Is It Better To Ride With Heart Rate Or Power Numbers?

Recording and using data can be extremely beneficial to your riding. But when training with data, it’s important to know what the numbers can and can’t tell you. Conor takes you through the benefits and drawbacks of using heart rate data or power numbers alone to inform your training.
0:00 Intro
1:01 Cost
3:00 Flaws With Heart Rate
3:45 Heart Rate Drift
4:49 Fatigue
5:57 Power
7:32 Heart Rate Lag
8:50 Benefits Of Power Meters
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[@gcn]

Do you train with heart rate, power, both or neither?

[@stuartmisfeldt3068]

Both, power mostly on the trainer or outdoor intervals. HR for Z2 steady efforts, unless I’m in the hills, then a Power meter comes in handy so I don’t blow up.

[@hotfloridapoliticswithkell3931]

Heart rate

[@deanrobbins8102]

Both but the Garmin Rally XC200's give really wonky data (signal drops in/out constantly). It might be due to the fact I ride a recumbent trike and the pedals being so close to the head unit. They might read combined power of 75 watts and I'm spinning 115 rpms down an incline in 30th gear (max all I'm worth and still feeling the push not just light free spinning), you know something is wonky. The days when they do stay connected, power is closer to 800 watts. So, it's hard to train with those specific power pedals on a power basis. They've been amazing for getting my cadence and push/pull under control though.

[@oayysz8909]

Heart rate just because a power meter is ridiculously expensive

[@kalenderquantentunnel9411]

As I do not care about my actual power as long as I make it home, there is no need for a powermeter. But I do care about my physical well beeing and therefore I like to know how my body reacts to the effort and I want to get a warning in time when I am overcooking myself on a long, hard climb. Again, I want to make it to the top but do not care about measured output as I am not in a race against anyone except my own expectations.

[@PaulJakma]

That heart rate may vary for a given power, e.g. say with altitude, is actually useful. A given power is physiologically _harder_ at altitude - there is less oxygen in each breath, and your body works harder for every watt. So the HR reflects that, unlike the power-meter. I don't think it's quite right to say the power is more accurate - they're just measuring different things. The HR is certainly more reflective of your physiological response. Each is telling you something, both are useful.

[@kpblasko]

Agreed; I think the points Connor listed as “limitations” of heart rate are actually it’s greatest strengths. Your heart rate is direct biological feedback on how difficult an effort is for your body, in its particular state on that given day. In that regard, heart rate is powerful for knowing how hard you can push your body in a given training session.

[@cpettifer]

I'm all in on this line of thinking too.

[@paulmcknight4137]

Right on. Heart rate tells how much effort the engine is putting out, which would change day to day within overall aerobic fitness, rested, fueled up, and hydrated over the length of the ride. Power is simply the pressure your legs exert on the crank. Anybody can do that! For how long? Anaerobic threshold tells you all you need to know!

[@cpettifer]

Too right. There's no point trying to push out big watts if your body is in such a state that it can't do it or that it would be to your detriment to try. Now I have trained with both. I know roughly where I expect my power to be for given HR, so if it is slow to respond to extra exertion I have something else to refer to to help me keep in the right ballpark of my HR zone and also useful as elevation changes so I don't over exert going uphill or under going down. Dr Garry Palmer has a good book on performance cycling that talks about all of this.

[@fastasasloth]

And why would knowing HR be any better than knowing your RPE?....

[@infinati]

I don't know anyone who uses power who also doesn't track HR. The usual progression is: 1. Start with no sensors. 2. Use HR to try quantifying rides. 3. Upgrade to Power meter. If you can skip straight to power, good for you! If you don't want to track anything at all and just have fun on a bike, good for you too!

[@rsam346]

I'm one of the few who went straight to power, but that's only because I bought a road bike (TCR) that has a power meter included and didn't already have a HR strap. Did about 6 months with just power, then bought a HR strap too. Couldn't go back now!

[@nk-dw2hm]

I would add a step after 1, where you get your first speedometer or bike computer

[@ronbell7920]

Power without HR is no good. One may be disappointed at their power numbers, but stay in the red to long with your HR and it is "game over".

[@drvxd]

@5:49 - should I use a power meter or HRM if I want to avoid getting dropping on a climb by someone on a hybrid wearing sandals on flat pedals? Asking for a friend.

[@mykola_kanyuk]

he had big bag on his bike as well

[@JM-vy5tl]

lol

[@paulmcknight4137]

Tell your friend to downshift and pedal harder!

[@drvxd]

@@paulmcknight4137 I'm sure Conor will consider your advice.

[@gcn]

It appears we haven't quite worked that one out yet...

