• Interval training based on HR is nigh on impossible to do. HR lags behind effort by 2 minutes or so. Even then you can't maintain a constant output based on HR alone.

    http://www.greenbank.org/misc/hr_int3.jpg

    That's a plot of my HR over a 5x5 interval session. Each interval was maintaining 230W (it's a stationary gym bike that has a power reading), 3 minute recovery spins (75W to 100W) in between intervals.

    For the interval that started just before 30:00 you can see it takes almost 3 minutes for the HR to plateau.

    You'll still see some benefit to doing guesswork intervals, but you'll have no idea of measuring progress. Intervals are also horrible on the road, especially if the roads are busy.

    A powermeter is frighteningly expensive. My PowerTap SL+ and Edge 705 was £1300. I now lust after a fixed version built into a wheel.

    Even with the PowerTap it would be very hard to do intervals on the road. It takes quite a bit of concentration and adjustment to keep your power input at/near a target figure. It wouldn't take long before I'd hit someone, ridden off the road, etc whilst looking at a tiny screen in front of me.

    Use a turbo or down to your local gym with a shitty exercise bike with a power reading on it.

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