Training by heart rate during a workout
During a class, you can use your heart rate to measure your performance in relation to the program. This means that you can see from your heart rate whether you are exerting the right amount of effort at that time. During a CycleMasters class, you will see a number of values at the bottom of the screen, including the Track Zone. This is the amount of intensity required of you during this track. By performing the instructor's exercises with more or less resistance, you can increase the intensity. This is also linked to your heart rate. The more intensively you perform the workout, the higher your heart rate will be.
The level of your heart rate depends on a number of factors. For example, gender, age, and fitness level play an important role in determining your heart rate. Therefore, it is impossible to recommend the exact value of your heart rate during the class. That's why we work with heart rate zones during a class. This is a range based on your maximum heart rate.
During CycleMasters workouts, we distinguish between the following heart rate zones:
- Track zone 1 - Heart rate at 50 - 60% of maximum heart rate
- Track zone 2 - Heart rate at 60 - 70% of maximum heart rate
- Track zone 3 - Heart rate at 70 - 80% of maximum heart rate
- Track zone 4 - Heart rate at 80 - 90% of maximum heart rate
- Track zone 5 - Heart rate at 90 - 100% of maximum heart rate
During a class, you can see the current Track Zone in each track and what the Track Zone of the next track will be. So, if you use a heart rate monitor during a class, you can monitor whether your current heart rate zone matches the recommended heart rate zone. Luckily, you don't have to calculate this yourself, as we display these values for you on the screen.
In the heart rate block, you will see a scale with different colors corresponding to the five heart rate zones. The 'heart icon' (2) indicates which zone you are currently in. The circled colors indicate where you should be according to the class (1). This way, you have an indication of the required intensity at that moment during the class.
Attention: Your heart rate is linked to your intensity, but it takes a while before an adjustment in delivered intensity results in an increase (or decrease) in your heart rate. So, it may take a while before your heart rate reaches the desired level. Therefore, try to use the heart rate measurement as an indication and do not worry too much if your heart rate is temporarily lower or higher than the recommended values.