A heart rate monitor allows you to assess the aerobic and anerobic levels at which you are performing during a workout. Many spinning classes focus on heart rate target training. In that, you are encouraged to ride in a particular hear rate zone. A heart rate monitor is much more accurate, convienient and safer to use than feeling your pulse during a workout.

Due to genetics, overall body shape and fitness level, everyone has different heart rates. There are some general heart rate zones that posted on the wall that simply categorize you age and a percentage. However, I found that not to be accurate for me. Once you get a heart rate monitor, your workouts will be drastically different. Times when you think you are not pushing exercising enough, your heart may be telling you likewise. And, if you are like me, sometimes if you think you are riding like Lance, you heart tells you you can turn your resistance knob up.

The heart rate monitor is a simple device. It is usually mounted on a strap that goes across your chest next to your skin. It is important to have body contact and a snug (but not constricting) fit. There are sensors in the monitor that pick up the heart rate. Often the contacts need to be moist for the monitor to being picking up your HR signal. Another component needed is something to read the signal. Many spinning bike have monitors on them as do a lot of newer equiment in the gym, such as treadmills, elipical trainers and stationary bike. If you was true portability, most monitors come with a digital watch. Not only does this provide you the ability to use the HRM our of the gym, but also in the gym when the monitors on a particular bike fail.

For me, I use a Polar RS200. I know it is a "running" heart rate monitor. But it has just enough features at a reasonable price. I got mine for about $130.00 The features I really like is the automatic night light. In that many spinning classes are held in darkened rooms, I just have to bring my wrist close to the strap monitor on my chest to have an indigo light show me my heart rate. This beats squinting at my wrist or trying to find the light button on the monitor attached to the bike. I also like that is has different exercises, allows for heart rate zone entry and will even estimate my calories burned.