Many athletes wear heart rate monitors while they ride, but does that mean you should too? The short answer: Yes absolutely! Out of all the fitness monitoring gadgets, a heart rate monitor should be the number one device you should invest in.

They aren'€™t just for pro-athletes or just some super cute accessory to your new workout gear. Strapping on one of these nifty contraptions is your way of keep in check with your body'€™s movements to ensure a safer and more effective workout. Need a bit of convincing? Here is why you should wear a heart rate monitor during every bike ride.

Prevents Over Exertion

Ever had one of those personal trainers who insisted that your workout should take you to the passing out phase? Those trainers were big fat liars. No one should train that hard. When you do, you put yourself at risk of injury and affect your body's ability to burn fat. This is especially common for those who undertake a gruelling regime for a big riding event with many riders finding that their recovery time is drawn out. So in saying that, how do you know (besides the obvious head spinning) that you are over-exerting? A heart rate monitor provides you with all the details of your workout and shows where you stand at every moment, making it easy to assess and effectively readjust your intensity if necessary. All of this can be done without stopping, counting your pulse or doing your head in with mathematic calculations.

Provides an Accurate Reading

If you've been relying on articles or basic calorie counting devices to determine how effective your ride will be, you may have noticed that you aren't getting the results you desire. While these methods are great for estimating how effective your ride is, that'€™s all it is, an estimate. Variables like your height, weight, age and heart rate won't be taken into account, producing an inaccurate reading. If weight loss is your main goal, your heart rate monitor will factor these in, so the number on the screen accurately represents a clear record of your progress.

You Become the Coach

To be honest, preparing for a large riding event is exhausting. While we are being completely honest, even mustering up motivation to hop on your bike is a daily struggle. If this sounds like you, then you are the perfect candidate for a heart rate monitor. You could call it your new best friend. A best friend who gives you uplifting words of encouragement in the form of a loud beeeeeeeep. When you start to slack off and your heart rate lowers, your best friend will beep at you to pick up the pace to the level you need.

Measures Your Progress

As you lose weight and your fitness levels improve, the intensity level of your ride will need to be increased or varied to avoid a plateau. Keeping in line with your improvements and new levels is as simple as changing the configurations on your HRM. It will help you increase to your new intensity at safe level. What about you? Do you wear a heart rate monitor for riding? Did you notice a difference when you started using it?