High heart rate during exercise (cycling)
Discussion
I recently started using a heart rate monitor when exercising (mainly cycling on static bike using zwift and similar)... and I'm wondering a)if my heart rate is high/too high, and b) whether it's a problem or likely to decrease as I get fitter. Is it even a benchmark of fitness?
During a 1hr - 1hr 30 ride (about all I can face on a trainer) I'll hit 185bpm and probably average 175bpm - it tends to get up fairly high quite quickly then stay there. With some careful breathing I can keep it around 170. I'm keeping up with people, reeling them in on climbs and certainly don't feel like death and can speak - I generally finish a 'race' mid-table.
Zwift will show the average heart rates of others in the same event - I'm always at the very upper end and rarely have anyone with a higher average than me. Does a high average HR mean anything?
I've always thought of myself as fairly fit for a non-athlete - I'm 42 with no underlying health issues - I had an ECG about 6 months ago for work, all fine.
During a 1hr - 1hr 30 ride (about all I can face on a trainer) I'll hit 185bpm and probably average 175bpm - it tends to get up fairly high quite quickly then stay there. With some careful breathing I can keep it around 170. I'm keeping up with people, reeling them in on climbs and certainly don't feel like death and can speak - I generally finish a 'race' mid-table.
Zwift will show the average heart rates of others in the same event - I'm always at the very upper end and rarely have anyone with a higher average than me. Does a high average HR mean anything?
I've always thought of myself as fairly fit for a non-athlete - I'm 42 with no underlying health issues - I had an ECG about 6 months ago for work, all fine.
How long have you been cycling for? How hard is your 60 - 90 minute effort?
Presumably if you're using Zwift and the like, you have some idea of the power you're putting out?
When you're hitting the high HR numbers are you in all out efforts/climbing/sprinting?
As others have said, HR is a very unique and personal thing, you can have a high HR and be performing as well or better than others around you. From what you've said, sounds perfectly normal.
Presumably if you're using Zwift and the like, you have some idea of the power you're putting out?
When you're hitting the high HR numbers are you in all out efforts/climbing/sprinting?
As others have said, HR is a very unique and personal thing, you can have a high HR and be performing as well or better than others around you. From what you've said, sounds perfectly normal.
miniwill58 said:
How long have you been cycling for? How hard is your 60 - 90 minute effort?
Presumably if you're using Zwift and the like, you have some idea of the power you're putting out?
When you're hitting the high HR numbers are you in all out efforts/climbing/sprinting?
As others have said, HR is a very unique and personal thing, you can have a high HR and be performing as well or better than others around you. From what you've said, sounds perfectly normal.
Ive been cycling for a couple of years, but only used the HRM/Zwift since Christmas. Effort is pretty hard - I'm not laying on the floor afterwards, but certainly need a sit down. Last night was 221 watts average and 624 max...1hr 10 mins.Presumably if you're using Zwift and the like, you have some idea of the power you're putting out?
When you're hitting the high HR numbers are you in all out efforts/climbing/sprinting?
As others have said, HR is a very unique and personal thing, you can have a high HR and be performing as well or better than others around you. From what you've said, sounds perfectly normal.
Highest HR is during climbs/sprints - but it maybe only drops 10bpm afterwards on the flats. Once it's past 170 it doesnt really get back into the 160s. During the cool down at the end it gets to 140 within a minute or two.
Glad to hear it's fairly normal. Thanks
how far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?!
Finishing in the pack in a zwift race is a pretty hard effort - as evidenced by the need for a rest afterwards and the elevated heart rate. From a zwift race, all the high HR really means is that you tried hard!
You will find that your ability to put out more power at a given heart rate is, generally, trainable.
There are many theories about the best type of training to do to improve cycling performance.
A reasonable introduction can be found here https://www.wattkg.com/cycling-science/ (but there are many others)
Finishing in the pack in a zwift race is a pretty hard effort - as evidenced by the need for a rest afterwards and the elevated heart rate. From a zwift race, all the high HR really means is that you tried hard!
You will find that your ability to put out more power at a given heart rate is, generally, trainable.
There are many theories about the best type of training to do to improve cycling performance.
A reasonable introduction can be found here https://www.wattkg.com/cycling-science/ (but there are many others)
If you are using a chest strap are you wetting the strap sensor before fitting it? I got a chest strap last year and for the first couple of times using it my heart rate was all over the place and consistently too high, from 180 to 230! Read that you need to wet the back and since then it’s been far more consistent around 140-170 depending on effort.
Yep, sounds reasonable for someone of your age.
By a weird coincidence - I fall on this page only every fortnight or so - I'm currently wearing a 24 hr ECG unit prescribed by the GP after I complained of occasional spiking heart rate during heavy cycling. By which I mean a rapid increase from 170+ to the lower 200's, leaving me a gasping, then after easing up for 30 sec equally suddenly dropping right back to its former level or lower. I'm 65 - but used to get similar way back in my 40's when I was a runner (easier to stop running than stop cycling on a 12%+ hill!). Until 5 years ago I used to have annual Class 2 aviation medicals which always involved a static ECG. They talked of possible left ventricular hypertrophy but it didn't worsen so nothing was investigated. For me, incidence seems linked to cold weather (< 5C) and I do use a ventolin inhaler in the winter.
Anyway, this recent article gave me some comfort https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/0911...
Plan for tomorrow is to tackle a few local climbs before the device is removed.
I use a Wahoo Tickr chest strap which I've been told is more reliable than the Garmin equivalent. Yes, it's helpful to wet the contact patches - I use a smear of liquid soap in the water.
By a weird coincidence - I fall on this page only every fortnight or so - I'm currently wearing a 24 hr ECG unit prescribed by the GP after I complained of occasional spiking heart rate during heavy cycling. By which I mean a rapid increase from 170+ to the lower 200's, leaving me a gasping, then after easing up for 30 sec equally suddenly dropping right back to its former level or lower. I'm 65 - but used to get similar way back in my 40's when I was a runner (easier to stop running than stop cycling on a 12%+ hill!). Until 5 years ago I used to have annual Class 2 aviation medicals which always involved a static ECG. They talked of possible left ventricular hypertrophy but it didn't worsen so nothing was investigated. For me, incidence seems linked to cold weather (< 5C) and I do use a ventolin inhaler in the winter.
Anyway, this recent article gave me some comfort https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/0911...
Plan for tomorrow is to tackle a few local climbs before the device is removed.
I use a Wahoo Tickr chest strap which I've been told is more reliable than the Garmin equivalent. Yes, it's helpful to wet the contact patches - I use a smear of liquid soap in the water.
HR is quite personal and from my experience with mates who ride and TT we all seem to operate at different HR, for eg just looking back at some of my TT results from last year I averaged 166bpm at 273w on a 10m TT with my max HR (tested) as 189bpm, which puts my Z4 threshold at 165-183bpm but I don’t think I could operate at that.
Some of my mates nudge high 170bpm averages and operate at threshold at those levels.
What’s your max HR?
Some of my mates nudge high 170bpm averages and operate at threshold at those levels.
What’s your max HR?
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff