With Valentine’s Day less than a month away, we have the perfect gift for the cyclist who gets your heart aflutter.
The TICKR from Wahoo is a chest-based heart rate monitor that also records calorie burn data. This information can then be easily shared, via bluetooth with your smartphone, tablet or smartwatch and platforms such as Zwift, Nike Run Club or Peloton.
The monitor features a slim, pebble-shaped design for comfort and the chest strap is super light.
Win a heart rate monitor for Valentine’s Day
We have a heart rate monitor and strap worth £40 to giveaway. If you would like to be in with a chance of winning, simply leave us a message at the bottom of the page and we’ll pick a name next week so we cam get the prize to you before Valentine’s Day.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but science says cyclists stay young
It’s already known that cyclists typically have a level of fitness equivalent to being 10 years younger, but now scientists believe cycling could be responsible for maintaining youth itself. Researchers at Kings College London monitored 120 cyclists aged between 55 and 79 and failed to observe signs of ageing that would be typical in the same age profile.
Cycling can counter the ageing effect of a sedentary lifestyle
Cycling and the ‘fountain of youth’
Cycling and the fountain of youth. The association may seem fanciful, but the researchers found that regular riders ‘optimise the ageing process’. Steve Harridge of King’s College London, senior author of the study published in the Journal of Physiology said: “We had assumed that there is a linear straight line decline in physiology with ageing, but that is very unlikely to be the case. We’re not saying we’re reversing ageing, but that cycling seems to optimise the ageing process.”
“Because most of the population is largely sedentary, the tendency is to assume that inactivity is the inevitable condition for humans. However, given that our genetic inheritance stems from a period when high levels of physical activity were the likely norm, being physically active should be considered to play an essential role in maintaining health and well-being throughout life.”
In order to qualify for the study, the 120 cyclists had to be capable of covering 100 km (60 km for women) in less than five and a half hours. The subjects had their respiratory, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, metabolic, endocrine and cognitive functions assessed over two days.
According to the researchers, the main problem facing such health research is sedentary lifestyle, which causes physiological problems at any age. This can cause confusion over how much the decline in bodily functions is due to the natural ageing process and how much to the combined effects of ageing and inactivity.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Thirty years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance, breakdown cover and home insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
Melissa Lee
My fiance is an avid cyclist and would love a heart rate monitor!
Greg
my lovers heart will beat faster with a TICKR
Hannah Lord
What a novel and brilliant way to say I love you on Valentine’s Day! My fiancé loves his bike and has been out a lot more. One of these would be great for his fitness training
John
I would just love for one to be sent to my wife to give to me on V day. ❤🙏😀🚵♀️🚵♂️🚴🚴
Wayne Fox
Tickr-tickr-tickr-ty boo…
what I could doo…
with a brand new Wahoo!
🙂
Dave
Keeping on top of your health, is knowing how you heart is doing!
Leslie Smith
I love ETA services I look forward to your weekly newsletter. If I win the monitor i ‘d give it to my wife who has taken up running for the first time, she is almost 69.
Leslie Smith
She will kill me as she is 59 not 69! 😕
Leslie Smith
She will kill me as she is 59 not 69! 😕
PeteG
Wow! A HRM that I would dearly love to give to my lovely wife Anna.
It would slow her down to a more sensible pace that I can keep up with. Lol
Keith
My heart’s desire for my heart’s desire!
Frank
I’m in love with myself – but I’d give my heart to the one who could love me for all the cycling and mountain biking that I do.
Lance Woodman
This is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift
Carol W
Wahoo! This would be great!! 🙂
Diane Whateley
Sounds great!
Robert Lewis
I’ve often wondered what my heart rate was when out on a ride. It would be great to find out.
Peter Chisnall
Thumping!
David Webster
Lovely present (useful for a mature-ish Wife).
David Webster
Thoughtful present for My Dear Wife.
Bryn Gwyndaf Jones
What a brilliant thing!
Bryn Gwyndaf Jones
What an unexpected thing – couldn’t be greater!
Stephen Conrad
I have just had a cardio version and would love to have one of these to know I can go out riding alone in safety
Gavin
Ideal… would be able to re-enact the opening credits of The Six-Million Dollar Man. Not.
PeterG
My HRM is now on its last legs, it would be great to win this.
My wife would love to give me one as a Valentine present.
Russ Taylor
I definitely need one of those to ensure I don’t have a cardiac arrest the next time I go out cycling. Lock down has not been kind to me and my bike has been gathering cobwebs outside the back door these last few months. Time for me to get it out again I think, but I need something to stop me overdoing it and ending up in A&E!!!!
Vincent Procter
My heart quickens at the thrill.
I wonder if my wife will hit MHR this valentines, or whether it’ll be me?
Fergus D
What a treat this would be for a Valentine present!
Peter Clark
Rose are red 🌹
Violets are blue 💙
For Valentines Day ❤️
Might I win a Wahoo? 🚴
Thomas Adrian Kendon
People call me Adrian which confuses the bank, the doctor and several other individuals. But not my wife who would love a heart rate monitor to help he raise funds by doing sponsored exercise for a children’s charity.
deadmanjones
Boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom
Greg
my lovers heart will beat faster with a TICKR
Tracey
Wahoo!! What a fabulous valentines gift for my husband if I was lucky enough to win 😉
Wayne Fox
Tickr-tickr-tickr-ty boo,
What I’d love to do,
With a great new Wahoo!
😉
Chris Bromwich
Looks an awesome addition the the ever increasing gadgets available to monitor health and a perfect gift to an enthusiastic cyclist.
Chris L
Love Cycling? Is my heart still in it? This is one way to find out for sure!