My !@&^% heart rate!

[lovelylibrarian]

As you can guess, I'm a bit frustrated. I've been spinning at least 4 days a week and mountain biking on weekends. I feel like I'm getting more fit but it's just taking a lot longer than I had expected.

On Saturday, I went MTN biking with my husband on a trail that was really too much for me. The section I was on was over 4 miles uphill with some very steep sections. It was hot and the trail was a bit sandy. I was in the lowest gear possible trying to go as slow as possible but still my heart rate would get so high that I'd have to stop to rest. Then, I'd try again and not 30 seconds later, my heart rate would be up to 170! I realize that I shouldn't have been on that trail and was beyond frustrated having to push my bike uphill so much but I just want my cardio fitness to improve!

I'm 37 and a healthy weight. All I can do is challenge myself more when I'm spinning and on my weekend MTN bike rides but it's just sto frustrating sometimes.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[Grog]

Sorry about that frustrating experience, lovelylibrarian! (I love your screen name.)

It's maybe time to put the heart rate monitor aside for a little bit? Unless you're training for the Olympics - and even then - it's probably time to just go by your feeling.

I am 30 years old. I have been cycling intensely (and running) for four years now, and nothing will stop my heart from beating at nearly 200 beats a minute if I'm working really hard going up a hill. I am going up that hill much faster than I used to at the same heart rate, mind you. It used to bother me that my HR would go so high, but after discussing this with a few doctors, it doesn't anymore.

Others will probably chime in to tell you not to forget to rest a little bit. Listen to them! You should have at least one easier week out of five, or out of four. It's strange to say, but you actually improve when you're resting.

Just go out there and play. If you're about to puke you can just stand by for a few minutes and then get going again. If you feel good, then go harder.

Take it easy and enjoy!

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Mtn biking is different than spinning. You become very efficient at spinning. Mtn biking is where everyone is inefficient when they first start. You get in better shape and become more efficient is when your heart rate starts to go down.

170 for someone your age using the basic formula is 220-37=183. You would have a max heart rate of 183. 170 is 93% which is where I was all the time when I first started actually. And actually I got my HRM above 100% but as I got more efficient it comes down. Just slow down and concentrate on cranking. And there is nothing wrong with getting off and pushing. I did alot of that too. I would get my heart rate up to 95% and then dismount and push. After awhile I did leave the HRM at home because I noticed I would be at 95% and feeling okay and still getting off and pushing. I didn't get off and push after leaving the HRM at home unless I *felt* like I had to.

What kind of grade is this hill? Are you doing Mt Tam? I pushed it up that hill. Heat with also contribute to a higher heart rate as well as lack of hydration, are you drinking enough water? I find this to be my problem when it's hot.

SLoW n SteAdY wins the race....or at least gets up the hill

[bike4ever]

I do ride mtn with my hrm. I listen to my body. When my heart feels like it's going to pop out of my chest, I usually have weaker legs. I stop for about 10 seconds and literally can watch my hr drop 10-20 points. After that drop, I can continue the climb. My friends that I ride with know I have been working with this so are patient for me to finish the climb. Once I get to the top, I have know problems bombing down a hill!!

[teawoman]

Just a note to add that the conventional formulas don't work for everybody. The highest I've seen my hr is 198 at the end of an 8k race when I was really pushing it. That was some years ago. I watched it go up gradually as I increased speed, so it wasn't a fluke. These days, the highest I see it is around 185. The formulas say my hr max is 183 too. I guess not!

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Just a note to add that the conventional formulas don't work for everybody. The highest I've seen my hr is 198 at the end of an 8k race when I was really pushing it. That was some years ago. I watched it go up gradually as I increased speed, so it wasn't a fluke. These days, the highest I see it is around 185. The formulas say my hr max is 183 too. I guess not!

Didn't want to bore everyone with a longgggg post on all the formulas and hijack the thread! I went to a sports lab and had mine measured and it is higher than the 'formula' one. Not everyone is interested in doing that. I know I probably won't do it again and I just add a few when I set up my HRM. It was disturbing when I first started using the HRM to see my heart rate over 100% but now I go by what my body is telling me...I only strap the HRM when I want to do a hard ride and I KNOW I'm slacking!

[alpinerabbit]

As you can guess, I'm a bit frustrated. I've been spinning at least 4 days a week and mountain biking on weekends.

...my heart rate would get so high that I'd have to stop to rest. Then, I'd try again and not 30 seconds later, my heart rate would be up to 170!

How long have you been spinning, at what intensities and what length are your classes / your weekend rides?

This maybe presumption but if you take 4 1-hour spin classes at high intensity, and ride 1-2 hours on weekends, also at high intensities, and you’re experiencing this on a longer, harder ride than usual, you haven’t got the base for that – from long slow rides.

Mind you, if you read my recent thread over in triathlon, I’m nowhere near perfect in this area….

So once you’ve gone over your usual comfort zone in terms of duration (1-2hrs) or intensity, your HR skyrockets. Happened to me on my epicalicious ride last week – after 6 hours, even a small roller would make it shoot up.

I would even say 4 spin classes a week tax your system a lot – would be too much for me. Some of that time would be better spent doing a longer slower ride.