Affairs of the Heart? Hey, today is February 14, after all. The day often seems to mean red roses; heart-shaped boxes of chocolates; and pretty cards. Maybe balloons, too.

Many a cyclist is concerned with affairs of the heart in the course of daily training. Your heart rate can help tell you how hard you\’re working; a heart-rate monitor has been compared to the tachometer of a car.

If you want to know whether you\’re progressing in your training, knowing your heart rate is helpful. For example, if a certain climb used to push your heart rate to the max, and now it doesn\’t, quite likely you\’re improving.

Leaving such physiological measures aside, there\’s plain old love of cycling. That\’s why we ride, isn\’t it?

It\’s why we layer up and ride when the mercury drops; even if we know that riding in the cold means a maddeningly runny nose. It\’s why we go for long rides when the temperature at 5 am is already 80 degrees. It\’s why we even ride in the rain!

So wear your heart on your sleeve today. Go for a bicycle ride! Enjoy!!