heart rate question

[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?

[li10up]

Sounds like it may be the transmitter or receiver going out...or perhaps you are getting the transmitter and receiver too far apart somehow so it quits measuring some beats? Do you wear the receiver on your wrist or is it on your bike? Have you started standing more frequently which may put the two too far apart?

[traveller_62]

Have you recently picked up the volume or intensity of your rides recently? A couple of times this season I've been training too much (too long, too hard, too frequently). When this happens I find that I can't get my heart rate up to where I expect it to be even though I'm feeling ok otherwise. For me this situation signals muscle fatigue and a couple of days of complete rest have helped get me back on track.

Have you noticed an elevation in your resting heart rate as well? This is also a good measure of overtraining.

As the others have mentioned it is also a good idea get checked out by your doctor since this change happened relatively quickly.

Hope you get it figured out soon and that all is well.

- traveller

[Veronica]

So have you been to a doctor yet?

Thom's been worried about you since I first read your post.

V.

[smilingcat]

Please go see a cardiologist and do a stress test with EKG. Some offices are now equipped with stationary bikes in addition to the tread mill.

Unless you are uber fit ultra-athlete, low 40's heart rate, doesn't sound quite right. Also have someone else wear your HRM who knows what their HR is and see if it agrees with them. And for you to try theirs out. Compare the result...

And are you drinking lot of herbal tea by any chance? Like hibiscus flower tea? or something else. If you are, check with herbal medicinal books and also tell the cardiologist before the stress test. I sort of remember that the hibiscus flower has an effect on your blood chemistry and heart rate.

smilingcat