Bike Hugger 

A recent study, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research took a look at the two most popular training tools for cyclists, heart rate monitors and power meters, and the results challenge the current wisdom of coaches and athletes.

A quick recap: Heart Rate Monitors (HRMs for short) include a strap that goes across the chest to measure the beats of the heart and a receiver (a watch or head unit of some kind) that displays the current heart rate. With information on one’s resting and maximum heart rates, it’s possible to calculate target zones for different types of training zones.

Power meters record the power output of a rider, either through a hub or crank/bottom bracket combination that measures mechanical strain and translates that into wattage numbers. By riding at different wattages, it’s possible to perform various types of training and it’s possible to see what a rider’s maximum output is.

Bicycling.com the web front end to the world’s highest-circulation bike magazine has for years featured a nifty resource for cyclists, a tool that allows anyone with (or without) a GPS to create maps and turn sheets that can be downloaded by any other rider.

The Rides section of the site is the location of all the GPS goodness, and it’s just gotten a much-needed overhaul to the engine used to create maps and turn-by-turn directions. (Full disclosure: I am a contributor to the Rides section, which makes me expertly aware at how frustrating the old system was.)

The new system creates a “follow-the-streets” route planning system that will now automatically generate turn-sheets on the fly. The tool builds a route map and elevation profile as well.

They’ve also added the ability to upload geocoded images from a GPS capable camera, which then automatically links the photos to the correct location on the route map. In the last iteration of the planning software it was necessary to manually place images where you thought they should go.

The free resource is particularly great for people looking for routes in areas they’re visiting, or for anyone who wants to create turn sheets for anything from a trip to the local bodega up to a multi-day event ride. If you’ve got a GPS unit you can download any ride on the site right into your device.

She’d pedal right into our hearts here at Hugga HQ. That’s a poster from the Art of Elvgren.

Uploaded by bballchico | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

The Mobile Social SXSW is brought to you by our Partners at these Levels of Hugga.

Here’s the definitive scoop on the Hugga’s mobile social day at SXSW, March 14, 2009. We’ve got a lot going on, so pay attention: