How to factor in non-Erg training

[Dangerscouse]

Spot on about the majority of the population. With hill walking, the less technical terrain is best for increasing HR. Technical bits slow you down and therefore lower HR. I've done some alpine mountaineering, and non-technical snow plods are great for raising HR.

I find that I don't really slow down too much on the technical bits, during ascents, but I guess the devil is in the detail as you might be referring to more technical climbs than I've done.

I like to keep the momentum going, which isn't too helpful when Dangerspouse is behind me having to catch her breath. She's got my share of fast twitch muscles and I've got her slow twitch.

[hikeplusrow]

Spot on about the majority of the population. With hill walking, the less technical terrain is best for increasing HR. Technical bits slow you down and therefore lower HR. I've done some alpine mountaineering, and non-technical snow plods are great for raising HR.

I find that I don't really slow down too much on the technical bits, during ascents, but I guess the devil is in the detail as you might be referring to more technical climbs than I've done.

I like to keep the momentum going, which isn't too helpful when Dangerspouse is behind me having to catch her breath. She's got my share of fast twitch muscles and I've got her slow twitch.

"Dangerspouse" - that cheered me up! Slightly off topic, but, if you want to experience real pain, try ice climbing - sounds brutal, and it is.

[hikeplusrow]

With hill walking, the less technical terrain is best for increasing HR. Technical bits slow you down and therefore lower HR. I've done some alpine mountaineering, and non-technical snow plods are great for raising HR.

The technical elements of hillwork were one heck of an eye opener to me. I ran a couple of fell races with a strong road running background (but no off road experience). Give me a tarmac incline and I'll give anyone in the field a good run, but the moment it gets gnarly, rocky, wet, borderline scramble...some of these guys (and gals) were on a different level, they just preserve energy so well on these parts. And their descending is scary to witness. To me, it was just a miserable experience this is my roundabout way of saying I agree wholeheartedly with your statement, a non technical hike does a fine job in raising heart rate, and keeping it their.

I used to do a lot of running on the road, but never tried a fell race. The way the top fell runners descend is suicidal - but in a good way!

[mjhatten]

I wear a Fitbit. I keep track of zone minutes -- a combination of time and intensity (heart rate). My daily goal is to at least double the standard set in the HHS Physical Activity Guidelines. I can usually get that number just by 40 minutes of rowing but if the rower is not available, I can still measure the zone minutes on other activities including walking, treadmill, exercise bike, and yard work.

[boobooaboo]

Thanks to all of my favourite responders for answering. FWIW This isn't about exclusively doing anything on the bike. I wondered about replacing the occasional longer rowing workout with a much longer bike ride. Context the previous week the day after a 50km ride, I simply couldn't push myself during the Steady State row. I had a target time and missed it 2.5secs/500m. This is what made me post.

Why not? What are your goals? Professional Erg-er, or fit and healthy with above average performance on the erg? Having lived in the upper Midwest USA, summers are precious. I never worked out indoors during the short window of pleasant weather. I live in the desert southwest USA now and have the opposite problem. Summer is indoor season, and the outdoor season is a good 9 months long.