making sense of HR monitoring

[batsheva]

Hi - I wonder if any of you might have any input on this?

I am a pretty unfit new cyclist - 3 months of cycling and just 600 miles so far as a base - got a heart rate monitor today and according to the formula by HR max is 180--

did 27 miles today and my HR is 150-160 throughout -- maybe 148 on the flat going 'easy' and 162 trying to get my unfit self over the motorway overpass--

according to all the stuff this is about 90% max HR I am doing the whole 27 mile ride on -- supposedly at anaerobic threshold which seems unlikely to me-- but even on the flat I am at like 85% of supposed max HR when I am supposedly taking it easier... even after a couple minute break for a drink it is still in the 120's--

are these numbers just a reflection of my unfitness and the supposed 'training zones' only apply when you are really fit or something?

i thought at anaerobic threshold it would be impossible to ride for 27 miles so I am mystified as to what to do with these numbers...

any ideas?
bat

[velogirl]

Formulas used to calculate your Max HR (or anaerobic threshold) based on age are not accurate.

If you were my coaching client, I would recommend you spend the next several weeks just riding, observing your HR, and beginning to align that with your level of perceived exertion (ie how you feel).

No time to write more but search the forum and you'll find lots of responses for this question.

[aicabsolut]

Those formulas are just general guidelines, but they are not accurate for a lot of people. My max is supposed to be 194, but I've seen 196 or 197 before. I was definitely approaching my max because I was all tingly. I think I'm pretty fit, and I just work at a high heart rate compared to some of my training buddies. Usually, it just means I need to eat more often. "Resting" to me is under 168bpm. I can hold 175-185 for a long time. I don't think I hit AT until I'm at least at 187-190? My resting HR is in the 50s, but it rarely drops below 100 when I'm out and about, even when I stop the bike for a food or nature break. RHR is more of an indicator of fitness and the time it takes for your HR to drop after a hard interval (the test is what is your HR after 1 min of rest after getting it up into the upper zones, and what is it after 2 min? IIRC).

Some people are religious about training in certain zones for certain times, but I don't think you have to so much. I use HR as a guide for when to eat (and I don't eat in the upper zones usually because I might get sick), when I'm warmed up, and if I'm not working hard enough (say, in an ITT).

[OakLeaf]

"Resting" to me is under 168bpm. I can hold 175-185 for a long time.

Ha, that sounds like me running, but when I ride it's considerably lower. I love it when my HRM says I'm 28 years old

But since you sound knowledgeable about this... is there any point to zone training when the zones are so narrow? Especially when I'm running. I'm not working at all below 150, and I've never seen higher than 195 - all out, unsustainable, ready to pass out 195. There are supposed to be five zones in there. Does a "zone" 9 bpm wide have any relation to reality whatsoever?

[aicabsolut]

Hah, I'm not really that knowledgeable about it. I have the same thoughts about zones as you. I know that the authorities out there advocating zone training say that you need to do your 60% recovery rides at 120bpm or whatever even if you are barely staying upright on the bike, but I don't think so.

Even so, your zones will start below 150. Zone 1 is your "slow walk" zone basically. In fact, at least your first 2 zones will be below that.

It's not totally useless. Seeing how my body likes to work explains why I am not an ultra-endurance cyclist. I'm not even much of a regular endurance cyclist. When I ran, my events were 100 meters long usually. That means I'm efficient at working at high heart rates, but I cannot really do much at the low ranges. So maybe that's why my legs want to explode after doing even a metric century.

Anyway, here's a good article:
http://www.cptips.com/hrmntr.htm