So whats your maximum heart rate?

[amaferanga]

What is the point in chasing a higher max HR?

For willy waving?

Thing is though, if someone has a very high max HR and they're not a talented athlete then that probably means they've got a teeny little heart

 

[ushills]

From my understanding of the polar website and other sources, your maxHR is your maxHR and not much can be done about it, you can improve your resting HR with exercise, however, the main guide to fitness is how quickly your HR gets back to your resting HR following exercise.

Have a look at karvonen method for calculating the appropriate thresholds for exercising, it is important to exercise appropriately for long term benefit and spending significant time at maxHR unless a super fit athlete will only cause damage, injury and fatigue.

 

[ushills]

Also as you get fitter you will use less of your HR capacity for the same work, i.e, your heart gets more efficient. MaxHR and resting HR will change little.

 

[fossyant]

Max Heat Rate is individual. If you train with a HR/Garmin then you'll find out. It's useful for gauging fitness and health but for you alone.

Mine is about 190/192 these days. That said, when I was on my nerve meds it messed about with my HR, and on some climbs where I was riding comfortably and I'd be ticking along at about 175, on the meds I was hitting 190 without trying - this told me they were no good. Since stopping it's settled.

If you know where your HR is usually whilst riding, and you find it's either too high or too low, this can be an indication that you are unwell.

In my 20's my HR would do about 205 max.

 

[Crackle]

One of my reasons behind getting a turbo trainer, other than the obvious ability to ride inside, was to be able to perform controlled fitness/HR tests. After getting it last week, one of the first things that I did the following day (after properly warming up) was to do me a max HR ramp test.

And you know what, I was gutted! I expected to be up into the 190's easily, and I actually cr*pped out at 186. My resting is around 60bpm, but I expected to be able to get higher than that, but I also reckon I probably didn't go hard enough on the test right at the end. I'll try again in a week or so to see if I can bully myself a little bit harder!

You want to repeat a ramp test! You're a braver man than me Gungha-din. I suppose if you were competing then fair enough but otherwise why. What makes you think 186 is not your max? I know mine is 191 from a self-test I've done and I've never got near to it again in the course of normal riding, closest is 186 and that was running, not riding. I would take 186 and set your zones on that. Higher or lower is not better, it's just you. If you think you had more, just add a few beats, there's nowt to be gained from doing it again, well not for a mere casual mortal like me there isn't.

 

[GrasB]

What is the point in chasing a higher max HR?

not a clue, if you have a high HRmax then so be it, however it doesn't actually mean anything... Now if we talk about watts produced at HRmax...

 

[Norry1]

Age 51
MHR 171

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

You want to repeat a ramp test! You're a braver man than me Gungha-din. I suppose if you were competing then fair enough but otherwise why. What makes you think 186 is not your max? I know mine is 191 from a self-test I've done and I've never got near to it again in the course of normal riding, closest is 186 and that was running, not riding. I would take 186 and set your zones on that. Higher or lower is not better, it's just you. If you think you had more, just add a few beats, there's nowt to be gained from doing it again, well not for a mere casual mortal like me there isn't.

Well, I want to compete, so that's one reason I suppose. The other is that I just think I probably could have done a little bit more: It's all very well to attempt these things and *think* you've given it your all, but the reality of it is more likely that there's a little bit of effort left in there, but your mind is telling you to stop, so you do. In all fairness, I think that would be true of most people - but I've now found a place locally that does proper cycling fit tests , so I've made an appointment to go in there in a few weeks time to have one done properly - A 3rd party will always push me harder than I can push myself.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Thanks for the informative replies.
So the basics are that heart rates are individual and can only be used to track improvements
of the individual over time ... such as heart rate decreasing as the heart gets more efficient.

I may pay more attention to my heart rate in future, and start looking at "training zones" and
"interval training".

As for willy waving ... mine got gangrene and fell off years ago due to having my seat front
too high.

 

[Blue]

Thanks for the informative replies.
So the basics are that heart rates are individual and can only be used to track improvements
of the individual over time ... such as heart rate decreasing as the heart gets more efficient.

I may pay more attention to my heart rate in future, and start looking at "training zones" and
"interval training".

As for willy waving ... mine got gangrene and fell off years ago due to having my seat front
too high.

Now you're talking my language, however, it's only useful if you want to compete. Why don't you have a go at a TT in 2012 - that's when the numbers game will start to be fun.

 

[Blue]

not a clue, if you have a high HRmax then so be it, however it doesn't actually mean anything... Now if we talk about watts produced at HRmax...

Let's face it, that's where it's at, isn't it. HR is such a blunt instrument and subject to 'drift' etc when in the heat of competition.

I would just love to be able to afford a powermeter - wherein lies the problem for many.

 

[Blue]

What is the point in chasing a higher max HR?

There isn't any point in this. However, it's inportant to get the number so that training zones can be set with a view to altering the various 'thresholds' which determine ability to hold/produce particular efforts in competittion.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

There isn't any point in this. However, it's inportant to get the number so that training zones can be set with a view to altering the various 'thresholds' which determine ability to hold/produce particular efforts in competittion.

This I knew.

 

[Crackle]

Well, I want to compete, so that's one reason I suppose. The other is that I just think I probably could have done a little bit more: It's all very well to attempt these things and *think* you've given it your all, but the reality of it is more likely that there's a little bit of effort left in there, but your mind is telling you to stop, so you do. In all fairness, I think that would be true of most people - but I've now found a place locally that does proper cycling fit tests , so I've made an appointment to go in there in a few weeks time to have one done properly - A 3rd party will always push me harder than I can push myself.

All fairy nuff then, I didn't realize you wanted to compete. I wish you a happy, I'm going to be sick/pass out, ramp test then

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

Nearly all of my cycling ends up with me feeling like that at the moment!