Are hrm and cadence worth measuring?

[Kies]

I am in two minds after buying the Garmin 800 with city maps and performance bundle. Never used any ant+ measuring devices before as i don't race. Cycling to me has always been about getting fit,enjoying rides,meeting people and keeping the weight down. Whilst i am loving the 800 and the mapping functionality, i am not so sure about sensors. These two devices(sensors) are sitting brand new in the box and one half of me says sell them to offset the cost of the 800, the other half says you should try hrm & cadence to "improve" your riding?
Any thoughts from those that do and do not use sensors. Did it improve your cycling? Did you try them and love the extra data? Did you try them and put them back in the box after a few weeks?

 

[uclown2002]

I have the 800.
I use the hrm as it tells me accurately how hard I'm working. If you don't use one you'd be surprised at the difference from ride to ride. In fact I'd feel naked without a hrm!
The cadence sensor I used for a few months but didn't really offer me much. Kept having issues with unit not reading so presumably the magnet wasn't close enough to the sensor but it was a PITA. So I took it off and is in a box somewhere. Bit of a waste perhaps so I might fit it to best bike some day.

 

[Hacienda71]

I have an hrm and cadence sensor. I have never used the cadence sensor. It looks like a waste of time to me as you cycle at a cadence you feel happy with. I will sometimes use the hrm but not all the time and to be honest I don't think it changes the speed I ride at. It tells you if you are hammering it or very relaxed, but your body tells you this anyway .

 

[Kies]

Thanks for replying ..... When you say "how hard you are working" ..... How do you know you are at 70% or 90% of your ability? I have no clue about such things so apologies if asking the mundane or obvious.

 

[TissoT]

I have a 800 myself ... I have never used the cadence nor HRM
I just ride to my strengths... I do nt normally look at the 800 unit that much as I normally riding hard and looking ahead .

 

[ufkacbln]

Yes...

You can use the heart rate as a single measure of your activity and as above how hard you are working.

In the simplest form....
You ride to work and your heat rate is X
The following day you use the heart rate so that your heart rate is now x+5

You are now working harder, using more energy and improving your fitness

Garmin also have the "Virtual Partner"

With this you set the previous day (or other date) and then race against yourself, again it simply makes you cycle faster and work harder

 

[jazzkat]

I was/still am obsessed by the data that I get from my devices. I used to log everything in a little book (I use garmin and strava now) - but in my defence I am trying to get faster for my Time trialling so I do try to 'go hard'.
I was always trying to get my cadence up, but as others have said above, at the end of a long ride you just pedal at the speed-you-pedal-at!
I've also been riding fixed for a couple of seasons and so cadence is completely irrelevant as there's no different gear to go to, so I've no sensor on my fixed bike.

Heart rate is a bit different, I use HR as a test to see how hard I'm working. It can be deceptive if you feel like you are pushing, but the HRM says something else.
But as your question above highlights, if you don't know your peak HR and therefore the zones it's at worst irrelevant and at best just a vague idea. You could do a 'test' but the one I did myself wasn't very accurate either. After two years of watching my HR I now have a good idea of where I am, but it's not scientific - maybe I should stump up some cash for a 'proper', coach led test.

 

[Big Nick]

I don't need a hrm to tell me how hard I'm working my lungs tell me that!

I think cadence might be useful though

 

[Rob3rt]

Yes they are worth measuring, if you know what to do with the data afterwards.

 

[Kies]

I don't end a hrm to tell me how hard I'm working my lungs tell me that!

I think cadence might be useful though

I have always been of this thought, but having these sensors avilable to me is a conundrum i hope the CC clinic can answer.

 

[Andy clarke]

Yes...

You can use the heart rate as a single measure of your activity and as above how hard you are working.

In the simplest form....
You ride to work and your heat rate is X
The following day you use the heart rate so that your heart rate is now x+5

You are now working harder, using more energy and improving your fitness

Garmin also have the "Virtual Partner"

With this you set the previous day (or other date) and then race against yourself, again it simply makes you cycle faster and work harder

What garmin is this on please?

 

[MikeW-71]

I've stopped using my HRM. It's pointless unless you have tested your MaxHR, I just have the cadence sensor left on.

 

[Andy clarke]

Isn't max hr 220 - age?

 

[gbs]

Isn't max hr 220 - age?

Yes, approximately, for an average adult. The science is quite complicated and if you are interested I suggest some internet research

 

[Saluki]

I decided against the whole HRM and Cadence thing as I don't race or TT. I just ride, stop for a cuppa, ride some more and so hubby bought a Garmin Edge Touring and he loves it. It tells him where to go, so to speak and gives him all the data he needs. His bike computer has a cadence thingy on it anyway, not that he takes much notice. He finds a cadence that if fine for him and goes with it. He has a HRM on his Polar watch but rarely uses it, in fact he forgets most of the time.
He is so pleased with the Garmin Touring GPS that I have ordered one for myself and am collecting it tomorrow lunch time.