I don’t know much about power meters and my searches weren’t very useful, so a good part of this question is based on ignorance. That being said, here’s the situation…
I have a pacemaker. When I exercise, the pacemaker sets my rate, which usually ends up 140-150. So when I exercise I have to go on perceived effort because my HR does not reflect how hard I’m working. I’m having a hard time telling whether I should be going harder or easier when I’m training. My tendency is to push it every time.
Would a power meter help me figure this out or does heart rate come into play?
It seems for you a PowerMeter would make much more sense than an HRM (at least for cycling) as it measures the actual work you’re doing regardless of what your heart rate is… a watt is always a watt.
It seems a majority of power based training plans will replace HR zones with power zones (example: instead of finding your LT/AT or max HR, you will find your Functional Threshold Power…the average watts you can sustain during a 20 or 30 minute time trial). From there, you are usually assigned riding in power based zones hovering at/below/above that FTP, so zones are based on your power instead of HR (though HR can be a big part of any training program…it may not be necessary at all with a power unit). Obviously you just need to know your situation as far as percieved effort and your Doc’s do’s/don’t, but it seems like a logical way to go. Check out some training plans like Joe Friel’s (Training Peaks based).
It seems a majority of power based training plans will replace HR zones with power zones (example: instead of finding your LT/AT or max HR, you will find your Functional Threshold Power…the average watts you can sustain during a 20 or 30 minute time trial). From there, you are usually assigned riding in power based zones hovering at/below/above that FTP, so zones are based on your power instead of HR (though HR can be a big part of any training program…it may not be necessary at all with a power unit). Obviously you just need to know your situation as far as percieved effort and your Doc’s do’s/don’t, but it seems like a logical way to go. Check out some training plans like Joe Friel’s (Training Peaks based).
Thank you. That exactly answers my question. I didn’t know if figuring out the thresholds was tied into the HR.
lol My cardiologist just shakes his head at me. The only things I can’t do are lift weights - too much stress on the wires, and use a jackhammer - too much electical interference. Otherwise I can beat myself up as much as I want.
Very good…glad that helped. Not knowing much at all about pace makers, will you have any issues with the wireless RF signal most power meters use (2.4 ghz)? I think you’re fine, but you or you doc would know…but just a thought since most are wireless and use that signal now.
Good thought. I’ll have to ask. But I can use cell phones, walkie talkies, etc without a problem. I can also wear a heart monitor (useless though it might be for training). So I don’t think the power meters would be an issue.