W F Collins

Back in may I bought a computer which measures heart rate and I'm seeing higher numbers than I anticipated. Im 27, 6'3" 200 lbs., in decent shape (ride between 150-200 miles in a typical week) but I'm seeing ALOT of time, often 30-40 percent, of my ride in the 180+ range. Is this number typical for a sometimes racer? I try to work hard when I ride, but that looks high.

Elvo

It depends. I usually average 18-20 mph over 25+ miles with 150-160 HR. I'm 24, 150 lbs.

veloboy971

Do you wet the strap before putting it on? Also does your jersey flap in the wind when you ride? How hard do you feel like you are riding and how long do you ride for?

Menel

WOW, I'd like to see what your heartrate does when you run, I wonder if it'd explode.

150lb, 27yro, 44 resting heart rate.

Local fast training ride out from shop:


Half Marathon race

mvnsnd

It depends on a lot of factors, age, fitness level, and effort for some. If you have not done it, you should determine your max heart rate and see what your heart rate zones are.

See here as an example: https://www.cptips.com/hrmntr.htm

Also as mentioed above, is it early in your ride?, do you sweat a lot? You may not have good coupling from the strap you your electrical signals. I have seen numbers in the 200's from a bad coupling.

Do you have a sample like above?

Hapsmo911

Sounds high to me. I would make sure its working properly.

gregf83 

Looks like you need a faster group ride. It doesn't look like you're spending much time riding at threshold.

Camilo

You should read up on heart rate monitoring and then decide for yourself (a) if you want to use it as a training tool and (b) how to do that.

No one can tell you what rates are good for you unless we know what your true cycling max HR is or your cycling LT. THen you need to talk about what your goals and strategy are.

znomit

Heart or monitor?
Everyone is different.
I hit 190+ on intervals and can average almost 180 over an hour.

kenji666

When's the last time you saw a cardiologist?

JoelS

Everyone is different. Your HR is uniquely your own and can't compare to anyone elses.

caloso

FWIW, my LTHR is 181 and I've hit the 200's before.



Might be normal for you. Might be too low. It's all pretty personal.

merlinextraligh

If you want to follow a structured training plan, do a field test to establish your Lactate Threshold HR, and your training zones.

Otherwise the HRM is at most a curious source of not very meaningful data.

deacon mark

My resting rate is 40 and I cannot get max above 160 running full speed uphill, and wiped out. I am 50 so that may be a factor. Mostly on the bike I average 125-133 for 30 plus miles.

datlas 

This.

Hapsmo911

The strap and whatnot. I assumed hes not out killing it 40% of the time, or why ask the question? Anyway might be normal for him, but just sounded slightly high. Ive seen odd numbers when I put my strap on a little low or it rolled over when I put it on and didnt notice.

Drew Eckhardt 

On average a 27 year old might have a maximum heart rate of 193 with a standard deviation of 12 beats per minute.

34% would be somewhere between 193 and 204, 14% would be between 204 and 216, 2% 216-228, etc.

At 180+ you could be past your lactate threshold, just think you're working hard because you're over-training and can't do much better due to fatigue, or be slacking because you lack the motivation to really dig deep.

Your lactate threshold can be approximated by riding as hard as you can for 30 minutes, marking a lap on your computer after 10 minutes, and taking the average over the last twenty minutes. From there you can figure out where heart-rate based zones are for you and mix that with a plan to improve your weaknesses.

Chris Carmichael defines training zones around a 2x8 minute interval field test which is easier psychologically and logistically.

datlas 

That 220 - age is purely an estimate and may have no bearing on reality.

Based on the numbers the dude posted, I highly suspect his maximum HR is 200ish. But as pointed out earlier, unless you do a field test to estimate your LTHR the HR is relatively meaningless...kinda like average speed.

patentcad

Why worry? He's only 50. What could happen?

Nick Bain

If your working really hard than that seems agreeable. As long as you are in shape and recovering when you should. I personally wouldn't ride that hard more than two days a week.

Makel

What someone said above, you need to find out what your Max HR is. Don't don't don't don't do that 220 minus age thing, put some effort into it.

Da Sherm

I'm 25, 6' 3" and 180 lbs. My Garmin typically puts my short rides in the 170's. When I run and push towards the end I can typically end up in the low to mid 190's. If I start off too fast cycling - ie not warming up at all I can find my heart rate jumps into the 2-teens if not 220's. Max/exercise heart rates are very individualistic and I wouldn't worry about your heart rates, unless you're having any physical pains typically associated with your average heart problems.

Get out there and ride!

dykim90

the longer you can put your HR in a high zone, the better.

yongkun

my HR has been very low, comparing to what others have been doing on same segments on Strava.

surgeonstone

fify