Training & Nutrition - Looking for MHR vs. Age data

I'm looking for data of MHR vs. age. Trying to (informally) confirm that those who maintain fitness see less of a drop in MHR as they age compared to sedentary folks. Of particular interest would be anyone who took a hiatus from riding (became sedentary) for some years, then resumed riding and has long term data. Those who have been riding for many years and have tracked their MHR will be my new best friends. The more data the better.

Thanks!

I'm having an off year but last year I was off for most of the year. My normal heart rate for a 208 mile ride @ 19 mph (17.8 avg) was in the low 160's (mostly flat for 3/4 of the ride). This year I couldn't sustain that heart rate and my avg was 16.4 mph with my heart rate in the mid 150's (but I had leg problems that limited my overall speed more than my heart rate). The max I've every hit was 198 (my ears felt like they were going to burst), that was about 10 years ago and it was early season and one hell of a hill (Twin Lights lighthouse in NJ). Hill climbs (6 miles @8%) bring my heart rate into the high 160's (that would have been high 170's previously). I'm 45 years old. I'm going on a new training program to see if I can't get that heart rate back, speed, endurance. I normally ride centuries on weekends.

I don't officially keep my heart rate, speed or mileage but I have rough numbers. I use my heart rate monitor like a vacuum gauge. It gives me an overall 'health' of my engine. My max heart rate from 40 - 44 remained the same. I won't know if my heart rate returns to normal or not until next year.

I'm looking for data of MHR vs. age. Trying to (informally) confirm that those who maintain fitness see less of a drop in MHR as they age compared to sedentary folks. Of particular interest would be anyone who took a hiatus from riding (became sedentary) for some years, then resumed riding and has long term data. Those who have been riding for many years and have tracked their MHR will be my new best friends. The more data the better.

Thanks!

Sorry, but you're wrong. Look o google (or do a search on here) for the study a doctor did on Lance Armstrong. During the time of his TDF wins (and startig before that) Lance got more powerful, better aerobically and in muscular efficiency and yet, like everyone else his max HR dropped 1 beat every single year.

EDIT: Here you go: http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/98/6/2191


This case describes the physiological maturation from ages 21 to 28 yr of the bicyclist who has now become the six-time consecutive Grand Champion of the Tour de France, at ages 27–32 yr. Maximal oxygen uptake (O2 max) in the trained state remained at 6 l/min, lean body weight remained at 70 kg, and maximal heart rate declined from 207 to 200 beats/min.

7 years. Lost 7 beats. Just like everyone else.

Sorry, but you're wrong. Look o google (or do a search on here) for the study a doctor did on Lance Armstrong. During the time of his TDF wins (and startig before that) Lance got more powerful, better aerobically and in muscular efficiency and yet, like everyone else his max HR dropped 1 beat every single year.

EDIT: Here you go: http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/98/6/2191



7 years. Lost 7 beats. Just like everyone else.

Yes, I've read that. Yet I also have data from other racers who did not experience such a drop, including one who lost 2 BPM in 16 years. Paul Camerer, a Heartzones instructor, is 87 and has a MHR of 190. It hasn't changed in 30 years.

Yes, I've read that. Yet I also have data from other racers who did not experience such a drop, including one who lost 2 BPM in 16 years. Paul Camerer, a Heartzones instructor, is 87 and has a MHR of 190. It hasn't changed in 30 years.

Sure, but there's one difference. Lance's MHR was tested by a doctor in a laboratory under very strict controls. This guy you are speaking with probably tested it on his own with a HR monitor. The monitors are not as accurate and are known to vary by ~5 bpm from actual numbers in any direction (see consumer reports testing of HR monitors). So unless he tested it with the machine that doctors use in a hospital (which are the only accurate ones), it's pretty close to useless for determining what's actually occurred.

Sure, but there's one difference. Lance's MHR was tested by a doctor in a laboratory under very strict controls. This guy you are speaking with probably tested it on his own with a HR monitor. The monitors are not as accurate and are known to vary by ~5 bpm from actual numbers in any direction (see consumer reports testing of HR monitors). So unless he tested it with the machine that doctors use in a hospital (which are the only accurate ones), it's pretty close to useless for determining what's actually occurred.

OK, maybe +- 5 BPM. However, according to your rule, it should have changed by 30 BPM, which would be more than detectable.

Well if it helps... my sports specific MHR to cycling has stayed at 198 bpm since I've been 18. I'm now 42. I would consider myself to be of slightly better than average fitness. I exercise about twice a week right now. Has been 6 times a week to 0 times a week in that 24 year period.

OK, maybe +- 5 BPM. However, according to your rule, it should have changed by 30 BPM, which would be more than detectable.

Yes, if they ran the test properly, which a lot of people do not when testing for MHR.

I'm looking for data of MHR vs. age. Trying to (informally) confirm that those who maintain fitness see less of a drop in MHR as they age compared to sedentary folks.

Why do informally what has been done formally, reviewed, and published? Search PubMed.