How often do you get close to touching your "max"?

My theoretical max is 174 (i'm 46). I get 170 a lot while riding up hills as
fast as I can. I seem to recover quickly have no problems with it. I
haven't a clue what an anxiety or panic attack would do to max HR, or why
having them would be a factor in hitting your max HR, but I'd suggest you
don't invent stuff to worry about 🙂

Preston Crawford wrote:
|| Putting "max" in quotes, because I know that the maximum heart rate
|| as figured by the various formulas is hard to go by. However, I'm
|| curious nonetheless. Today I was riding and accidentally touched 175
|| once and 181 once. I felt a little crappy when I touched 181. Now,
|| as I've mentioned here before, I have a history of anxiety and panic
|| attacks. I'm workig on recovering from that, but when I touched 181
|| I got a little anxious. Now what I'm wondering is...
||
|| A) How often do other cyclists do what I did and accidentally (or
|| purposely) come close to what would be considered their max? I think
|| mine, by the traditional measure would be considered 197. I did a
|| stress test once where I got to 190. So that's what I base mine on.
||
|| B) If you hit it do you generally consider that "dangerous" or just
|| not something that's advisable to do very often?
||
|| This obviously isn't a theoretical question. I'm asking because I'm a
|| little anxious after this morning. I feel fine now, but I'm just
|| seeking a little reassurance that I needn't be worried.
||
|| Preston

Roger Zoul said:

My theoretical max is 174 (i'm 46). I get 170 a lot while riding up hills as
fast as I can. I seem to recover quickly have no problems with it. I
haven't a clue what an anxiety or panic attack would do to max HR, or why
having them would be a factor in hitting your max HR, but I'd suggest you
don't invent stuff to worry about 🙂

I would agree. Problem is I only have so much control over my anxiety.
Sometimes it just gets the better of you, especially when you look down
and see 181 on your HRM.

Preston

Preston Crawford wrote:
|| On 2004-06-28, Roger Zoul <[email hidden]> wrote:
||| My theoretical max is 174 (i'm 46). I get 170 a lot while riding up
||| hills as fast as I can. I seem to recover quickly have no problems
||| with it. I haven't a clue what an anxiety or panic attack would do
||| to max HR, or why having them would be a factor in hitting your max
||| HR, but I'd suggest you don't invent stuff to worry about 🙂
||
|| I would agree. Problem is I only have so much control over my
|| anxiety. Sometimes it just gets the better of you, especially when
|| you look down
|| and see 181 on your HRM.

I see what you mean. I once looked at my HRM and saw 226. I momentarily
freaked and then realized I wasn't even working THAT hard...the damn thing
was acting up.

From what I understand, if you're in pretty good health, there should be no
problem hitting your max -- it's just that your HR won't increase beyond
that. Also, you likely won't be able to keep it up for very long anyway, as
lactic acid would build up in your legs and eventually force you to slow
down. Finally, getting up that high every once in a while is supposed to
increase your fitness, so there is some benefit provided you don't end up
overtraining.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Preston Crawford said:

Putting "max" in quotes, because I know that the maximum heart rate as
figured by the various formulas is hard to go by. However, I'm curious
nonetheless. Today I was riding and accidentally touched 175 once and 181
once. I felt a little crappy when I touched 181. Now, as I've mentioned
here before, I have a history of anxiety and panic attacks. I'm workig on
recovering from that, but when I touched 181 I got a little anxious. Now
what I'm wondering is...

A) How often do other cyclists do what I did and accidentally (or
purposely) come close to what would be considered their max? I think mine,
by the traditional measure would be considered 197. I did a stress test
once where I got to 190. So that's what I base mine on.

What do you mean by "crappy"? It seems unlikely that you were
doing anything dangerous if you are a reasonably healthy person.
My own observed max over the last year was 193, and I regularly
ride up into the 180s without ill effect but probably don't hit that
max number very often. If endurance riding is the goal then
doing a lot of work at the max is not really necessary anyway.

So you reaching 181 doesn't sound crazy to me although it might
make your lungs hurt.

Quoted message said:

B) If you hit it do you generally consider that "dangerous" or just not
something that's advisable to do very often?

When you start seeing spots and feel like you're going to pass out,
or have trouble getting enough air, that would be the limit for a
healthy person. Of course a person with an aneurism would be a
different case.

If you don't know how healthy you are, get your doctor to prescribe
a stress EKG, preferably on a bike.

Turn your HRM off! Do you really need it? I used to cycle with an
odometer/speedometer...delayed changing out a battery on it once, and never
used it again. I've never tried a HRM and never will. Sure, maybe I don't
get the maximum health benefit I could (although I'm not convinced this is
the case), but I enjoy my rides a LOT more by looking at the scenery instead
of that damn display. Let your body tell you when to slow down.

"Preston Crawford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Roger Zoul said:

My theoretical max is 174 (i'm 46). I get 170 a lot while riding up

hills as

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fast as I can. I seem to recover quickly have no problems with it. I
haven't a clue what an anxiety or panic attack would do to max HR, or

why

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

having them would be a factor in hitting your max HR, but I'd suggest

you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

don't invent stuff to worry about 🙂

I would agree. Problem is I only have so much control over my anxiety.
Sometimes it just gets the better of you, especially when you look down
and see 181 on your HRM.

