heart rate question

[DarcyInOregon]

Raven, you describe a situation that is gradual, and that makes total sense. But with Suzie, it was like one day her average heart rate was in the 120s to 130s, then the next day it sunk below 110 and never went back up again.

And we challenge ourselves on the longer rides. We change the routes, go longer distances, do more hills, and so on.

I've experienced the lower heart rate on the same hills too. It is very gratifying to see. But for myself, I push myself harder and the heart rate goes back up.

Raven and Zen, what are the average heart rates for all of your rides?

Darcy

[Zen]

Raven and Zen, what are the average heart rates for all of your rides?

Darcy

Mine is in the "I don't care" range.
If it doesn't go back down then I might worry about it. If I think my head is going to explode, then I might worry about it. Maybe this winter when I start spinning on a regular basis, until then I'd rather spend my money (money? what money?) on a dog.

[SouthernBelle]

I think she needs to try another monitor before anything else. If she's getting interference it may be missing some beats, not her missing some beats. I assume this isn't one where she can download to a puter and look at a chart?

If someone has a Garmin Edge with a HRM she can borrow for a ride it would be worthwhile. She can upload to motion-based and compare her HR with her effort.

[roadie gal]

A few thoughts:

If there's a suspicion that it might be the HRM, then get on a spin cycle where you don't have to worry about crashing and see if the pulse, by feel, is correlating with the HRM. If not, your question may be answered.

Can she get her HR up to normal levels in another sport, such as running? If so, then I would think more about increasing fitness levels than a pathology, since her heart is capable of reaching a high rate.

Are there any symptoms associated with the (possibly) low heart rate while biking? They don't have to be chest pain or shortness of breath. If she's feeling like her legs are going numb, or lightheaded, then that needs to be checked out.

The Reader's Digest version of my story: I always had a low resting heart rate, in the upper 30's to low 40's. My actual max was correspondingly below my calulated max. A few years ago my resting heart rate started dropping into the low 30's and occasionally the upper 20's. My max went down to the mid 120's. I started having lightheadedness and a choking sensation with exercise. This progressed to the same symptoms with any exertion, like walking up stairs. I went to a cardiologist when I could no longer walk up stairs without getting short of breath. It took a while to diagnose, but my heart's pacemaking cells had quit. I am now the proud owner of an electronic pacemaker. I am also back to exercising as much as I want and even do triathlons.

Bottom line: If you can't easily see that it's the monitor or increased fitness then GET IT CHECKED OUT.

[suzieqtwa]

Hey,
I got up this morning ,and put the bike in high gear in the front (3 rings) ,and rode 21 miles. I gave it all I had ,and even had to stand up on all hills. I wasn't tired,but did pant going up some of the hills standing.
My avg was 115. My Max is usually 162 or something..that's consistent. I'm not fast...in fact I'm the slowest person I know. My avg over 20 miles-70 miles is always in the 13s. I feel great ,and I cant imagine what's wrong. The monitor is only about 5 months old. I'm not very good at using it ,and I did screw around with it a bit turning off the beeping sound....maybe there is something wrong with the monitor. My brother is a doctor...maybe Ill give him a call. Thanks for all the advise...Ill keep an eye on it.

[suzieqtwa]

Oh, my resting HR is about 48 ,and Im 53 yesrs old

[RoadRaven]

I gave it all I had ,and even had to stand up on all hills. I wasn't tired,but did pant going up some of the hills standing.

OK... when I do this my HR goes up to high low 160s... in a race situation that would be high 160s and early 170s.

My avg was 115.

Remember that an average tends to err on the low side... a short period of time at 110bpm, would mean something like 3 times as long above 120bpm to bring your average back to 115 (mathematics is not accurate, but hope you get the jist).

My Max is usually 162 or something..that's consistent.

My max is 182. My last measured lactate threshold was about 160, but I am sure that has gone up and I am back to the science lab next month to get it measured again. My resting HR sits on 40... sometimes just under.
I am almost 42.

I'm not very good at using it ,and I did screw around with it a bit turning off the beeping sound....maybe there is something wrong with the monitor.

This does ring alarm bells - especially when Darcy posts that it seemed to work as expected when you went for a run... Check that out, and how it fits you (is your bra/crop top interferring with the position?).

But maybe have a chat with Dr Bro too...

[SouthernBelle]

One other quick thought: Is someone you regularly ride with wearing an HRM that interferes with yours?

[Skierchickie]

Maybe borrow someone else's HRM? Maybe even wear both at once, and see if they correspond? And maybe get to the doctor before October. I'd say (well, depending on what the doctor says), really hammer one ride (you said you weren't particularly tired on your 21-miler, and that you consider yourself slow). 162 doesn't sound like an exceptionally high max, so maybe you haven't found your true max, and are really really well trained at slower speeds.

Just a couple of thoughts - good luck!

[Mr. Bloom]

I understand the concern.

Have you done a manual count of your heart rate to verify the monitor.

I understand the concern and am intrigued by this...particularly, since if my heart rate was that low in exercise, I would assume it was improved fitness...so, I'll be interested in knowing the outcome.

I agree with prior posts, it may be time to see a doctor since presumeably, these symptoms would be easily replicated in a stress test.

Please keep us informed.

[RoadRaven]

Raven and Zen, what are the average heart rates for all of your rides?

My average? Honestly I do not know as I have been too lazy to work out how to find that info on my HRmonitor

I monitor my HR to push my lactate threshold in training, to ensure I race in Zone5, 5a & 5b (particularly in time trials) and to keep my heart rate low on active recovery rides.

In a training ride with hills my heart rate will be between 97bpm and 160bpm.

On moderate hills I climb at a steady training pace with a heart rate now of no more than about 120bpm... 2-3 months ago the same hills would have me shoot up over 138/145bpm. Although this change wasn't literally overnight, it did happen over a couple of weeks.

(When I started cycling about 3 years ago even moderate climbs would have my HR into the high 150s, 1602 ans even 170s.)

I am finding I am noticing changes in my heart responses seem to happen in stages... with plateaus... but this may be because I do not keep an every-ride-check on my average.

Sorry... not much use to you in terms of how you/Suzie use your monitors...