I'm 41 and during todays 100 km ride at about 30 min in during a sprint I hit 196 bpm. Should I be concerned about this? Previous highs are around 185 over the past 6 months.

cheers
Mick

This reading would seem to far exceed your typical max heart rate for your age. However, This isn't all that uncommon. Did your heart rate recover to it's normal range in a proportional scale to intensity? If this was some sort of abnormal tachycardia or arrythmia...it probably would have not recovered smartly..and may have continued for a certain period of irritation to you. I would keep a watch on this...especially during high levels of intensity. If this persists...I would see a doctor for an ekg or perhaps an exercise stress test just as a precaution since it would be somewhat abnormal to see heart rates so high for your age. We cannot rule out that the reading may have been an error from your heart monitor perhaps from some sort of interference. Is your monitor a hi end or low end monitor? It might be to your advantage to upgrade to a top level monitor..which may give better accuracy and consistency. I wouldn't be too concerned with this one episode. I would look for a pattern..and then see a doctor for some routine testing if needed.

Bloody HRM's. I'd like to hear about this also because since buying one last month I'm getting paranoid.

My HR lives in the 150-170's, hitting hills it's 180's and I noticed today it hit 190. Coming down the hills it drops back down very quickly to the low 100's but should I be concerned ?

I'm also forty, so by rights I'm above the norm for my age.

Mick I don't mean to hijack your thread far from it, I also want to hear the replies, but I felt starting another topic on a very similar subject would be stupid. hope you don't mind.

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I'm with Lazarus!

Max HR formulae are designed for the average person and cyclists in training aren't average by any stretch of the imagination.

For example, I'm 56 and my max HR is 193. My resting HR is 48. So, assuming that your HRM is using a coded transmitter (so you don't pick up someone else's heartrate in the sprint) the 196 figure isn't wildly out of the ballpark. Assuming that you're in decent shape, not significantly overweight, eating a sensible diet and not having any sinister symptoms you probably don't need to worry.
BTW I actually recorded a max of 220 about a year ago when a woman using her cell phone while driving a car ran me off the road. I don't use that figure for training calculations though <grin>.

serottarider,
Thanks for the feedback. I put the monitor on last night and recorded at 15 sec intervals during the night. Low of 39 and average of 45. The peak from Sunday's ride in hindsight was not that far above provious peaks over the last six months (the time I have been riding). Maybe I'm just in good shape for my age? If I was 15 years younger I wouldn't have given it a second thought.

cheers
Michael

PS if anyone out there thinks I should be concerned - please let me know.

Miday:

Why worry about it. Do you feel healthy???

Your past max over the last 6 months was 185 bpm. During the last 6 months, you have become fitter, and resultantly, can push yourself harder than you did before, which will result in a higher heart rate.

All the formulas for max heart rate can be accurate or they can be way off. There is really no reason for anyone to follow them for any reason.

The most accurate test for max heart rate is a quality monitor, a well rested body, and motivation to push hard.

Good luck!!!

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My HR use to always be towards my max and then I'd hit a hill and it would go through the roof. But, I have kept training and my weight has dropped 15 lbs this year and now my HR has settled down. Stays around the 130's on the flat and into the 160's when climbing.

I am not trying to say that you are over weight, but keep putting the miles in and hopefully your HR il drop too. The benefit I have now is that when my buddies start to struggle I can pull away from them as I got use to holding my HR way above 170!

I've seen higher and lower figures for max HR in subjects of your age. it's impossible to say whether this is a problem for you.

If you are at all concerned then you should schedule an appointment with your doctor, who will refer you on to a cardiologist, should s/he think it appropriate.

Trying to obtain advice off the internet for potentially serious problems with little data is in my opinion not a good idea.

Ric

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As you get fitter your max heart rate actually decreases, by a few beats per minute.

Ric

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Ric, is that because your heart pumps more blood (i.e., more powerful muscular contraction) and for some reason can't handle beating as quickly?

Yes Aztec, as it has a larger stroke volume it takes slightly longer to fill and empty and therefore can do fewer beats per minute.

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I'm also in my early 40's and my max heart rate is usually high 180's low 190's. I'd think this is pretty normal for people our age. I've started putting 15 sec intervals on a spreadsheet after every ride. Seems I can sustain HR about 173 to 176 for about 2 minutes and then drop back to mid 160's. So I'm going to aim to sustain the higher rate for slightly longer periods with some interval training. I guess this is the difference between working in the aerobic and anaerobic area. Higher heart rate means you are working anaerobically, the heart is beating faster to get more oxygen in and CO2 out as you get fitter you can spend longer in this zone. But you also pay the price with more lactic acid build up.

This is where I think the Carmichael 7 week program is really good. It may seem too easy at first, but it is building a base so you can increase your anaerobic capacity. You'll burn those other slack guys on the hills!

Originally posted by Spider1977
I'm also in my early 40's and my max heart rate is usually high 180's low 190's. I'd think this is pretty normal for people our age.

>Nothing to worry about here.

I've started putting 15 sec intervals on a spreadsheet after every ride. Seems I can sustain HR about 173 to 176 for about 2 minutes and then drop back to mid 160's. So I'm going to aim to sustain the higher rate for slightly longer periods with some interval training.

>Good plan, efforts at your TT pace will help here.

I guess this is the difference between working in the aerobic and anaerobic area. Higher heart rate means you are working anaerobically, the heart is beating faster to get more oxygen in and CO2 out as you get fitter you can spend longer in this zone. But you also pay the price with more lactic acid build up.

>The higher the heart rate (above your lactate threshold) means that your anaerobic system is contributing more; your maximal aerobic capacity is acheived at a similar intensity to MHR. Increasing your lactate threshold will mean that you can work at higher power outputs and higher heart rates before lactate starts accumulating in the muscles and blood.

This is where I think the Carmichael 7 week program is really good. It may seem too easy at first, but it is building a base so you can increase your anaerobic capacity. You'll burn those other slack guys on the hills!

>I've not seen this plan, but for hills over 1 minute your aerobic capacity rather than anaerobic starts to become more important.

Thanks 2Lap, I always find your responses on these threads very helpful. Do you run coaching clinics on-line?

Ric:

Heart rate may or may not decrease as fitness improves. Heart rate is dependent on muscle mass, and the more sport specific muscle mass that can be recruited, the higher the potential heart rate.

That's why vigorously playing video games using your thumbs doesn't raise heart rate but involving larger muscle groups (legs) does.

Many riders don't really push themselves to their limits (even though they think they did) until they get stronger and faster. Unfit riders tend to quit pedalling hard when high lactate levels are encountered. Improved lactate tolerance can let you push harder and hit higher heart rates.

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