HRM - How useful?

[Silver940]

Been road riding for about 6 months now, I usually ride as hard as my legs and lungs will let me. Been seeing a few guys quoting training at different heart rate zones on Strava. Is there a big benefit in monitoring heart rate while riding?

I am mainly riding for fun but do want to set decent times on a couple of sportives this year and a local MTB race. Current training tools are a phone logging the ride and a cheapish bike computer for distance travelled mainly.

I have very little to spend on a HRM if I do so what sort of benefit could I see from one, or just carry on as I am?

[TwistingMyMelon]

The guy I ride with on Saturdays swears by it, my riding consists of pushing hard, esp up hills.

He only trains for long distance by HR, its quite interesting, it does entail riding quite slowly a lot though !!

[ChrisMCoupe]

For me it's one of the most important indicators of how hard I'm riding. If my brain is telling me that I'm giving it 100% but I look down and see my HR in the 150's, I know I have a bit more in the tank.

Consequently, if I'm blowing hard up a hill and look down and see 175+ I know I'm close to my limit.

[BadgerBenji]

For training very useful, the only thing better is a power meter but they are all big money compared to a heart rate monitor.

You know how hard you are pushing, you can use it off the bike to see if you have recovered after a hard race/ride so you don't over train.

[bakerstreet]

I also ride on heart rate and use it in a similar way to others. IE, I look down and see what my HR is realize that I do have a a bit more to give.

I wouldn't ride with out my HRM/Garmin now.