Concept2 Forum

I just purchased a Polar f6 HRM to use for running, erging, and OTW. Over the next 4-5 months I will be doing pure UT2 workouts (65-75%) of max HR. I am 18, so I calculated my max HR to be 202, therefore for these steady state workouts my HR should be roughly between 130-155. The HRM comes with a chest strap. I was wondering if the strap HAS to be worn there because while erging that is roughly where I pull in. Should I try to focus on pulling the handle into a different part of my chest/stomach or is there somehting that can be done?

will hitting the chest-strap with the handle damage the straP?

I'm wondering how hard you're hitting it, and why? I wouldn't think proper form would involve hitting yourself in a way that would harm the chest strap. I'm sure someone else can address that more decisively, but it seems that you need to have control into the body so you can get handle heights and hand away properly- both OTW and on the erg.

I'm using my F6 OTW and on the erg, and the only issue I have on the erg is that it will often set off the 'time' function when I pull in. (You know, where it beeps, lights up, and shows the time when it gets close to the strap while you're using the HR function?) Anyhow, I'm planning on spending the $22 to buy the HR wiring for the erg so I get around the beeping/setting off the time function

I'm not sure where guys are supposed to put the strap- us gals are rather limited in locations. However, my strap is still located higher than my pull-in point. Can you have your coach check your erg form? (I assume you have one since you're doing this an rowing OTW.)

Good luck- I'm finding it a challenge to stay in that UT2 range of 140-150. I has been fun to watch my splits come down while staying in that range. I'm finding it takes discipline to stay low, but also that it allows for lots of concentration on form and posture. I'm getting a list together of things to focus on during these long & low sessions (sit up, slow last 6" of the slide, power through the first 6" of the drive, full body swing, head up, no vertical movement, etc.)

Julie

I have an F11 and smack my heart rate strap all of the time....

Without the strap, it would be tough to get your heart rate on your HRM.

gwjones wrote: Without the strap, it would be tough to get your heart rate on your HRM.

My heart rate is about 10 bpm when I don't wear the strap and my wife is running the vacuum cleaner upstairs.

bw

trap_star wrote:I just purchased a Polar f6 HRM to use for running, erging, and OTW. Over the next 4-5 months I will be doing pure UT2 workouts (65-75%) of max HR. I am 18, so I calculated my max HR to be 202, therefore for these steady state workouts my HR should be roughly between 130-155. The HRM comes with a chest strap. I was wondering if the strap HAS to be worn there because while erging that is roughly where I pull in. Should I try to focus on pulling the handle into a different part of my chest/stomach or is there somehting that can be done?

If your resting pulse is 72, high for an athlete, 202 - 72 = 130 , 13 bpm per 10% MHr.

202 = 100%
189 = 90%
176 = 80%
163 = 70%
150 = 60%
137 = 50%

I suspect you want to be closer to 157-160 bpm for 65%-75% MHR. 130-155 bpm should be a light warm-up for you.

157-170. Typo.

LJWagner,

Thanks for clearing that up. I did a short 30' piece this morning (before reading your posts) at around 145bpm and my splits felt way too high. Do you find that there is any correlation between hr and the different training category intensities (cat vi,v,iv...etc). My splits for set pieces (ie- 1:45.5 @2k --- 1:52.5 @6k) would indicate that my cat6 split should be something like 2:06-2:08.

Also, my resting HR is 65-66. Would you mind giving me those percentages again based on a HR of 65?

thanks

trap_star,

I generally pull just below my HR strap but sometimes do hit it. It has not done any damage but I do notice that sometimes when I hit it, the HR readout goes blank for about 15 seconds shortly after I hit it.

Rich