Venge_USPS

So I have been athletic all my life. I ran cross country through jr high and high school. I was given a scholarship for track and field in college (pole vault). And I have been riding a road bike (non competitively) sense 2005. I cant live without being active. I'm so active in fact that I've had two reconstructive hip surgeries (didn't effect biking).

Don't get me wrong - I'm not all that great on a bike. I just do it as another way to keep in shape. The problem is, I average 180 - 190 bpm when I ride. I go over 200 when I push it. I know this is not normal. Even when I train on a bike for months - my average bpm doesn't really go down. I know people say everyone is different... but I've never seen anyone with a bpm this high. I'll attach my latest ride stats (I have not got a chance to get out much this summer, but you get the idea).

What do you guys think. Do I need a heart transplant lol?

fstshrk

I believe you are pushing yourself too hard and riding in Zone 4-5 all the time. You will not see your ability to carry more load (produce more power) with lower heart rate unless you start doing longer and lower intensity rides (Zone 2).

RollCNY

What HRM? Anecdotally, I have seen HRM's to be repeatable, but not necessarily accurate.

As one other comment, there was a study done on collegiate crew members years ago showing them pegging HR to 220 and holding it for a scientifically improbable duration. So even if your HRM is accurate, it is not inconceivable.

Venge_USPS

Here is a longer ride I did last year.

I have been know to get up to 220 but I don't feel all that great when I do -.-

oh and I use the Garmin HRM that came with my edge 510.

Gatorfreak

I know several people with similar heart rates. I don't think that's unusual.

howellhandmade

Max power is 1255W? Max speed is 30mph?

What exactly were you complaining about again?

You can ride to heart rate if you want. Put in 2 hours at no more than 160bpm, say. Some say with LSD your power at lower heart rates goes up. But if you're going to go all out, you're going to peg your heart rate and it is what it is. How old are you? I'm 51, my HR pegs at 186, power pegs at 850W. Kinda wish I could hit 200 and 1255.

Venge_USPS

I don't really have any examples... But I don't even think I could avg 160bpm unless I ride REALLY slow. My bpm shoots up to 180 as soon as I start peddling.

I'm 27. 175lbs. 6'1"

datlas 

There is nothing inherently "wrong" or "weak" about having a high HRmax.

Stop complaining and keep riding. If you really want to train seriously, get a power meter and go by that, ignore HR.

If you don't want to train seriously, stop monitoring your HR and just ride.

RISKDR1

no but you might have tachycardia (SP). If so maybe some beta blockers are in your future. Or maybe you just have a humming bird heart.

jeongyun

My max HR is 215. and I'm 40 years old.
I probably have a Honda engine like heart.
Small displacement, high revving engine.

hueyhoolihan

i would be more interested in my resting heart rate...

datlas 

Equally irrelevant.

Trust me on this one.

All you need to know, for training purposes, is your LTHR. And even that does not matter much.

eippo1

MIne does that too. It's come down a lot since, but I can still rather easily get it up to 195 for decent efforts and still recover fine. I used to be about 10 bpm higher about 10 years ago.

bt

have you had a pro fit?

Venge_USPS

I've had a basic fit. I plan on getting a full fit this weekend with my new bike. I do have really bad posture when riding that ive been trying to improve on. It does seem to help some.

Velo Vol 

BillyD

Go see a real doctor and get a stress test. If not, you may drop dead one day. What are you asking these guys for?

Maybe you don't care. If you don't, I know I don't. But your mom might.

howellhandmade

So a max HR of 200 is perfectly feasible. There's a range, and 220-age only goes so far. What is REALLY slow is largely a matter of perception. I've read a number of places that it's common for amateur athletes to overtrain by spending too much time in zone 3/4. They go at a pace that feels hard, but it's neither really hard enough to stimulate a training response not easy enough to recover. So they get the benefits of neither HIIT nor LSD, but just grind themselves into the same middling-hard rut. The pace that you feel is REALLY slow (actually, if your max is 200 zone 2 is sub-140) might be just what you need to fill in the aerobic dip in your powerband. The feeling that it is ridiculously slow/easy is exactly what those who seem to know say it should feel like. Or maybe you're just a 2-stroke and the best thing to do is have fun with it. I know at 27 I wasn't worried about my heart rate.

10 Wheels

Please have a full check up from your bike mechanic...He may refer you to a doctor.

Venge_USPS

Next time I go out I'll keep it slow to see what happens. Lots of great info guys. Thanks.

howellhandmade

I'd suggest doing a lot more reading other than the internet. Thiel, Carmichael, et al. Maybe find a coach. If you choose a training regimen and stick to it for six months or a year. That will give you a better gauge of validity than keeping it slow for one ride. Any regimen will prescribe a mix of intensities. Some rides will be as hard as you can go, push till you puke, but there will be recovery days where you feel like going all out but have to spin for a couple of hours in zone 2 and there will be rest days when you feel like riding but have to do something else. It's a cycle of stress and adaptation. I wouldn't discount those who call for a checkup -- it certainly can't hurt.

kleng

this is quite a good article about endurance exercise at high intensity

Overdosing on Exercise Can Backfire | Endurance Exercise

caloso

I have hit 203 and averaged 185 for a 45' CX race. I am 47, so much for 220-age.

I don't think you have anything to worry about unless your cardiologist says you have something to worry about.

goenrdoug

I found that with LSD, my heart rate would always go up.. Maybe it was the lava on the floor or the space creatures coming out of the paneling... I dunno.

seanpatrick76

I've been reading the thread here out of curiosity mostly because I had a heart procedure when I was 30 to correct a fast heart rate. It didn't automatically get fast mind you - in fact it rarely did, but would take off up to 220bpm for no reason and the doctors decided I needed to have it fixed. In retrospect I remember it happening when I was younger while exerting myself (playing squash mostly) the odd time, but I guess as I got older it started getting triggered for no reason at all. Long story short, though you heart rate might be perfectly normal (seems weird going up to 180 as soon as you start pedaling but what do I know) - you'd be C-R-A-Z-Y not to go get that checked out.