max heart rate

This may be a stupid question but i'm going to ask anyway...

I have done a bit of HRM training...my max heart rate in theory is approx 197..resting heart rate around 45......however if I go as fast as I possibly can, the max I can ever get my heart rate to is about 182. I used to a lot of running as well and had the same result, even at the point where i can't breathe and am about to fall over...

Do most cyclists actually reach their max heart rate?? Is there specific training I should do to actually reach this - would it make me go faster?? (i.e. because i'm working harder....)

just curious....

 

If you have used an equation to work out your 'max in theory' then it may be as much as +/- 10 beats.min-1 out. If you are confident that you are working as hard as you can then it is likely that this is your HR max. If you are using training zones based on HR max then you should use this number and not the one you have calculated.

People often have different max HRs when running and cycling due to; different amounts of muscle mass being used, motivation and training. Often the running max will be higher as a greater muscle mass is used.

 

you could do a max heart rate test - if you feel you need to - but it sounds like 182 is your max

most tests are based on increasing workloads over a steady period until you can't go on

here's one such test -

10-15 minute warm up then set your bike on the lowest gear ratio - go at a steady cadence (approx 90rpm) for two minutes - then move up a gear and repeat for two minutes - keep stepping up the gears but maintaining the cadence at 90rpm - when you can't maintain the rpm for the full two minutes then you will be at max hr

you might want to do the test on a trainer or rollers for accurate measurement (and safety!)

and if you run out of gears - keep going on the top gear until you can't maintain steady cadence - oh and get yourself signed up for the tour

you could do the same type of test on a treadmill if you wanted to see whether you could max out your heart slightly higher whilst running...

 

HRM's are funny things. According to mine, my max HR when cycling is 171 (probably about right for a lethargic 39 year old).

But when climbing a mountain with 9 year old son, said 9 year old slipped and nearly fell off a cliff face. Polar printout says HR went up to 194... (ok, its a toy, but very useful as an altitude meter in rough terrain).

Perhaps the body adapts too well to cycling, and not well enough to a short, sharp fright.

 

If you're using HRmax to set training zones, then don't estimate max with a monitor or an equation, it needs to be tested, primarily in a lab (or similar) setting. There's obviously a significant difference between 171 b/min and 194 b/min.

as for being "lethargic" if that implies some sort of lack of fitness, then HRmax is higher when untrained compared to in a trained state.

Ric

 

'lethargic' in my context implies a greater preference for staying in a warm bed on a cold morning to putting miles on the bike. Sad I know.

 

How does one calculate theoretical Max heart rate?

thanks

Andrew

 

its 220 minus your age in years

but its not accurate in any sense of the word with deviation + or - more than 10 bpm very common

get it tested and you will never have to wonder if you are training properly

 

I agree with the comments re testing for your maximum heartrate. My theoretical maximum is 166 (220-54). I am 54 years old. The test I did was to ride on a trainer increasing the intensity untill, I could go no harder. My max was 183. I have done the same on a climb by pushing very hard at the top of a climb.