Planning Cycling

With things becoming more scientific in design, cycling training also has also joined the bandwagon with the availability of power cranks and pulse rate monitors. With the advances in this technology it is now possible to train in one country, report to your coach who is on the other side of the world and also at the same time, make use of the internet to send all data regarding the training on your bike - duration, pulse, speed, altitude, distance and power output in watts! In response your coach can provide you with guidance and tell you whether you are performing well or not.

Power Cranks and Pulse Monitors

This is a special chain set and an expensive kit, which can replace your existing cranks. It is for high intensity training. It is able to tell you the power output and everything else that the pulse monitor does. Different pulse monitors are available to read your pulse and some of them are cycling specific. One thing that needs to be considered is that they clutter the wrist or the bike handlebar.

At the touch of a button heart rate monitors provide a lot of information. Polar S725x is a well known brand for fitness rate monitors, providing information on how much time is taken, how far you have gone, your speed as well as pulse. With some extra features added, it can tell temperature, steepness of the climb, pedal revolutions and calculate power output too.

Training aspect:

In the earlier methods of training, people would get tired soon and easily. But these days, people make more out of their training time with specialized training methods. Pulse monitors help greatly in this endeavor. The best way is to train with a group and take turns in riding, striving as hard as you can in the front (in turns) with the rest behind. The pulse monitor tells you when to ride full force and when not to so. Enjoy your cycling and don't make it cumbersome. For warming up, you can use of warming oil which prepares the body for physical activity, oxygenizes muscles, and increases blood circulation.

Special patches protect the thigh and buttock areas from friction and irritation. Most important is to set the right training plan and know how to train with necessary improvised methods. A number of beginners programs are available for those new into training and those getting back after a while.