[@bjornbaron5940]

Use a heart rate meter mostly to monitor the stress on my body- to keep "easy" workouts from getting too intense.

[@hausbeever]

A lot of the flaws talked about are what makes heart rate training useful to me. I want to train smart and not over train

[@two-eyedRoy]

So rather broadly (in regards to a training/racing application); Power meter tells you what you're outputting whilst the HR monitor gives you a delayed indicator of how well the body can keep that output up. Yes-yes?

[@Thorney74]

Sorry, did I hear that correctly? Conor's Zone 2 power is around 280w?!? I know he's ex-pro but that seems crazy high! This is the kind of content we love to see from Conor, as much as we enjoy the wacky videos with Hank, Conor is really in his zone with these kinds of videos - keep it up!

[@reidy186]

I think that equates roughly to 18/19 mph in zone 2, that's probably why I shouldn't chase every other cyclist I see

[@calcradden6293]

He's 90kg tbf

[@spaghettibadger647]

90kg and long legs will give him loads of leverage on the pedals

[@infinati]

He also has a larger frontal area so it negates his power advantage

[@AndrewOliverHome]

I’m about the same size as Conner and over 50 but not an ex pro and my zone 2 power is 250W. Being bigger makes a difference.

[@robintlee750]

I watched many GCN videos and that's the first time I saw a commuter rider pass the GCN presenter!

[@paulmcknight4137]

Yeah, man. Some of those guys have it down 100%. They know the course like the back of their hand!

[@gcn]

We're no strangers to getting dropped here

[@drvxd]

I use HR & power for different things: - HR to prevent my heart exploding out of my chest. - Power to remind me how feeble I am.

[@walcottav]

HR keeps me from overcooking it these days. I don't have much use for power TBH, I thrive on consistency and ensuring sport fits into the rest of my life. I'm familiar enough with my training response on certain routes that perceived effort combined with HR is a solid guide for me. #YMMV

[@BrockMak]

5:48 Perfect timing to get overtaken.

[@stg_69]

Great vid ... GCN at its best ... loads of relevant information .. and no ideological messages in sight

[@jayshockey5461]

Great stuff Connor!👏🏻👍🏻 you explain things so well and clearly👏🏻👏🏻

[@MichaelLonetto]

Thanks for this, as someone past the age of being competitive, I mostly use heart rate to keep my effort within what I can do for the distance and terrain, especially warming up. Power sounds like fun (I love numbers) but not as useful to me.

[@jeffreyabelson7171]

Because of heart rate inconsistency, I stopped using the HR monitor and will one day purchase a power meter but for now, I use a set course, with set climbs and a relative set time and check my MPH and distance traveled

[@shepshape2585]

These latest videos by Conor have been really good. Really good information without all the silliness. I mean, there's a place and time for silly, but it's also important to put out quality information so that people who watch this channel can benefit and become better cyclists.

[@gcn]

We try our best to find that balance, but we do love a bit of silliness too

[@brianwillaman1776]

Great video. I use both a heart rate monitor and power meters. Combined, tells a great story of my training for a ride.

[@popejbryant]

That moment Conner gets blasted by a flat bar bike lol

[@jaked8971]

doesn't look like an ebike either lmao

[@stuartmisfeldt3068]

Great actor,🤣‼️

[@drvxd]

Flat bars, flat pedals, sandals. 👍

[@karlr6810]

Wow...did Conor just get "Ollie'd"??? He was dropped!

[@mykola_kanyuk]

with a bag

[@ljadf]

For me, if outside doing a zone 2 ride, I know my heart rate and RPE so well, I don't need power and trying to stick to a zone becomes pointless with all the stopping, starting, hills and corners. Also max effort intervals exclude the use of a power meter by design. If inside, doing a structural training session power is essential, and heart rate becomes a convenient gauge of fatigue which allows you to further tune your heart rate and RPE skills.

[@petersteadman841]

Brilliant thanks

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

This video is about riding with a HR monitor but a major benefit of a HR monitor vice power meters is the ability to use your HR monitor for other activities like rowing, walking, running, etc.

[@E30OG1]

Just recently bought a heart rate monitor nice to see more of a breakdown of efforts on a ride, still getting used to how to get the best out of it

[@gcn]

Have you checked out our video on how to get the most out of training with a heart rate? kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ3Ye3h5rLaCg80

[@E30OG1]

@@gcn I haven’t but I’ll have a watch now! Need to do an ftp test really so I can set up my zones properly just on a generic set up atm! But thanks I’ll watch that now!

