Basic HRM question - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-29-2004, 03:45 PM

I broke down and picked up a decent Heart Rate Montitor from Nashbar.

It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but enough to get me going
and see if using it will give me a hand with my riding goals.

The question is this...
I've determined my Maximum Heart Rate based off of Chris Carmichals
training programs. How often should I retest my MHR in order to
determine if I am within my zone?
--Don--
The beatings will continue until morale improves.

07-30-2004, 02:48 AM

Don Wagner wrote:

> The question is this...
> I've determined my Maximum Heart Rate based off of Chris Carmichals
> training programs. How often should I retest my MHR in order to
> determine if I am within my zone?

Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
to begin with. There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
statistics empirically.

EFR
Ile de France

07-30-2004, 02:48 AM

Don Wagner wrote:

> The question is this...
> I've determined my Maximum Heart Rate based off of Chris Carmichals
> training programs. How often should I retest my MHR in order to
> determine if I am within my zone?

Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
to begin with. There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
statistics empirically.

EFR
Ile de France

07-30-2004, 02:48 AM

Don Wagner wrote:

> The question is this...
> I've determined my Maximum Heart Rate based off of Chris Carmichals
> training programs. How often should I retest my MHR in order to
> determine if I am within my zone?

Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
to begin with. There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
statistics empirically.

EFR
Ile de France

07-30-2004, 02:48 AM

Don Wagner wrote:

> The question is this...
> I've determined my Maximum Heart Rate based off of Chris Carmichals
> training programs. How often should I retest my MHR in order to
> determine if I am within my zone?

Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
to begin with. There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
statistics empirically.

EFR
Ile de France

07-30-2004, 02:48 AM

Don Wagner wrote:

> The question is this...
> I've determined my Maximum Heart Rate based off of Chris Carmichals
> training programs. How often should I retest my MHR in order to
> determine if I am within my zone?

Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
to begin with. There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
statistics empirically.

EFR
Ile de France

07-30-2004, 08:57 AM

Elisa Francesca Roselli
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
>it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
>close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
>to begin with.

Elisa,
Thanks. I found some good advice from Polar as well.

One thing that seems to be still up in the air is should MHR be
retested every year? Since a lot of the old guesstimate formulas are
based off of age (220 - age in years, for example), it would make
sense that with time your MHR will decrease.

> There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
>down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
>(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
>statistics empirically.

I finished up my test this morning and have a result of 178 bpm (40yr
old, male). What a killer!

15 min of moderate pace at 75rpm, every 2-3 min. up the gear and
maintain 75-80 rpm, when you reach the highest gear you can and still
maintain 75rpm you sprint all out for 10 sec. I think I saw God.
;-)
--Don--
The beatings will continue until morale improves.

07-30-2004, 08:57 AM

Elisa Francesca Roselli
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
>it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
>close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
>to begin with.

Elisa,
Thanks. I found some good advice from Polar as well.

One thing that seems to be still up in the air is should MHR be
retested every year? Since a lot of the old guesstimate formulas are
based off of age (220 - age in years, for example), it would make
sense that with time your MHR will decrease.

> There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
>down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
>(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
>statistics empirically.

I finished up my test this morning and have a result of 178 bpm (40yr
old, male). What a killer!

15 min of moderate pace at 75rpm, every 2-3 min. up the gear and
maintain 75-80 rpm, when you reach the highest gear you can and still
maintain 75rpm you sprint all out for 10 sec. I think I saw God.
;-)
--Don--
The beatings will continue until morale improves.

07-30-2004, 08:57 AM

Elisa Francesca Roselli
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
>it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
>close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
>to begin with.

Elisa,
Thanks. I found some good advice from Polar as well.

One thing that seems to be still up in the air is should MHR be
retested every year? Since a lot of the old guesstimate formulas are
based off of age (220 - age in years, for example), it would make
sense that with time your MHR will decrease.

> There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
>down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
>(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
>statistics empirically.

I finished up my test this morning and have a result of 178 bpm (40yr
old, male). What a killer!

15 min of moderate pace at 75rpm, every 2-3 min. up the gear and
maintain 75-80 rpm, when you reach the highest gear you can and still
maintain 75rpm you sprint all out for 10 sec. I think I saw God.
;-)
--Don--
The beatings will continue until morale improves.

07-30-2004, 08:57 AM

Elisa Francesca Roselli
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>Your Max Heart Rate isn't supposed to change. Once you've got it, you keep
>it and do your other measurements in proportion (what _will_ change is how
>close you can get to Max without redlining). The trick is to get MHR right
>to begin with.

Elisa,
Thanks. I found some good advice from Polar as well.

One thing that seems to be still up in the air is should MHR be
retested every year? Since a lot of the old guesstimate formulas are
based off of age (220 - age in years, for example), it would make
sense that with time your MHR will decrease.

> There are the usual formulas but these are rough and break
>down in individual cases. Alternatively, a stress test with a cardiologist
>(not a bad idea if you want to start training seriously) can gather some
>statistics empirically.

I finished up my test this morning and have a result of 178 bpm (40yr
old, male). What a killer!

15 min of moderate pace at 75rpm, every 2-3 min. up the gear and
maintain 75-80 rpm, when you reach the highest gear you can and still
maintain 75rpm you sprint all out for 10 sec. I think I saw God.
;-)
--Don--
The beatings will continue until morale improves.