HR Drift when training with power (Longish)

tuney

All

I'm doing 'tempo' sessions on the turbo to build a bit more base and have a stepping stone before any high intensity intervals.

Im generally riding at a medium intensity of 250-270watts for up to 90 minutes in 10-20 minute blocks with a minute off for a mental break.

The thing is I'm getting quite a lot of HR drift though as im overheating a bit on the turbo. I am in the process of getting a fan so hopefully it wont be as much of a problem soon.

An example would be that the first couple of intervals will avarage say 157 but after 20 minutes or so it gradully drifts until im hitting 170 after about an hour and 173 after 90mins.

Should I keep the power at the target zone, or should I try to lower my power output to stay in check with HR zones?


Any ideas would be appreciated
Cheers
Chris

beerco

I would recomend ignoring HR now that you're training by power. HR drift happens and it's one of the reasons training by HR can be problematic.

Stay in the zone man.

ric_stern/RST

Chris,

I've no idea whether that power is 'correct' for you. however, some HR drift is perfectly normal. This (drift) plus the fact HR varies at a given workload for many reasons has led me to virtually discard HR readings althogether (once you have a power meter). One or two large fans will help, as will an adequate supply of a carb-electrolyte drink.

in fact i only really use my HR for two reasons
1) as the battery in PT CPU wears down HR is the first thing to start playing up (so i know when to change the battery)

2) just to occasionally see if i can guess my HR when doing some efforts

as Beerco says "keep it in the [power] zone"
ric

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tuney

Thanks Guys.

JuneBug

I am rather new to this too ~I am not a coach~ but I do like to read a lot and discuss this stuffs. I have a similar 'problem 'with my tempos. I want to train at my LT but sometimes I see it goes close to where I think I should not be.
It sure feels better to lower the power so to stay in the right zone. I dont think it hurts anything to go slightly under this power for long efforts.
I am training my mind as well as the systems. mentally doing this workout on a trainer is so tough!
SO. for ME....being just a little under my power that I would normally have dialed in for a 10 minute tempo vs a slightly less power for a 60 min tempo doesnt matter too much.

as for cardiac drift.....
I have a heart rate monitor that can graph out on the computer time vs HR. WHen I reach my target heart rate during the tempo....it never stays there. IT starts to RAMP UP very slowly till I am done. It does ramp up. I notice if I drink a lot during the effort that it doesnt ramp up as quickly. so perhaps hydration is the key here to keeping that drift in check.
hope that helps. ~~~

by the way. if you are doing tempos and want to add a KICK..this makes the time go by faster....


One thing to try. This is fun. Go for 4 minutes at your LT then pump it up to 90-95% for one minute, then go BACK to the LT range for 4 minutes then 1 minute at 90-95% then four minutes at LT......keep doing this for half an hour.
OUCHIES!