Quote Originally Posted by lovelylibrarian View Post
Other than going to a sports lab, do you think it's reasonable to go to the gym and sprint for a long time until I can't go any longer to try to figure out my max heart rate?

Sally Edwards has a lot of good information in her various heart rate books. No, I would not go to the gym and go as hard as you can to figure it out, there is a method to how to do it.

If you do have a gym membership, you might look at spin classes. They are a great way to build up an aerobic base and get to understand effort and heart rate. I find if I spin regularly in the off season I am much more prepared for bike season.