[@cb6866]

Thanks Conor...I am past the point of caring ....really ! I ride for fun , I do look at my stats after , but distance is all I care about . I am older , I used to run , and I looked at every metric zealously !! NNNNNNo more bud ! Peace

[@brianluck84]

Once I started following metrics it definitely took my focus off the scenery now my eyes are glued to the wahoo instead of the world around me

[@JasonDBike]

Good point! I stare into a screen at work all day, at home then at my phone, and on the bike.... I dont want another screen.

[@gcn]

Whatever motivates you to get out and ride!

[@ooojamaflip]

5:44 Flat bar Billy is thinking, 'he's got all the kit and he's still sh*t'.

[@brianluck84]

Flat bar Billy ain't got time to wait for a fake effort to film a segment. He's got places to be and things to do.

[@radiocontrolled9181]

Flat bar Billy thinks he's fast as fukk

[@disgruntledtoons]

Your HR tells you how your fitness stacks up against the intensity and gives you an easy rule of thumb for setting the exercise intensity. When the HR is low, up the intensity, when the HR is high, lower the intensity. As long as you select the correct HR range, things simply work.

[@neoneherefrom5836]

Even that is an oversimplification. Some people can comfortably sustain what one might consider a “high heart rate” for a long time.

[@paulmcknight4137]

​@@neoneherefrom5836 Wouldn't go so far as to say "comfortably," but I've ridden with young studs sweating it out above 170 beats per minute, while I was red lining at 155 BPM, 'cause i'm a well practiced old man. It's the guys who outride you at low heart rates you gotta worry about. Sweet spot of 120-125 BPM hasn't changed for the last 30 years. Nice to check up on HR once in a while, but it's so consistent, I don't monitor it anymore.

[@gcn]

Heart rate is very individual, but it can provide a generalised rule of thumb to help you stay at approximately the right effort level

[@neoneherefrom5836]

@@paulmcknight4137 120-125 bpm’s barely qualifies as a workout for me. lol

[@paulmcknight4137]

@@neoneherefrom5836 Then you'd most likely drop me, to be honest! There's definitely a positive relationship between power and heart rate. Kudos! Last time I drafted sprinters on a club ride, we ended up going 31 mph. I was revving 172 bpm and almost fell off the bike! I do think steady state aerobic efforts become easier after a few years, but raw, anaerobic power is a luxury of these young studs. Us oldsters downshift and pedal faster!

[@schuerfrau]

I think both are useful, depending what you train for. It’s interesting to structure your training and see how you improve, but it will be harder to put out the same power e.g. in a higher altitude. For me, it worked well to look at heart rate only since I was on a budget and training specifically for a few days of cycling up mountains in the alps for a good cause.

[@andrewavila7826]

Now real questions are being asked!

[@matthewbaynham6286]

I have two HR monitors one is a bike computer and one is a watch, so using them at the same time demonstrated how far off the were. The watch measuring by shining light on my wrist is about 20 bpm different compared to my chest strap with the bike computer. Both by the same manufacturer.

[@bengt_axle]

Strap is measuring electrical signals from the contraction of the heart muscle. Optical wrist is measuring the pulsing of blood in your wrist. The chest strap is the one giving you the more reliable measurement.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

If you are doing this comparison, make sure the watch is in workout mode, generally more accurate than 24/7 mode.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

@@andrewmcalister3462 I did that and it was still about 20 bpm off of the bike computer with the chest strap.

[@Markhypnosis1]

Your chest strap monitor is the most accurate.

[@jonsmithers]

I use both. Only recently got a 'cheap' power meter as didn't feel confident at all that heart rate was capturing the intensity of my ride. Power meter one of the best bike purchases I've made - really enjoy the stats!

[@gcn]

Have you seen our video on things we wished we'd known when we started training with power? kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnvKm6Wml8R3aMU

[@sebastianschmitz9352]

I have one correction to make. The entry-level price for a single-sided power meter with a crank arm is 270-300€. That should be affordable for the ambitious hobby rider.

[@scottf3456]

Right, I shipped my left crank to stages for $250 this past January.

[@BikePappy]

@@scottf3456 That seems expensive for shipping. How much did the PM cost? 😎

[@scottf3456]

@@BikePappy free with the shipping

[@petef15]

Yeah. They also work fine and are more than adequate for 99% of riders.

[@mynock250]

A study on 300 of the most popular smart watches against a polar H-10 chest strap(control) had interesting results. Most of the watches were rubbish in clouding the expensive Fenix watches for heart rate with the exception of the Apple watch 7, Apple watch 6 and Apple watch SE(6) which were so close to the chest strap to make them even. Look it it very interesting scientific testing with a NON Apple fanboy.

[@da14a49]

The reason that those Apple watches did very well is because they also measure as an ECG rather than optical sensors.

