rate monitors are worn on your wrist |
| set of unique functions such as wattage output, and | | | | and they work by having one or two sensors on the |
| pedaling cadence, useful functions if you ride a bike! | | | | watch. When you put your finger(s) on the sensors the |
| These will usually cost more than a non specialist one | | | | watch reads your heart beat and displays it. There are |
| and may require some accessories. Many monitors | | | | also designs that have a ring sensor that fits around |
| today come with an added attachment so that your | | | | your finger, ones that strap to your upper arm and |
| HRM can be attached to your bike, but these do not | | | | ones that can be held in the hand and used for |
| have the specialized bike functions. | | | | walking, jogging and running. |
| Using your heart rate monitor | | | | Depending on the style you choose the heart rate |
| To set up most monitors you'll need to enter your age, | | | | monitor may show your heart beat continuously while |
| weight and some other information so that the device | | | | others can only monitor your heart beat when you use |
| can display statistics for your training session or | | | | the touch sensor. These non-continuous styles are |
| workout. Most keep track of the length of the session, | | | | cheaper (about the same price as a regular digital |
| your max and min heart beat as well as the average | | | | watch) but you do have to use one or two fingers to |
| and number of calories burned. They will monitor your | | | | take a reading. |
| ideal heart rate training range depending on what | | | | No longer are heart rate monitors just for the elite |
| you're trying to achieve and then beep if you fall | | | | athletes and it doesn't require a second mortgage to |
| outside of the target range. The target range minimum | | | | buy one. They are becoming main stream tools used |
| is usually 60% of your maximum heart beat and the | | | | by people from every walk of life to recover from |
| maximum is 80% of your maximum heart beat. To find | | | | surgery or a cardiac disease, get fitter and more in |
| your maximum heart beat just subtract your age from | | | | shape, or just to help motivate themselves to take a |
| 220 (which is the theoretical maximum heart rate). This | | | | little more exercise and see how many calories they |
| is the calculation used in heart rate monitors and is the | | | | burn in a day. No matter what you need a heart rate |
| reason why you'll need to enter your age. | | | | monitor for, there's a model with the functions to suit |
| There are also some monitors that will can work out | | | | you at a price you can afford and you don't have to |
| your V02 maximum (a measure of how fit you are), | | | | wear a chest strap all day long. |
| some have built in GPS and can calculate altitude and | | | | |