Road Cycling - Heart rate during training and racing?

Fairly new to cycling, 8 months, but training 4 times per week. During hill ascent training, can only get heart rate up to 154 max, and on the flat 144 max (giving it everything), it usually is 140 or below. During running can coast along at 160 for a 40min 10k. What am I doing wrong on the bike? Had a triathlon yesterday, 32k bike, and heart rate didnt go above 144 on the bike (using aerobars). I feel as if theres more in the tank, but dont know how to utilize it. Cadence of 90-92. Have very big shoulders, weigh 212lbs. resting heart rate is 42, but max is 186. aged 30, male.

:confused:

nobby...I want your problem, please! Mine is the opposite. I am training 5-6 days a week, 160-200 miles plus 3 mi. swimming. My average HR riding is about 150 when trying to keep it down. When riding hard I seem to spend too much time 170 to 180 and 185 to 193 on tough climbs. I feel like I spend too much time on the edge but have always ridden this way even before HR monitor. I suspect I need to make easier days easy and harder days harder...break body down and then build it up. My easy days I may only hit 165-170 for a few moments on some climbs but I still feel that is too much for an easy day...any ideas

Maybe you are the super athlete. Congratulations on your problem

Have you tested the accuracy your heart rate monitor lately?

Originally posted by nobby1972
can only get heart rate up to 154 max, and on the flat 144 max (giving it everything), it usually is 140 or below. I feel as if theres more in the tank, but dont know how to utilize it.


This is a problem, Lance? ;)

Originally posted by jkoman
nobby...I want your problem, please! Mine is the opposite. I am training 5-6 days a week, 160-200 miles plus 3 mi. swimming. My average HR riding is about 150 when trying to keep it down. When riding hard I seem to spend too much time 170 to 180 and 185 to 193 on tough climbs. I feel like I spend too much time on the edge but have always ridden this way even before HR monitor. I suspect I need to make easier days easy and harder days harder...break body down and then build it up. My easy days I may only hit 165-170 for a few moments on some climbs but I still feel that is too much for an easy day...any ideas

you might be a bit overtrained jkoman... a high HR and trouble sleeping tend to be signs... try to back if off for a week or two. (recovery rides do wonders!)

Nobby are you really pushing yourself into anaerobic LT zone? or are you just going where you feel comfortable? you might just have to push yourself more to get where you are using full energy. In areo bars I tend to be about 10-15 bpm lower than in the hoods but I can hold a higher speed, guess it's less work in the areo position. Anyhow I average in the high 160's to 170 if I push myself and tend to be in 180-190 range when I climb at full power. I'm 20 years old, 145 lbs, 55 resting hr and feel like I'm in good shape... so go figure :rolleyes:

It is a problem! On the flat its not such a problem, as I'm able to keep up, because I've fairly big legs, but on the ascents, I'm being left behind. The weight is one issue that is taking care of itself (need to shed another 12 lbs). I love pushing a big gear because of my big legs, but have found that I can go faster over a longer distance in a lower gear, because of better technique/cadence. Maybe I do get comfortable at the easier heart rate on the bike, but I give it everything I have to keep up with the rest of them on the ascent when on the hills. HRM is working fine, as I use 2 different types. It is just irritaing when cycling along and people pass you out, and you think your giving it everything, but your heart rate doesnt reflect this! :mad:

Have taken on all the advice, especially about being comnfortable in the easier zone, and sure enough I can get up to 158, but average 154. At this heartrate i really need to stay focused, or else it drops down straight away! But alrerady getting results. Only one problem, Now I have a knee injury. Any advice? Problem is located above the right knee, seems to be muscle/ligament/tendon? Have adjusted cleats, but maybe adjusted too much. Any home remedies that I can try? Poultice etc?
Thanks for all the suggestions so far

One thing that you can do to increase your ability to ride at higher output is longer rides at a moderate HR. As you start to increase your lactic threshold you will find that you are still working at these moderate HR's but that your AVG speed is increasing.

I have been training based on the book by Chris Carmichael and Lance Armstrong and after 4 weeks my recovery rides at a lower HR were at the AVG speed that my hard efforts had been at the first couple of weeks. Also I am finding that even on long climbs I am not developing any lactic acid, which is what causes fatigue. My AVG speed at hard outputs has increased by 3 to 4 miles per hour as well. I highly recommend this system. It requres some commitment, but the maximum time during the week is 1 1/2 hour rides with some 2 to 2 1/2 hour rides on the weekend. It's totally doable.

As for the knee problem, you nned to be careful that you are not developing tendonitis.