Preston

I am 55 so my max should be about 165??. I have seen 180+ on a hard burst
of speed and didn't need a HRM to tell that. I just got off the bike and
counted the thumps in my chest for 15 seconds on my watch and multiplied
by 4. 2 minutes later I was down to 150 and after about 5 minutes it was
down to about 110. I can only get there with an out of the saddle blast
or by running laps at the college until I can barely walk upright, but
either way 180 something seems to be it. An HRM might go a little higher
but it just isn't in my budget right now.
Whatever you can get to and not pass out, (or do a Jim Fixx) is a good
thing.
If it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger (we hope).
Bill Baka
BTW Does anybody know the story of that TDF level cyclist who had a heart
attack before last years tour? I heard he was a friend of Lance.

On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 17:31:59 -0400, Roger Zoul <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

My theoretical max is 174 (i'm 46). I get 170 a lot while riding up
hills as
fast as I can. I seem to recover quickly have no problems with it. I
haven't a clue what an anxiety or panic attack would do to max HR, or why
having them would be a factor in hitting your max HR, but I'd suggest you
don't invent stuff to worry about 🙂

Preston Crawford wrote:
|| Putting "max" in quotes, because I know that the maximum heart rate
|| as figured by the various formulas is hard to go by. However, I'm
|| curious nonetheless. Today I was riding and accidentally touched 175
|| once and 181 once. I felt a little crappy when I touched 181. Now,
|| as I've mentioned here before, I have a history of anxiety and panic
|| attacks. I'm workig on recovering from that, but when I touched 181
|| I got a little anxious. Now what I'm wondering is...
||
|| A) How often do other cyclists do what I did and accidentally (or
|| purposely) come close to what would be considered their max? I think
|| mine, by the traditional measure would be considered 197. I did a
|| stress test once where I got to 190. So that's what I base mine on.
||
|| B) If you hit it do you generally consider that "dangerous" or just
|| not something that's advisable to do very often?
||
|| This obviously isn't a theoretical question. I'm asking because I'm a
|| little anxious after this morning. I feel fine now, but I'm just
|| seeking a little reassurance that I needn't be worried.
||
|| Preston

--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/

Max is highly different for different folks, and there are numerous ways to
compute. 220-age is about the worst for a fit person.

Edmund Burke offers 205 - 1/2 age, and even goes so far as to state that a fit
person may see no decline in max HR over the years.

There are other formulas.

I frequently go beyond my supposed max of 156 (220-64) - it is no big deal, and
I am not sure why everyone is so worried about it??

http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns
(Colorado rental condo)

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox
(Family Web Page)

My wife was talking to her doctor, and mentioned that I was out riding my
bike in San Francisco. She told the doc that she was worried because I was
doing this without having a physical first. The doctor asked, "you mean he
rides on those San Francisco hills?" She said, "Yeah." He said, "Then tell
him not to bother with a physical."

Point is, if you can drive your heart rate up near some kind of max, and
then come back down again without any problems, that says you are OK. At
least as OK as any physical is likely to tell you.

That what the kids are calling it these days?

Bill "more fun than political [censored]" S.

"Denver C. Fox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Max is highly different for different folks, and there are numerous ways to
compute. 220-age is about the worst for a fit person.

Edmund Burke offers 205 - 1/2 age, and even goes so far as to state that a

fit

Quoted message said:

person may see no decline in max HR over the years.

Yes, but he died from a heart attack.

http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=9456&sidebar=32&category=mtnbiking

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Putting "max" in quotes, because I know that the maximum heart rate as
figured by the various formulas is hard to go by. However, I'm curious
nonetheless. Today I was riding and accidentally touched 175 once and 181
once. I felt a little crappy when I touched 181. Now, as I've mentioned
here before, I have a history of anxiety and panic attacks. I'm workig on
recovering from that, but when I touched 181 I got a little anxious. Now
what I'm wondering is...

A) How often do other cyclists do what I did and accidentally (or
purposely) come close to what would be considered their max? I think mine,
by the traditional measure would be considered 197. I did a stress test
once where I got to 190. So that's what I base mine on.

You should use the highest reading you've ever seen as your max. By the
"traditional measure", do you mean 220 minus your age? That's a
reasonable starting point for people who've never exercised, but if you
have had your max measured, use the measured one.

Quoted message said:

B) If you hit it do you generally consider that "dangerous" or just not
something that's advisable to do very often?

There's nothing wrong with pushing yourself to at or near your "max".
It's not harmful; it just makes you very tired very fast. It's
*required* if you are training to reach your maximum performance in a
race. If you do that everyday, you'll quickly get yourself into "over-
training" mode, though.

Quoted message said:

This obviously isn't a theoretical question. I'm asking because I'm a
little anxious after this morning. I feel fine now, but I'm just seeking a
little reassurance that I needn't be worried.

