Quote Originally Posted by lovelylibrarian View Post
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.