[@williamwightman8409]

For longer non-race rides heart rate is more useful for me. It is an analog for how much work the body is doing and relative to prior efforts lets you gage the most appropriate effort for a given ride length, climb amount, and temperature level. Ideally the heart rate should not climb too much over a long ride. It is amazing how exhausting a slow ride in 95 degF can be compared to a sprint ride in 75 degF. IMO power is for young fit racers who are measuring progress over time, not as important for the rest of us just trying to be happy throughout a long ride.

[@Vinch22]

It's good to have them both for reference regardless whether you are just doing club rides, solo, racing or just family rides.note: if you can afford them 🤪

[@bengt_axle]

I don’t do any structured training outside. I only ride for pleasure outside and use a HRM to know how close I am to blowing up on a long climb or riding into a strong headwind, when speed doesn’t mean much. Indoors, doing intervals, I use a spin bike with power displayed based on a power curve, and HR to manage my efforts. Once you know what your cardiac lag is, you can predict how HR will rise, but power gives you a target to reach for.

[@spaghettibadger647]

I used both, but power for the real effort. My heart rate is all over the place depending on weather/ caffine intake etc

[@fritzmuetze]

I have a question. As my heartrate is a response to an effort and is always affected By my Overall condition. Why should i train on metrics like poweroutput? On a weak day, when i feel stressed and did Not sleep well, It feels Harder to Produce The Same amount of Power Then on days With Peak Fitness. Wouldn‘t i overload my Body with The Same effort when i just pace on The Same powernumbers as normal? Arent heartrate Zones a Better representation of What my Body is able to effort on that day and time?

[@bennywang3163]

I just started cycling road bite for about 2 months, after every ride my palm hurts a lot. How can I fix it? Thank you - Ben from asia

[@x3thelast]

I don’t train without one or the other. To get a better picture of your overall training both metrics are key.

[@adamfeerst2575]

Data and devices are tools, not taskmasters. I train mostly by HR. Actually, I train by perceived exertion (PE). That's more powerful than either although subjective and a learned skill. Note how often we hear about riders covering up their numbers in TTs; TP didn't use a power meter during the final 2020 TT. HR is a measure of how hard I'm working internally whereas power is a measure of the output of that work. I want to train what's going on internally. I see power as the equivalent of Strava's GAP which can be compared across terrain and conditions. I don't stick to rigid numbers. Sleep, fatigue, fitness, stress, hydration, caffeine, weather, etc., all impact HR. Sometimes a 140 feels like death and sometimes a 160 feels easy. I will see where I am on any given day then train to those numbers; actually, I go by PE but will use HR numbers to check in on my PE.

[@lanceblack888]

I loved the bit where that kid on a MTB went flying past you going uphill! Was he a 600W EPO pro??

[@jonathonjubb6626]

Before I watch; probably both for different reasons, and combined as well....

[@steffenstengardvilladsen3740]

5:45 Shameless overtake :- )

[@nigelmorris]

If you suffer from A/Fib like me a heart rate monitor is useless. My heart rate fluctuates independently of how much effort I am putting out. So I use a power meter.

[@GotDamBoi]

who is that absolute Chad @5:45 that passed you on a hybrid IN FLIP FLOPS lol

[@espenius91]

Hello, i have a question to you cycling pro's! :) i just ordered a canyon roadlite 6 with flat bar. So what i wonder is, when/if i get more serious about biking and not just for training. Would it be a problem to install a drop bare on it? or will the geometry be completely off? THanks

[@kimwarner6050]

My last ride was 30 miles, 15.9mph average, 114 watts, and 180 average heart rate. My heart rate has been high my entire life. I'm a lifetime runner who is 40 years old with a very healthy heart

[@GotDamBoi]

That seems pretty darn high for a lifetime runner

[@mysteryY2K]

jeezus i get panic attacks when my HR goes that high. even at anything above 140tbh

[@stevedong5117]

180-age is definitely unreliable. But I still think you need try to figure out your max HR and stick to your zone. If you never do Z2, your heart rate will likely stay high.

[@neoneherefrom5836]

I would venture a guess that there wasn’t a whole lot of climbing during those 30 miles.

[@kimwarner6050]

@@neoneherefrom5836 yep, Florida

[@cathalkenneally1614]

I carried out an FTP test using a Wahoo Kickr snap and I got a figure of 119. I was told by a reliable source that it should be at least twice that figure. He’s a semi professional rider so he knows what he’s talking about. I use a heart rate monitor to gauge my rides and sometimes when I don’t my smart watch and Garmin edge 530 provides me with good feedback on strenuous rides. I have considered getting a power meter but the cost is putting me off

[@norriaty]

He’s right, 119 is very low. You have to be very careful to set up wheel-on trainers correctly otherwise you end up with very inaccurate power readings.