See above, there's no reason to be worried unless you have a history of
heart problems. You were at only about 95% anyway; I get there at least
once a week or so. IME, getting that last 5% takes a LOT more effort
and willpower.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

Quoted message said:

Yes, but he died from a heart attack.

http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=9456&sidebar=32&category=mtnbiking

I was not aware of that. Thanks.

Perhaps he is having neat conversations with Atkins?

Still, that does not invalidate his theories.

See Sally Edwards as another authority on the subject of Max HR!

http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns
(Colorado rental condo)

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox
(Family Web Page)

One of my GPSs showed my max speed as 2130mph, and I only use it on the
bicycle. Probably one of the downhills.

The other GPS showed 43 but it may have been blocked by trees.
--
Ron Hardin
[email hidden]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

Preston Crawford said:

Putting "max" in quotes, because I know that the maximum heart rate as

Quoted message said:

A) How often do other cyclists do what I did and accidentally (or
purposely) come close to what would be considered their max?

The max I've hit was on a steep climb to Twinlights (a light house in
NJ). I hit 198 2 years ago. I've not since hit that number on that
climb and I'm using smaller gears. :-)

Quoted message said:

B) If you hit it do you generally consider that "dangerous" or just not
something that's advisable to do very often?

I can still push it into the 180's during sprints. I don't consider
this dangerous (no spots and I'm not going to pass out). I'll probably
'run out of lungs' before I 'run out of legs' as I'm asthmatic.

I did ask a doctor about a physical to see if I had any particular
problems and he said that it wasn't necessary (for that) as I had been
riding for years and that my general exams and health history didn't
indicate any problems.

As one other person sort of stated. The heart rate monitor (hrm) is
just a tool. I use it during training to gauge my training. In
addition I use my speedometer, cadence (which I rely on heavily). That
and how I feel which I use to a greater extent (legs, lungs,
emotional, etc.). BTW, sometimes the HRM lies. Mine jumps to 258 when
my cell phone changes cells.

--
Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry [email hidden]
http://home.comcast.net/~ncherry/ (Text only)
http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)
http://hcs.sourceforge.net/ (HCS II)

Preston Crawford <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

A) How often do other cyclists do what I did and accidentally (or
purposely) come close to what would be considered their max?

Quoted message said:

B) If you hit it do you generally consider that "dangerous" or just not
something that's advisable to do very often?

I have not a clue what my max is anymore, or if I hit it when cycling.
But when the kids were small, and my main form of exercise was an
aerobics class, I'd routinely do a pulse check twice in the workout. I
don't know if everyone else was up to, but I'd be over what my max was
supposed to be, just about every time.

So, I figured this whole maximum heart rate thing must not apply to
me, or just at least not the same way as it did for everyone else, and
didn't put much stock in the whole concept.

Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Having to post using google again -- don't ask.

<tap tap> <cough>

every day

..max
tip your waitress, try the chicken.

--
the part of <[email hidden]>
was played by maxwell monningh 8-p

Don't go near your Max as you could explode.

"Preston Crawford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Putting "max" in quotes, because I know that the maximum heart rate as
figured by the various formulas is hard to go by. However, I'm curious
nonetheless. Today I was riding and accidentally touched 175 once and 181
once. I felt a little crappy when I touched 181. Now, as I've mentioned
here before, I have a history of anxiety and panic attacks. I'm workig on
recovering from that, but when I touched 181 I got a little anxious. Now
what I'm wondering is...

A) How often do other cyclists do what I did and accidentally (or
purposely) come close to what would be considered their max? I think mine,
by the traditional measure would be considered 197. I did a stress test
once where I got to 190. So that's what I base mine on.

B) If you hit it do you generally consider that "dangerous" or just not
something that's advisable to do very often?

This obviously isn't a theoretical question. I'm asking because I'm a
little anxious after this morning. I feel fine now, but I'm just seeking a
little reassurance that I needn't be worried.

Preston

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Preston Crawford <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

A) How often do other cyclists do what I did and accidentally (or
purposely) come close to what would be considered their max?

Quoted message said:

B) If you hit it do you generally consider that "dangerous" or just not
something that's advisable to do very often?

I have not a clue what my max is anymore, or if I hit it when cycling.
But when the kids were small, and my main form of exercise was an
aerobics class, I'd routinely do a pulse check twice in the workout. I
don't know if everyone else was up to, but I'd be over what my max was
supposed to be, just about every time.

So, I figured this whole maximum heart rate thing must not apply to

Oh, it applies, but the 220-age is a very poor estimator of your max. A
person's max HR is simply the highest their heart rate will go, and must
be measured to be accurate. Any formulae are just starting points when
you are just starting out on an exercise routine.

Quoted message said:

me, or just at least not the same way as it did for everyone else, and
didn't put much stock in the whole concept.

Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Having to post using google again -- don't ask.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

"Denver C. Fox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yes, but he died from a heart attack.

http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=9456&sidebar=32&category=mtnbiking

I was not aware of that. Thanks.

Perhaps he is having neat conversations with Atkins?

Still, that does not invalidate his theories.

Perhaps not, I didn't mean it as a cheap shot, just that if even an expert on
exercise and heart conditioning can get blind-sided like this then perhaps
there are no certainties.