In the world of cycling, approaches to training vary. Some swear by their power meter, others stick to their heart rate monitor, and a few diehards prefer to rely solely on their feelings. But is riding by feel enough to train effectively? Here's an exploration of the different methods for measuring intensity and optimizing performance, while keeping people at the center of the equation.
By Guillaume Judas – Photos: depositphotos.com
Modern tools: a revolution in training
In a quarter of a century, cycling has seen the emergence of a whole range of technological tools: heart rate sensors, cadence sensors, power meters, GPS meters, connected home trainers and analysis applications.These tools allow you to measure, analyze, and track your activities in great detail. But this abundance of data can sometimes make you lose sight of the most important thing: knowing how to listen to your body.
Because, As accurate as this data is, it is only useful if you know how to interpret it.Electronic tools, while advanced, remain imperfect, with their margins of error. And great health isn't just a series of numbers: it's a delicate balance between optimizing energy systems, motivation, and personal experience.
Sensations vs technology: the great debate
Opposite cyclists geeks who never cycle without their connected gadgets, some prefer to rely exclusively on their body's signals to manage their effort, their training and their season. Between these two extremes, there is a happy medium. But one thing is certain: sensations must always remain at the heart of your practice.
Riding by feel doesn't mean training without a strategy.Many cyclists rely on their feelings to adjust their rides: muscle sensations, breathing, recovery after an effort or ease on a reference hill. They adapt their training volume to their form, the weather or the calendar, and do not hesitate to shorten or extend a ride depending on their state of fatigue or ease.
An intuitive and effective approach
Rather than following a series of timed efforts, some people choose courses based on their difficulty.They work on their rhythm by pulling the wool over eyes among friends, sprint to the signs to boost their explosiveness, or join a peloton on Sunday to assess themselves against the competition. This approach, far from being disorderly, is based on self-knowledge and the ability to objectively self-assess.
This does not mean that technological tools should be rejected.. Data from power sensors, such as tests CP5 or CP20 (5 or 20 minute power records) are valuable indicators for assessing your level and guiding your sessions. But they should be used in addition to sensations, not as a replacement.
Cross-referencing data to make better progress
The power directly measures the effort provided, allowing you to push your limits in terms of intensity and duration. Heart rate, with its slight shift in relation to effort, remains a reliable indicator of the energy systems used.An unusual gap between these two metrics can signal an improvement in your fitness or, on the contrary, abnormal fatigue.
Sensations, for their part, bring a subjective but essential dimensionFlexibility in your legs, shortness of breath, or muscle heaviness at a given intensity can tell you a lot about your fitness. By combining this information—power, heart rate, and sensations—you get a complete picture of your progress.
The ESIE scale: an ally for structuring sensations
For a good twenty years, The subjective exertion intensity scale (ESIE) helps cyclists structure their sensations. Divided into seven effort zones, it allows you to link the sensation to the intensity of the exercise and the energy channels used. With a little experience, it is easy to correlate these sensations with the sensor data to manage your effort intelligently.
ESIE scale => HERE
How to find balance?
Training for feel doesn't mean pedaling blindlyIt's about combining intuition and data to adjust your rides, incorporate recovery, and reevaluate your program based on your fitness. Technology is a great ally, but it shouldn't lock you in. Forgetting your computer or sensor from time to time won't make you a worse cyclist.
Anyway, Never forget that sensations remain essential to manage your activity and achieve your goals.Whether you're a gadget freak or a feel purist, the key is finding a balance that allows you to progress while having fun. So, are you ready to listen to your body and ride at your own pace?
