Team NuMetrex: Wheeler Gives Heart Rate Monitor Cycling a Spin

When NuMetrex R&D Manager Brian Wheeler started to develop problems with his feet from running too much, he turned to cycling as a low impact exercise. His 15-mile ride from Landenberg, Pa., to the company’s Wilmington, Del., office has become a daily athletic endeavor. And his NuMetrex heart rate monitor is helping him keep track of his progress.

“I was surprised to find that cycling and running are very different, they require a different set of muscles and a different kind of aerobic capacity,” he explains. “When cycling, my average heart rate is significantly lower, but my peak heart rate tends to be higher. There’s much more variation over time. By looking at my heart rate at the top of hills, I get a good sense of my aerobic fitness level.”

Having discovered a challenging route with lots of hills, Wheeler at first found he couldn’t make it up some of the steeper climbs. As the weeks went by, he conquered the hills and his NuMetrex heart rate monitor revealed his improved fitness level. “I love this ride to work. It’s not easy, but it’s neat to be doing something that combines some training and fitness, along with saving gas and benefiting the environment,” he says.

Wheeler also brings his passion for cycling and heart rate monitoring to work, where he is developing new applications for the company’s textile heart rate sensors. He hopes to eventually add some heart rate monitoring cycling jerseys to the NuMetrex line of fitness apparel, which now includes a cardio shirt for men, racer tank for women, sports bra, and a textile heart rate monitor strap.

“I like the Cardio Shirt for cycling because it gives very good results. I have data I’ve taken from my rides to work where I can pick out exactly where I am on my route based on my heart rate. It’s very accurate,” he reports. “Our fabric chest strap is another solution for cyclists, but I hope to offer a heart rate monitoring shirt that’s specially designed for cycling in the future.”

To learn more about differences in heart rate when cycling versus running, check out this article at slowtwitch.com.