Thoughts on Target Heart Rate?

[Jiffer]

I am now working with a nutritionist as well. He has me riding 6 days on trainer for one hour and one long ride (60 miles) on Saturdays. I have to stay under 130 max heart rate (zone 1 - ability to carry conversation). He went riding with me once (he is a cyclist too and works with a lot of teams), he set my pace at 12 mph and told me not to exceed it.

First of all, I find it very intriguing that you are riding 6 days a week. That sounds like a lot! But when you are riding at such a low intensity, I guess it's fine.

How did he determine your 130 max? Was it when he went riding with you and gauged how you did?

[M-Rad]

I don't know how he came up with hr number. I am older but I think that number was based on the fact that once I start hitting 150 hr, my stress goes up. I literally feel like an anemic person with asthma, I huff and puff with no energy to turn the pedals.

[M-Rad]

Ps - one final thing. On the road, I never ever ride in my big chain ring (only on descents then it's right back down again to spinning).

On trainer, I ride in my easiest gear.

Again, this is not to put pressure on legs or cause hr to go up above my allotted max.

[Jiffer]

Hey M-Rad, I'm gonna message you so the rest of the forum doesn't have to read our conversation.