[@cathalkenneally1614]

@@norriaty I have tried to get it as accurate as possible but the Snap is not as reliable as the direct drive

[@fireballracer3948]

Wheel on bike trainers like the Snap need constant calibration/ adjustment of the tire pressure and how tight the roller is on there, so likely the data you got of 119 was way off. I had a similar experience and then checked against a crank based power meter.

[@woolfel]

most important thing is to enjoy your ride and leave your ego at home. everything else is gravy

[@apriljohnson6191]

I'm looking into training too get more serious with my cycling. I can't afford a power meter yet, but until then I think I'll use Cadence and heart rate until I can get a power meter. I have heard though that the Shimano Ace power meter has had some accuracy issues. Can someone at GCN elaborate on this? Thank you for this video. It was very informative.

[@cyclingformortals2231]

I train with HR because I can’t afford a power meter. For long rides and efforts HR becomes more important than power meter for pacing because the former tells you whether your body can still cope with the load.

[@gerrysecure5874]

When your Heartrate rises in a 6hr z2 effort from 120 to 150, you are not in z2 anymore. Part of the rise is due to fatigue and as you fatigue your power zones drop down. There is also no such thing like a threshold heartrate. Over the hour at Pthres it rises from e g. 145 .. 160.

[@Joe-wk9ow]

Right now I can only afford a HR monitor. I plan on buying a power meter down the line from Magene sense it's about $300.

[@Pedreone]

Since a few months, I have a smart trainer at home, which is awesome, but for rides longer than 2h, I prefer to just ride outside without too much concern for numbers (just too much sweat indoors). Also remember: With great power comes ... the greater anxiety of How long will I be able to keep this up, aaaargh?!

[@robinrdale8318]

What about the force power meters like ibike newton , pretty cheap

[@hanssolocolnago8347]

Remember when you just let your legs tell you everything...

[@jpprovost64]

Power for sure

[@rogervansimpsen1657]

I swapped to gravelbiking exactly because I got tired of this semi professional approach on a race bike...have a lotta more fun on the graveller and couldn't care less about statistics,......nevertheless good job Connor...grtz from Flanders...👊🏻🍻.

[@okantichrist]

When are you getting tri bars?😂

[@RedWingsninetyone]

Adding a HR strap definitely transformed how I ride how it comes to fitness. Unfortunately, recently it seems to be "freezing" mid-ride and holding an inaccurate HR reading for several minutes and then changing to another inaccurate HR reading. I had even recently changed the battery which worked well for a couple of rides (although one was a century ride).

[@infinati]

Do you wash your strap? Salt accumulation will mess with the wiring in the strap

[@RedWingsninetyone]

@@infinati no, I haven't. What do you recommend using? Just clean water? Dish soap? Laundry detergent? The thing is it connects and reads fine for the first 10 or 20 minutes of the ride. It starts "freezing" after that. The bike computer confirms it is still connected.

[@radiocontrolled9181]

@@RedWingsninetyone just rinse the strap in clean water. I do it after each Ride. Or I just wipe it several times with a wet chamois leather after the ride when it is still wet with sweat.

[@norriaty]

I had this problem and it turned out it was because I wasn’t wetting the electrodes before I put it on. “Wetting the electrodes with water is great, but getting the whole front of the strap a bit wet is even better,” a Garmin representative recommends.

[@RedWingsninetyone]

@@norriaty I've read that before, however it doesn't explain why it reads fine for the first part of the ride when it would be less wet. Furthermore, I also use it in the winter in temps as low as 5°F this past winter and didn't have any issues that a new battery didn't solve. Side note: I have recently been using lithium button cell batteries. Could this cause issues?

[@filippopogacar]

at 5.47 new GCN presenter on the left

[@pericofantasias]

The best meter is your own physical sensations, once you’ve gained the experience required to interpret them correctly.

[@paulmcknight4137]

Exactly. Power meters, HRMs, cadence sensors, speedometers, help quantify things, but once you learn what they are, you don't necessarily need them anymore.

[@neoneherefrom5836]

Quantification gauges progress - or lack thereof. Post-ride analysis preserves the sanctity and safety of the ride.

[@TheChimae]

isit good to wear buff when cycling ?

[@caroliensche13]

05:40 always these competitive e-bike riders :) I use a heart rate device, which ist now nearly 15 years old. A Garmin with textile-ish straps. It has been more reliable, i remember. So if anybody could tell whether or not there has been any progress in heart rate strap devices in terms of reliability, please let me know!

[@JollyGiant0]

6mins in commuter on fixie overtakes Conor, Conor "eeer yeah, my HR is low due to increase plasma levels in my blood" straight to camera, Conors timing couldn't be better.

