WHAT DATA IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR CYCLISTS | Pro Cyclist Hannah Otto | Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 564
Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad
Interpreting HRV and long-term trends
Hannah explains using HRV for trends over time and cautions against short-term decisions from single readings.
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// TOPICS COVERED
(00:00:01) Welcome!
(00:00:29) Which wearable data points matter, and how do you use them?
(00:07:03) Hannahâs take on data and wearables
(00:10:23) Sleep tracking reality check
(00:14:30) HRV/readiness scores
(00:19:00) Steps/calories/strain
(00:23:19) Continuous glucose monitors
(00:25:41) Hydration + sodium
(00:31:13) Recap: whatâs useful vs. noise
(00:33:12) The best âdataâ you can collect
(00:35:58) Indoor training priorities
(00:41:59) Fueling indoors
(00:45:11) Workout execution hierarchy
(00:49:55) Power vs heart rate
(00:55:48) Balancing Zwift racing with structured training
(00:58:35) How racing can stall fitness
(01:05:59) 2026 Lifetime Grand Prix roster
In this episode, Hannah and Coach Jonathan dig into the messy middle of wearables and training metrics, what is genuinely useful, what is mostly noise, and how to keep data from hijacking your confidence before you even start a workout. They unpack why metrics like HRV, readiness scores, sleep stages, and body battery style numbers can be wildly inconsistent across devices, and why those numbers work best as retrospective context that confirms what you already feel rather than daily go or no go decision makers. From there, the conversation turns practical, focusing on what actually drives performance, executing the plan, fueling well (especially indoors), and recovering consistently, then using data only if it supports adherence instead of adding friction. They also highlight underrated but far more actionable tools like post ride notes and long term patterns, with a clear warning not to let a watch seal the fate of your day before you have given the workout an honest shot.
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