What is heart rate variability and can cyclists use it to avoid burn-out?

We dive into the emerging metric which might help athletes predict state of recovery and avoid overtraining

Indoor training on a Wattbike
(Image credit: Future)

Amateur endurance athletes who seek out the assistance of a coach can arguably be split into two distinct camps: those who need to be pushed to train, and those who need to be told when to stop.

Tracking heart rate variability (HRV) can be easily done on best smartwatches for cycling such as the Garmin Epix 2, and it could be particularly beneficial for the latter group, because it may be able to give a clear indication as to when recovery is needed.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.