[@alainbellemare2168]

Power is just that power output interesting if you are an electric or petrol engine

[@jameslee-pevenhull5087]

I only use HR to estimate fuel consumption. kCals / km.

[@mattchun1978]

#askgcn: Not sure if this has been done before, but could you guys do something on concussion protocols after being in a crash? I was recently hit by a beach cruiser during a group ride when that rider wanted to turn left down a road and didn't look to see if there was a car coming. I don't remember being hit or falling, first thing I remember is my cycling group's resident ER doctors doing neck/spine/bone checks and asking questions about where I was, what's my name, what's the date, etc. TYIA! #Helmetssavelives! And going back to your video on the guy against helmets: my argument: wearing your helmet doesn't mean that you're more likely to take risks, you're protecting yourself against the other 99% of things out of your control. So Wear A Helmet

[@mattyice1710]

Heart rate is what matters. How much oxygenated blood your muscles are receiving. That is the truest sense of intensity. If it’s hot or you’re tired and your heart rate is different, listen! Power is highly flawed as what you can do fresh is so different than later in a big training block. If you try to push those watts tired you are going to fry yourself and overtrain.

[@matthewwalls8601]

I don’t think Conner was doing the effort he said with the lad going by him with sandals flat bars and it didn’t look like there was a motor on his bike

[@leolongo9178]

Both

[@roflmatic]

Did anyone else notice the flatbar flyby at 5:45 😂

[@gcn]

We were hoping you wouldn't

[@sergiodihno]

If you did an FTP test on a road bike or a smart trainer, could you apply the same zones if you were to measure your power on, say gravel or a mountain bike? Given that watts are watts, should it be close or would your power zones be significantly different from bike to bike? Great video!

[@florianbusch3082]

Watts are Watts, period. Bike doesn‘t matter but the speed will vary. Look at Mathieu van der Poel, he just recently did Vo2 Max intervalls on a cross country mountain bike because it‘s more fun :D :)

[@sergiodihno]

@@florianbusch3082 Yes! which is why I fitted my HT mountain bike with a power meter and use it for commuting because I can get a harder workout than if I used my road bike as it's heavier/slower :)

[@sprayaho1ic]

single sided crank power meters like 4iiii or stages or much more affordable. In an ideal world, you want both a power meter and a heart rate monitor. P.S. anyone looking on the used market, avoid the Garmin Vector 3 pedals. They are abysmal!!! learn from my mistakes.

[@cathalkenneally1614]

I have a pair sitting on the shelf. I don’t like road cleats anyway and I had to buy Garmin cleats as well 😳

[@ronbell7920]

In defence of the Garmin Vector III's, just take the battery out and then reinstall after each ride. Calibrate them and your Garmin head unit will tell you if the battery is "good to go"!

[@WillPower46]

About a year ago I removed my computer and power meter. I now just ride with no info and enjoy my riding more than I have in years.

[@notreally2406]

Do you race?

[@WillPower46]

@@notreally2406 Good dquestion. Not anymore I did for 23 years, I sometimes think about getting into masters racing but for that I don't think I will bother with a computer either. I rode with a power meter for years and know my body pretty well so its not quite the same as a newbie getting in to the sport not knowing what 300w feels like compared to 200w.

[@notmyrealname6272]

How do you tell if HR coming down/per effort is due to tiredness or increased fitness?

[@Br4tWur5t91]

If your resting heartrate is higher then usual, Most of the time it is a sign of fatique

[@seattlegrrlie]

I'd like a power meter, but I can't justify the cost. My Garmin gives me enough information for my casual cycling for overall health and happiness. While I'd like to improve my climbing and my endurance (and I have), the heart rate monitor is a great tool

[@jeremyemilio9378]

Or just train by feel and a (stop)watch

[@oOfretlessOo]

Here is one subject for studies, I think: timing cadence to heartrate vs perceived effort/VO2. Was messing with cars ignition and thought this might be somehow similar.

[@FriendlyFarmMachineryToolCpBel]

I think you are on to something there. Wrestling with heart rate, cadence, and power. Then throw in climbing, level, and descending. Personally, I can't "blow the motor, my heart, if I do then power is going to drop and recovery is all that is left to do!

