POLAR CS600 - Manual (Page 46)

When cycling in a certain sport zone, the mid-section of the zone is a good target, but don’t keep your
heart rate at that exact point all the time. Training intensity, recovery level, environmental and other
such factors will all contribute to heart rate responses. It is, therefore, important to pay attention to
subjective feelings of tiredness and to adjust the training program accordingly.
A simple way of making use of the sport zones is making your target heart rate zones. For further
instructions, see Plan your training.
After the session is over exercise duration in the sport zone is displayed. Access the Weekly display for
the sport zones you have been exercising in, and the time spent exercising in one. The Polar ProTrainer
5 software offers up to 10 sport zones to better serve your training needs and heart rate reserve.
OwnZone Training
Your cycling computer automatically determines an individual and safe exercise intensity zone: your
OwnZone. The unique Polar OwnZone defines your personal training zone for aerobic training. The
function guides you through your warm-up, and takes your present physical and mental condition into
account. For most adults, OwnZone corresponds to 65-85% of maximum heart rate
OwnZone can be determined in 1-5 minutes during a warm-up period by cycling, walking, jogging, or
doing some other sport. The idea is to start exercising slowly at a light intensity, and to gradually
increase intensity and heart rate. OwnZone is developed for healthy people. Some health conditions
may cause heart rate variability-based OwnZone determination to fail. These conditions include high
blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, and certain medications.
Listening to and interpreting the signals your body sends during physical exertion is an important part
of getting fit. Since warm-up routines differ for different types of exercise, and since your physical and
mental state may also vary from day to day (due to stress or illness), using the OwnZone function for
every session guarantees the most effective heart rate target zone for that particular type of exercise
and day.
For more information on how to determine your OwnZone see Determine Your OwnZone.
Maximum Heart Rate
Maximum heart rate (HR
max
) is the highest number of heartbeats per minute (bpm) during maximum
physical exertion. It is individual and depends on age, hereditary factors, and fitness level. It may also
vary for different types of sports. HR
max
is used to express exercise intensity.
Determining Maximum Heart Rate
Your HR
max
can be determined in several ways.
The most accurate way is to have your HR
max
clinically measured. A stress test supervised by a
cardiologist or exercise physiologist is usually performed on a treadmill or a maximal treadmill/ bicycle.
You can also determine your HR
max
by taking a field test together with a training partner.
An estimate or a HR
max
-p score that predicts your HR
max
can be obtained by taking a Polar Fitness
Test.
The commonly used formula: 220 - age, although research shows that the method is not very accurate,
especially for older persons or those who have been fit for many years.
If you have done some hard training in recent weeks and know that you can safely reach maximum
heart rate, you can safely take a test to determine your HR
max
yourself. Having a training buddy during
the test is recommended. If you are uncertain, consult your physician before undertaking the test.
Here is an example of a simple test.
Step 1: Warm up for 20 minutes on a flat surface, building up to your usual training pace.
Step 2: Choose a hill that will take more than 2 minutes to climb. Cycle up the hill once, building to
as hard a pace as you can hold for 20 minutes. Return to the base of the hill.
Step 3: Cycle up the hill again, building towards a pace you could just about hold for 10 minutes.
Note your highest heart rate. Your maximum is approximately 10 beats higher than the noted value.
Step 4: Cycle back down the hill, allowing your heart rate to drop 30-40 beats per minute.
Polar CS600 User Manual 46