Oops - 103% of MHR on ride today...

[amnesia]

I had open-heart surgery (for a VSD) when I was 1 year old, and although I was 'signed off' as healthy (whatever that means) when I was 18 I still have a murmur which really confuses BUPA at my company health check every year. I am now 36 and have a theoretical MHR of 184bpm.

Anyway - I got a bit carried away in a climb with a group of friends today and hit 190bpm at one point. I felt really sick so sat down at the side of the road for a few minutes until it dropped below 130 and then carried on (although I was absolutely pooped so the last 20 miles hurt - a lot !).


Despite the fact that I am getting fitter with each ride, my resting heart rate is still around 80bpm (measured first thing in the morning). How can I lower this and improve my aerobic capacity so that I don't die on the next 18% climb ?

Any thoughts ?

Cheers,
Daniel.

 

[nosherduke996]

I wouldn,t worry to much. I am 55years old and can still get my heart rate to 190 bpm which according various formulers is way to high. Also did a ride yesterday of 52miles of 160bpm average and 4000 ft of climbing.

 

[ThePainInSpain]

I personally would be a little more careful. But that's just me.

I had a bit of a scare 12 months ago, with BP through the roof. was 4 stone overweight and lived a sedentary lifestyle.

I've been on CoAprival tabs for the past year and these seem to slow the heart rate. I now have a resting HR of around 59 and can rarely get it above about 103. My legs give out before the lungs.

BTW I'm nearly 62

I've been back cycling after a 12 year lay off for about 7 weeks, did 23 kms today in what felt like treacle. All off road. And where I live there ain't such a thing as a flat stretch of road. As I live in a valley, everywhere I go is uphill (great on the way back though ).

 

[gavintc]

I am unable to provide comment to someone with a potential heart condition. However, a normal healthy person can breach their theoretical MHR as this is simply a figure pulled from a book. We are all a little different, and heart rates are one of the idiosynchracies. I am 53 and can occasionally see 187 - well outside my range. So, I think, you are Ok. A doctor should be able to provide additional comment based on your condition.

With regards to lowering the resting pulse rate - this takes time, hard work and dedication. If you train regularly 4-5 times a week, you should see this start to fall. You will also note your various bands of work in HR effort when on the bike. For example, you will learn what is an easy pace, what is the limit you can run at without blowing up and what is a steady hard work pace than you do for a few hours. These are all unique to you and you need to learn the numbers tht apply to your body.

 

[amnesia]

I am unable to provide comment to someone with a potential heart condition. However, a normal healthy person can breach their theoretical MHR as this is simply a figure pulled from a book. We are all a little different, and heart rates are one of the idiosynchracies. I am 53 and can occasionally see 187 - well outside my range. So, I think, you are Ok. A doctor should be able to provide additional comment based on your condition.

With regards to lowering the resting pulse rate - this takes time, hard work and dedication. If you train regularly 4-5 times a week, you should see this start to fall. You will also note your various bands of work in HR effort when on the bike. For example, you will learn what is an easy pace, what is the limit you can run at without blowing up and what is a steady hard work pace than you do for a few hours. These are all unique to you and you need to learn the numbers tht apply to your body.

Thank you !

As I have a thorough medical every year with work (last one in May this year) I know that my BP is OK, and that the only thing is that I am a little overweight (I was a lottle overweight, but I've almost sorted that - see sig). I feel a whole lot fitter than I did at the beginning of summer.

I guess it's just going to be a hard slog over the winter on the rollers / turbo to improve my fitness and then keep it there. I am quite happy riding in a group at ~18mph for a couple of hours, but I really can't do long hills. Short, sharp hills I actually quite like

but anything longer than a couple of hundred yards and I blow up really quickly. I like going down them though - broke the 40mph barrier today for the first time

Right - time to get motivated so off to buy Sufferfest Angels... wish me luck.

 

[gavintc]

Thank you !

As I have a thorough medical every year with work (last one in May this year) I know that my BP is OK, and that the only thing is that I am a little overweight (I was a lottle overweight, but I've almost sorted that - see sig). I feel a whole lot fitter than I did at the beginning of summer.

I guess it's just going to be a hard slog over the winter on the rollers / turbo to improve my fitness and then keep it there. I am quite happy riding in a group at ~18mph for a couple of hours, but I really can't do long hills. Short, sharp hills I actually quite like

but anything longer than a couple of hundred yards and I blow up really quickly. I like going down them though - broke the 40mph barrier today for the first time

Right - time to get motivated so off to buy Sufferfest Angels... wish me luck.

It sounds like you are well on target. Cycling is one of these irritating sports, that you can get quite good at without too much effort and then to improve to the next level takes an inordinate amount of effort. IMO it is one of those 80/20 rules. You also need to develop a significant base miles in your legs, just riding with a group, brings small rewards and improvements, but it can sickeningly slow. Especially as your ride partners are also improving.

18 mph for a few hours is an excellent speed, and one that will allow you to progress from. Don't beat yourself up, but congratulate yourself on your achievements so far.

 

[amnesia]

Thank you for the encouragement

much appreciated.



32% of Sufferfest Angels downloaded...

 

[Steve H]

Think you've actually just worked out your actual MHR rather than your theoretical MHR.

 

[amnesia]

Think you've actually just worked out your actual MHR rather than your theoretical MHR.

Good point !

I don't think I'd want to go any higher

 

[PK99]

I am unable to provide comment to someone with a potential heart condition.  However, a normal healthy person can breach their theoretical MHR as this is simply a figure pulled from a book. 

Two cardiologists going to a conference needed a paper to justify going, did a quick and dirty Literature Review of reported max heart rates with age. Did a straight line plot to the data a came up with max = 220-age.

the rest is history.

 

[amnesia]

Two cardiologists going to a conference needed a paper to justify going, did a quick and dirty Literature Review of reported max heart rates with age. Did a straight line plot to the data a came up with max = 220-age.

the rest is history.

Depends which formula you use...

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/maxhr.htm

 

[jimboalee]

Depends which formula you use...

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/maxhr.htm

No formula here....

Take it until it won't go faster.

50 yrs old and I had 183.

 

[Farky]

I went up a 14% incline yesterday and had a max HR of 202bpm on the Garmin but my resting HR is fairly low at 51bpm. Work that out.

 

[gavintc]

Depends which formula you use...

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/maxhr.htm

This does not work for me. None of the proposed MHR are close to my MHR. They all represent roughly my 'red zone' work above that heart rate and I will only have a shortish spell at this level, before I need a rest.

 

[PK99]

Depends which formula you use...

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/maxhr.htm

even that gives my max (maximum in the table of calculated maximma) as 172.





I can cruise up a long steady incline at 166/167 (96%) without feeling over stressed ie it is still way off