How hard do you ride?
- Thread starter Binky
- Start date
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If I used 220 minus my age it would give me a max of 151. Today I rode for 5 hours 8 minutes with a max HR of 177 and an average of 143. So if I went with 151 as my max it would mean I rode for 5 hours at 94.7% of my maximum.
If your bothered enough to use a HR monitor you might as well get it right.
If your bothered enough to use a HR monitor you might as well get it right.
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
As in you're worried you might be damaging your heart?
If you're already an avid exerciser, it's usually not a problem to reach or even exceed your maximum heart rate for short periods of time. However, people who have or are at risk for heart disease should be more cautious and check with their clinician about how to exercise safely
https://www.health.harvard.edu/hear...ou're already an,about how to exercise safely.
nagden
Über Member
- Location
- Normandy, France
Not very hard theses days. Up until my late 60’s I was a bit of a no pain no gain rider. I realised it was doing me more harm than good. These days I ride 4 days easy and 2 with some efforts depending on how I feel. I had a test at the cardiologist and my max HR was a 158, a bit higher than the 220 - age. I have a heart rate monitor but tend to ride by feel and look at it post ride out of interest. I have changed my gearing so that I can ride the hills without too much effort and on easy days my max HR is 110 with an average of 100 - 102. On the days with efforts I might hit 130 but not often. I feel better and am always looking forward to the next ride.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I take it easy, then make a bit of an effort, then a bit more of an effort, then I sprint up a steepish ramp, then I freewheel back down, then I whizz along for a while, then I spin up a longer climb, then...
You get the idea!
This is some data from today's little ride:
You get the idea!
This is some data from today's little ride:
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Start with 130 miles and go up from there
Nope, definitely not a lack of fitness. And on some hills if steep and long enough within a long ride can and do result in getting to near max HR even going as easy as possible. I experienced this yesterday and even purposely went as easy as possible with this in mind.
lazybloke
Ginger biscuits and cheddar
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
The formula is only a guide!
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Been up many a 25% and even 33% hills and not hit max HR. By what measure are you fit, if you can’t get up steep hills without hitting your max?
You make it sound like that's a bad thing!
And what bike/gearing were you on going up those hills? How far had you ridden prior to hitting hills and what was elevation gain at that point.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
I’d ridden about 95 miles, about 11,000ft of gain, and 1.07 gearing at the time. But I’ve also done hills that steep many a time and never had to hit max HR, even sat down on a recumbent. By going hard all the time you’re not developing your aerobic base and efficiency. Thus limiting your fitness.
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A recumbent? Interesting. I see them around on occasion although never ridden one but from my position of ignorance of never even sat on one they always strike me as even more vunerable to other road users specifically traffic than a regular bike. Being so low the view point must be so restricted.
Is there a specific reason you ride one or just what took your fancy?
