hjólpúls

Hjólpúls is an Icelandic compound word formed from hjól, meaning bicycle or wheel, and púls, meaning pulse. In Icelandic cycling and fitness contexts, the term is used to refer to pulse-related signals or measurements associated with cycling. It is not a widely standardized term in English-language cycling literature, and its precise meaning can vary by context.

The term can have two related senses. First, wheel pulse refers to a pulsed signal generated by a sensor connected to the wheel or to the crank, often via a magnet and sensor, used to determine wheel RPM, speed, and distance. In bike computers and cycling telemetry, this cadence or wheel-pulse signal is a fundamental input for performance data. Second, hjólpúls may be used informally to describe a cyclist’s pulse during a ride, i.e., heart rate measured while cycling, which is used for training planning and zone-based workouts.

Measurement and devices commonly involved include cadence sensors, magnet-based wheel sensors, and GPS-enabled bike computers for wheel-pulse data, as well as chest-strap or optical heart rate monitors for cardiovascular data. The data support training optimization, routing decisions, and performance tracking.

In usage, hjólpúls appears primarily in Icelandic-language materials. In English, similar concepts are described as cadence signals, wheel pulse, or heart-rate during cycling. See also heart rate, cadence, wheel sensor, and bike computer.