|   Max heart rate and heart monitors | Swamprat
Dec 31, 2002 8:07 AM | | I've read about calculating max heart rate via 220-age formula, which would make mine 183. Must first ride with a heart rate monitor gave me a max heart rate of 208!! Is this cause for concern? I didn't ride or feel any different from any other hard ride I make. |
| re: Max heart rate and heart monitors | kendog
Dec 31, 2002 9:38 AM | | I read somewhere that you can do 230 minus age, but I have seen 220 alot more often. Using 220 - 31 mine would be 189. I routinely get my heart rate into the 190s. I haven't died yet and in fact I feel ok when my heart rate's that high.
Remember that the 220 thing is just a rule of thumb. If you want to know your true max heart rate then you should talk to your doctor about setting up a stress test. |
| re: Max heart rate and heart monitors | KMan
Dec 31, 2002 11:12 AM | | At 37 years old, a max HR of 208 is possible....unlikly but possible. The 220-age thing is just a very basic calculation that is really not at all accurate for most. According to that calculation my max would be 182.....I have a Polar S410 monior that once you input all your personal information and do a rested fitness test it will "calculate" your Max.....once again according to polar mine was about 178. In REAL LIFE my max is about 203...though I rarely see it. I'm in the upper 190's often, but not much in my max (don't wear my monitor while racing). So really the only way to find you max is by giving your max, which in my personal opinion you will never really see until your in a race. Riding you may come close some times, but won't reach it.
KMan |
| re: Max heart rate and heart monitors | mtnbkaz
Dec 31, 2002 12:17 PM | | There are too many personal variables that will affect max HR. The 220-age is just a very rough guess for non-athletes. Just go find a long steep hill and pedal as hard as you can. Right before you pass out, check your HRM. That's a closer guess to your max HR. ;) |
| re: Max heart rate and heart monitors | thetitans
Dec 31, 2002 4:37 PM | | Above 220-230 is abnormal and would suggest an arrhythmia such as SVT (supraventricular tachycardia). Anything below 220 can be safely seen. Those formulas only loosely approximate a ballpark average. Remember that most things more closely follow a bell-curve and max heart rate is no exception. |
| re: Max heart rate and heart monitors | DrMBike
Jan 1, 2003 2:26 PM | | Your heart rate monitor probably malfunctioned. There are a lot of things that can cause this. Next time your heart rate monitor shows 200+, do a 15 second manual test (index finger on corotid and wrist watch). If your HR checks out, you are part of a small population of people who do not fit the 220-age +/- 10 bpm formula. |
| Is it repeatable? | BH
Jan 2, 2003 11:11 AM | | It could be a glitch or it could be true. Is that number repeatable? My girlfriend is 42 and her max HR runs higher than mine. I don't know what her max is but she can ride along, talking up a storm with her heart rate into the mid 160s while mine is in the 130s.
I wouldn't worry about it. You didn't do anything that you don't normally do, just now you are measuring what your body is doing. I am 35 and the highest that I've ever seen was 189 on my bike. I've measured it into the mid 190s on a stationary bike. I've had it save a reading as high as 234 which was most likely a glitch. All my glitches have been during the winter when its cold. My maximum sustainable climbing HR (20+ minutes) is 173. Which is a much more significant number to know.
As far as determining your true max, the best method that I have found is on a smooth gradual road climb that gets steeper at the top. As you climb, gradually increase your effort until you think you've maxed then sprint with everything that you got. It helps if you are racing a training partner and a half a bike length behind. |
| Is it repeatable? | Swamprat
Jan 3, 2003 11:31 AM | | Well, I've only gotten to ride once since it happened and I only hit 171 but didn't ride as hard cause the trails were wet. Next time it is dry I'll hammer and try to get it up there again. |
| re: Max heart rate and heart monitors | TechniKal
Jan 2, 2003 11:51 AM | | The 220-age formula, and all other formulas for that matter, are just guestimates based on observations of the population. It's like saying that the 'average' US adult male wears a medium shirt and 36x32 pants. If you wear a large shirt and 32x34 pants, that doesn't make you abnormal - just different from the average.
That said, I think max heart rate is way, way overrated. In fact, I think the number is pretty much pointless. You'll never likely achieve your true max HR, and basing a training program off percentages of your estimated max HR is iffy at best. Buy Joe Friel's book or look online for tests that will help you determine your lactate threshold heart rate - this is a number that I find to be much more useful in building a workout around. |
| I'm 25 and can get my HR to 210+ | Todd_S4
Jan 10, 2003 11:25 PM | | Granted, that's under quite a bit of stress but getting into the mid-190's isn't too difficult. Just different from other people. Most HRM's claim 99.99% to an EKG so I assume the number is correct. |
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