I was on a ride the other day with a guy who could read my heart rate on his bike computer (he wasn't wearing a monitor, so it was picking up mine) and when we went up a hill, he said "wow, bird heart. If my heart rate ever got that high I'd be dead!"

So I'm wondering, what is "normal" for a maximum heart rate? Sometimes mine pegs out at 194 if I'm going up a steep hill or even if I go all out on a flat trail. I sense this is pretty high, based on all the stuff I've read about how to determine your max HR.

I've been a xc skier for 6 years, so I'm not just starting my exercise program or anything. My resting HR is 72, which seems normal. Is there any danger in riding with my HR up so high?

Any answers are greatly appreciated!

Kate