[@markbentley4343]

With both. Training with 1 doesn’t make much sense without the other

[@iiii2903]

TLDR : Today, a HRM is almost a mandatory tool for your training, a PM is helpful but for most of us not necessary. it's strange to see sports "specialists" who still confuse stress and load. The HRM will record the stress on your body, the PM records the load....It's like saying that it's better to know what is the power of your car rather than what speed it goes... A PM (coupled with a HRM) will be useful if you want to compare/analyze the load of different training sessions while training in very different environments in a short period of time (hometrainer, higher altitude, different bikes, different tires, different temperature). If you train for days, like most of us, on the same routes, same weather, with the same type of training sessions, comparing the average speeds will be largely enough to assess the quality of your training. As such, a PM is above all a useful tool for....your online coach as the online coach doesn't know your circuits and usual training environment. If you're your own coach, you can make do without. As I train in similar conditions, with the same bike and tires, and as I'm an amateur, I don't really need a PM, a speedometer and a HRM are largely enough to check my improvements. It's not as "instant" as with a powermeter, but the average speed over the same circuits is good enough for an amateur to gauge his improvements. So, the HRM is the first tool to buy, and makes training much easier to control and analyze, and if you've got some money left to spend, get a PM on top of it, but that's a bit of an overkill for the average amateur.

[@jimsmith4907]

is it good training to climb hills with as high a gear as possible? also will it give the same power regardless of your gear if going at the same velocity?

[@Hillzy96]

Sometimes yes, just watch out for your knees a bit because it’s a lot more force on them. Power’s just force, so yeah you can do the same power in a low gear or a high gear (just different cadence)

[@johnnymcmurdo]

Just climb hills at a cadence you feel comfortable with, as power is velocity*force you can output the same power at a fast cadence with less force as you can with a slow cadence with more force. I personally prefer a high cadence ~ 95rpm but you can do whatever you feel comfortable with

[@gms80sixtreme]

Both...since all bikes have them!

[@BlaqRaq]

I would rather monitor my heart rate than any other entity.

[@grandpalouis818]

Don’t get the point in saying what price range they’re in, but saying it wrong, you can get stages or 4iiii for £250 not even reduced (half the bottom of the range price in the video)

[@isthatujeebus]

I just bought a 4iiii for £189! A steal at that price.

[@iiii2903]

Prices have gone down pretty well....in 2024, one can find 4iiii left cranks for less than €250

[@stevengoodwin3154]

I went on my longest ride ever yesterday for my birthday. I don't have a power meter on the bike I rode, but I do use a HRM. However, it would have been great to see the power numbers to have a better understanding of output versus input. It would also be great to see power meters becoming more cost-effective (CHEAPER).

[@mtblover]

I am of the opinion that if you are tired, body is fatigued, then you won't be able to push out the watts you want in any case at a specific cardiovascular excursion.....am I correct? If I am, what's the point? If you feel strong then you are able to go hard. If not, you can't. I am of the opinion that all the stats take the fun ut of cycling, especially with buddy's.

[@ronbell7920]

I think you are right! On a longer ride, power is just another metric. If you "blow the engine", heart, then power is meaningless. Most of the time I use my power meter to keep me from "blowing up". When everyone hits the hill like we are on the pro tour, a quick look at my power meter lets me know that this effort is unsustainable! So, dial back and hopefully everyone else breaks down and I catch back up. It works 90%+ of the time. When it doesn't, I probably wasn't going to keep up anyway. Another comment from someone who has had a "view from the back"!!

[@gordonpkeenan]

You can get a 4iii power metre for 300 euro. It comes on a 105 crank.

[@karlr6810]

That works only if you have the cranks that Stages and 4iiii offer. If not, one is left with either swapping out their entire drivetrain or PM pedals.

[@unfab]

I know this is probably the wrong video to comment under, but i feel like i have to. I hate cycling and what its made me obsess over. I got into cycling 2 years ago, bought my first road bike 1 year ago. I got into it for fun, for the adventure, for the exploration, for the thrill of going out and enjoying myself. But as of late, all i keep thinking about are upgrades, newest kit, how fast im going, my body weight, my groupset, my wheelset, new road shoes or do i even need them, whats my HR, my VO2 max, my FTP, it has to be on strava, what will others say since i didnt go and do big elevation, my avg speed..... i obsess and im sure many others do, over the stats and power data and spending money and how there is always something to perfect or upgrade I just wish i could go back into the mindset of "just get on your fucking bike and enjoy IT". My girlfriend really pointed it out to me. I used to go on rides and send her scenic pictures, but then i transitioned into "i beat my pr on this segment, with this % gradient and this....." Like no. Just....just get on your bike and just ride it. If you enjoy power and ftp and all of that, go for it, but ultimately, everyone joined cycling because they enjoyed the sport, not the gear

[@Mattkb9]

Just because you have a problem doesn’t mean everyone else does. I have a bike with a power meter but it’s just for fun. 3,000 miles so far this year and I haven’t spent a dime on cycling products in a year. Also, GCN is a business. They make these videos to promote products.

