How hard do you ride?

[Binky]

I cycle on average 3 times a week, usually 30miles per ride but with an elevation gain of 2500-3000ft so I'd class as hilly. Some rides longer, 50miles or so but with corresponding amount of climbing.
I find it almost impossible to not go hard even if I try not to. Getting up a 15% incline takes effort no matter what.
I do enjoy pushing myself but I wonder if it's detrimental over time to constantly get next max HR on almost every ride.
Been lots of articles on benefits of zone 2 etc but unless I ride up and down same 5miles stretch of road I inevitably get into hills and keeping HR down is then nigh on impossible.

What does everyone else do? Note I'm a recreational cyclist, I don't race I just do it for fun (and exercise).

 

[FrankCrank]

Whilst riding I've had joggers come past me before, so fair to say I ride not too hard - enough to stop me tipping over

 

[VinSumRox]

Its fairly lumpy round here, I find it can cruise along on the gentle slopes but it's hard to take it easy uphill!

 

[Dogtrousers]

I reserve trying hard for the turbo. On the road I just trundle along. Obviously I have to try a bit harder when forced to by a hill but, I try to keep it to a minimum.

 

[All uphill]

I've been thinking about this recently.

I seem to adopt the quickest pace I can maintain indefinitely and still be able to enjoy my surroundings. I'll twiddle up hills in a 18" gear if necessary.

That way I don't arrive in a sweaty, exhausted mess.

 

[Binky]

I've been thinking about this recently.

I seem to adopt the quickest pace I can maintain indefinitely and still be able to enjoy my surroundings. I'll twiddle up hills in a 18" gear if necessary.

That way I don't arrive in a sweaty, exhausted mess.

I see your location is Somerset, well I've cycled around there and it's hilly! Had a weeks holiday there couple years ago during a heatwave and boy was it tough on the hills in the heat.

 

[All uphill]

I see your location is Somerset, well I've cycled around there and it's hilly! Had a weeks holiday there couple years ago during a heatwave and boy was it tough on the hills in the heat.

And it gets hillier as you head west into Devon. That's why I sit down and spin.

 

[PaulSB]

I cycle on average 3 times a week, usually 30miles per ride but with an elevation gain of 2500-3000ft so I'd class as hilly. Some rides longer, 50miles or so but with corresponding amount of climbing.
I find it almost impossible to not go hard even if I try not to. Getting up a 15% incline takes effort no matter what.
I do enjoy pushing myself but I wonder if it's detrimental over time to constantly get next max HR on almost every ride.
Been lots of articles on benefits of zone 2 etc but unless I ride up and down same 5miles stretch of road I inevitably get into hills and keeping HR down is then nigh on impossible.

What does everyone else do? Note I'm a recreational cyclist, I don't race I just do it for fun (and exercise).

What you describe is what I know as the golden ratio. 1000 feet climbed for every 10 miles ridden, a good challenging ride.

I would expect a flat ride to be in Z1 or Z2 for at least 85% of the ride. That's with an average of 14 - 16mph. For a hilly ride I would hope to be in Z1/Z2 for 70/75% of the ride. The rest would be Z3/4.

I might hit max HR for a few minutes but not, as you seem to suggest you are doing, for a longer period. I wouldn't feel happy reaching max HR for extended periods.

Z1/Z2 riding suits me, building stamina and endurance while being able to chat for mile after mile. Push beyond that and conversation becomes difficult and much of the pleasure is lost.

 

[Binky]

Well no if I reach max HR I cannot sustain that for any period, less than a minute I'd think otherwise I'm blowing up. My point is just about every ride I am hitting max HR either by design or by fact that is needed to get up a hard climb.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

30 miles and up to 3000', presumably at a reasonable average speed: you would have to be pretty fit not to hit the upper bump stop on your HR.

If you are exceeding your Max HR for significant periods of time then you are almost certainly overdoing things, imo.

I know that the depths can be plumbed when discussing the ins & outs of Max HR calculation but, as an older guy, the 220-age calculation serves me well and I deliberately do not go on routes where I know that this figure would be exceeded for significant amounts of time.

 

[Ian H]

I get round the heart-rate problem by mostly forgetting to wear the strap. I have no interest in fitness 'wearables'.

 

[Binky]

I get round the heart-rate problem by mostly forgetting to wear the strap. I have no interest in fitness 'wearables'.

I wear a HRM specifically to make sure I don't blow up. When I'm getting near my max HR I try if possible to back off so I don't blow my doors.
I know should be able to do his on feel but not always and I find it useful.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Well no if I reach max HR I cannot sustain that for any period, less than a minute I'd think otherwise I'm blowing up. My point is just about every ride I am hitting max HR either by design or by fact that is needed to get up a hard climb.

I hit my max HR very very rarely. There's only one hill that I ride with any regularity where that's likely to happen, that's Yorks Hill. I can really struggle to stay upright and moving, dodging the debris, on that hill.

When I'm out and about I tend not to go out of HR Z3 for any significant time even on my hilliest rides.

 

[Drago]

I ride harder than a Ross Kemp documentary.

 

[Punkawallah]

I ride harder than a Ross Kemp documentary.

‘Ave it!’