Quick question...
I'm a 27 yr old male, fairly fit (~ normally around 7000km/yr)... train with a HRM regularily. I've had a fairly dramatic drop in my MHR in the last two years, and am wondering if anyone can confirm my suspicions in regards to the reason.
Due to an injury I have ridden very little the last two seasons (less than 1000km/yr), though have stayed very fit with other sports. Pervious to the injury (knee related), I measured my max HR at around 195, and saw it enter the high 180's with regularity during training rides and races. After over 2000km of training this year already (including high intensity training), I have not once seen my MHR rise over 172, despite being at what is clearly near my limit of exertion.
Previous to the injury, I lived in the New York area, close to sea level... Right after the injury I moved to Switzerland, where I've been living since. I don't live particularily high in Switzerland (600m, ~2000ft). I know that altitude has an effect on HR, and altitude is the only relevent factor I can isolate (HRmonitor, diet, fitness, etc are all more of less unchanged from what they were before the two year layoff of high intensity cycling). I am somewhat sceptical though that this change alone could be responsable for the 20+ bpm change in MHR. So my quesion: has anyone experienced or heard of changes of this magnitude? Any other possible ideas?
I'm a 27 yr old male, fairly fit (~ normally around 7000km/yr)... train with a HRM regularily. I've had a fairly dramatic drop in my MHR in the last two years, and am wondering if anyone can confirm my suspicions in regards to the reason.
Due to an injury I have ridden very little the last two seasons (less than 1000km/yr), though have stayed very fit with other sports. Pervious to the injury (knee related), I measured my max HR at around 195, and saw it enter the high 180's with regularity during training rides and races. After over 2000km of training this year already (including high intensity training), I have not once seen my MHR rise over 172, despite being at what is clearly near my limit of exertion.
Previous to the injury, I lived in the New York area, close to sea level... Right after the injury I moved to Switzerland, where I've been living since. I don't live particularily high in Switzerland (600m, ~2000ft). I know that altitude has an effect on HR, and altitude is the only relevent factor I can isolate (HRmonitor, diet, fitness, etc are all more of less unchanged from what they were before the two year layoff of high intensity cycling). I am somewhat sceptical though that this change alone could be responsable for the 20+ bpm change in MHR. So my quesion: has anyone experienced or heard of changes of this magnitude? Any other possible ideas?