[@flashoverking]

Couldn’t have put this better myself! This describes me to a tee! I bought a 3 grand carbon bike and would go out just for fun, epic rides- lots of miles, lots of hills lots of great pic and lots of memories! I then got sucked into comparing, PRs, upgrades etc. Long story short I’ve spent the same again upgrading my bike (wheels, di2, assioma PMs) and it became all about numbers. In truth I am no better now than I was then and feel much the worse for it as I simply don’t get the enjoyment out of it! But as someone else says just because we don’t enjoy it doesn’t mean someone else won’t. Horses for courses I guess…..

[@justincampbell5249]

Can someone explain why heart rate drops with fatigue? I thought a HIGHER resting HR correlated with fatigue.

[@isthatujeebus]

If your muscles are fatigued it doesn't matter how good your heart is; they just don't have enough left in them to utilise your full HR so it won't go as high as when you're fresh.

[@florianbusch3082]

Same principle with HRV I guess? But I can‘t explain why a higher HRV is better so this answer is senseless but I tried lol

[@commanderoof4578]

Why one or the other? Use both and compare heart-rate to power but mostly use power If you can only get one or the other then hold out till you can get both otherwise start with a power meter

[@gcn]

Using heart rate and power together gives you a great insight into your own fitness, and allows you to spot when you may be over training, ill, burning out, or just poorly rested

[@cliffcox7643]

Help me out with this guy's, my heart rate in zone 2 power is always in zone 3 when I try to actually ride my zone 2 heart rate my power is in zone 1 and there always seems to be a discrepancy between my heart rate and power zone. Why. Why?

[@timnortheytn]

Try setting your zones off of functional threshold hr rather than max hr.

[@r.davies2702]

Because your super fit and your heart doesn't need to work as hard to churn out the power 💪

[@cliffcox7643]

@@timnortheytn would that be higher?

[@timnortheytn]

@@cliffcox7643 If you're in good shape and your fthr is a high % of max hr it will. For me with 171 max hr and 156 fthr, zone 2 changes from 103-120 to 108-129. Keep in mind the different % used for fthr and that they can also vary a bit between sources. (Z1=106%)

[@cliffcox7643]

@@timnortheytn I see so what you're saying is when I did my testing and I my testing and I was not fit the heart rate was very high was very high due to being not fit. Now. Now that I'm more fit my Max heart rate will be lower and thus My zone too zone should increase in heart rate numbers as well right

[@douglasbooth6836]

Heart rate. Takes weather conditions into the equation

[@stuartdryer1352]

First, power meters can be had for $350 for a single sided one. It is perfectly OK to use a single sided one for allowing you to monitor your own performance. They are incredibly helpful but living in Houston I've found they do become much less useful in assessing your "performance" in extreme heat. Remember, there is a very real physiological cost to thermoregulation in extreme conditions and that is reflected in heart rate.

[@radiocontrolled9181]

I use a HRM and never owned or used a power meter. I'm curious about something though. I want to know whether the power output is the same on a stretch of road if you are: 1. Using an easier (not the easiest) gear with high cadence. 2. Using a harder gear (not the hardest) with lower cadence. Obviously while going at the same speed. Thanks.

[@KILLTHEREDDITOR]

Yeah

[@okantichrist]

@@KILLTHEREDDITOR Thanks for your in depth reply 🤣

[@bengt_axle]

Putting aside frictional losses from using a smaller cog, yes. You are moving the bike at the same speed, with same air resistance, VAM, etc. It may not feel the same however, especially on a steep climb!

[@radiocontrolled9181]

@@bengt_axle Thank you for your reply 💪✅☮️

[@radiocontrolled9181]

@@okantichrist loollll 😁

[@treyquattro]

do I get the impression that beating Strava KOMs in the Bath area isn't the thing to do: it's beating a GCN presenter up a climb! Wait, is that Si?!

[@doug3d109]

Nonsense!! My stages left only power meter was £180 second hand (only used for 200miles) and it’s been going strong for years. Power meters are amazing and not that expensive in reality.

[@Llanchlo]

Heart rate becomes more difficult to use as you get older. My max HR is now 156 so there is only some 30bpm range for most training rides between top of Z1 and Z4 which is just not granular enough, given the lag, to be of much use unless you can get 5+ minutes without interruptions fot traffic / junctions etc.

[@PistachioFilmsLLC]

ohh dropped on the hill by an MTBer with 90cm bars, Ollie could have taken him, ok during fatigue section so we'll let it go, lol. Drew

[@jayare8424]

the face of the guy that passes him on the left 👀👀🚲🚲🚲😄😄😄😄😄

[@mikehoward7777]

So no mention of a Powerpod then? Easy to swap between bikes and reasonably priced.