| mamba80 |
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| 15/07/2008 13:25 |
Heart rates
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after years of a head in sand attitude, i decided to have a look at heart rate zones, but what is the % of? is it , say 60% of max heart rate? ie 220 - age ? or 214 - (0.8 x age)!!!!!
there seems to be different ways to calculate the max HR and then even more ways to use that figure to get a HR zone
percentage!
any advice please
| dang |
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| 15/07/2008 13:40 |
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Re: Heart rates
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Very dependent on your natural levels and state of fitness. My max is still approaching 190 which is a good 55 more than those formulae.
Easiest way to find out is to go as hard as you can up a long steep hill. Or do a Conconi test on a trainer.
But check with your doc before trying this if you're not sure about your heart condition.
| DougMorley |
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| 27/07/2008 07:46 |
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Re: Heart rates
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I am concerned, not so much about max heart rates but on how one's heart is supposed to react to exercise. Just knowing the max heart rate does not determine how the heart rate increases as the intensity of exercise increases. Is it supposed creep up gradually from a base rate when you start cycling and maintain a steady rate (given that you maintain a steady speed, say, on the flat), or does it continue to go up because the demands require it step up the heartbeat.
I have noticed that my rate generally starts at around 125 but steadily increases up to 135-140 as my ride continues. Hills and sprints aside, is this other rider's experience?
I noted in the mag Cycling Plus a rider's heart rates were taken during a fitness test and so-called spikes were noted. This had nothing to do with max rates but apparently indicated a heart problem.
My question must then that how much attention do we need to pay to variations in the readings during a ride or rides?
| bfergie |
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| 27/07/2008 08:14 |
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Re: Heart rates
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I find my heart rate varies between 120 and 150 on a fairly level road when working at a hard but sustainable pace which is where the monitor says it should be but it doesn't take much to make it rise or fall, even a tiny gradient that your legs hardly notice will make a differance.
What I find is important is how quickly my heart rate changes from working up a hill at 180+ bpm to going back to 100 or less on the way down. If your heart rate starts dropping fast as soon as the pressure eases off the legs then your recovery rate is good. On roads that have lots of short sharp hills each one wears you down so fast recovery between them is the key rather than what's happening on the climb itself.
If you wear your monitor when you are home relaxing it will amaze you how much your bpm varies so dont worry about it on the bike unless it's suddenly hammering away on a level road for no reason, watch out for the onset of colds, flu since your heart knows about it and gives mad readings before you feel any symptoms!
| mamba80 |
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| 04/08/2008 15:24 |
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Re: Heart rates
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Thanks everyone.
After trying the hrm a few times, i've realised that i go far too hard for too long too often, which would explain why early season form is always v.good but then gets worse until i have to have a week or 2s rest!
i've always thought that unless you come home absolutely hanging then you might as well had not bothered
!