TomD77

Had a few rides in a row where I don't have any stamina and my heart rate seems to go high and stay high. Two weeks ago my heart rate was recovering 50-60 beats per minute in the first minute after stress but today I tested it twice at close to 30. I came close to quitting today on a hill that hasn't had close to this effect before.

In addition, I seem to be having at least daily bad cramps in the big leg muscles.

Neither of these are normal for me, related?

Dan Burkhart 

Dunno about the leg cramps, but the other symptoms usually indicate some kind of virus trying to get ahold of me.

stonefree

May be poor circulation. What else could it be? Heart rate is suddenly up along with leg cramps. I'm no doc but common sense might tell you that it's time to see one. Or at least check your blood pressure, somehow. Could be a blockage.

Rick@OCRR

I agree with stonefree, Get it checked by a doctor just in case it is foretelling of something far worse. Fits into the "Better Safe Than Sorry" category.

Rick / OCRR

B. Carfree

It sure sounds like it would be worthwhile to have a physician's take on what is up with your coronary vasculature. Hopefully it's just an annoying virus that will work its black magic for a week or two and be on its way, but it could be something that requires a bit of intervention.

I'm assuming you aren't holding back on us. For instance, was the hill that usually gives you no trouble now coming at the end of a 400 km ride? Are you having cramps because you are riding at Hermes' speed for prolonged periods? Those would be good things indeed.

rck

Could be your body telling you to take some time off. Overtraining a possibility?

overthehillmedi

A resting pulse of 30 when your previous resting pulse was 50 -60 tells this old medic that you should get your ass into the hospital when you finish reading this post! You could have had a silent heart attack! Now get your ass in gear and go!

stapfam

Agreed.

And that is from someone who did not have any symptoms at all- I was probably at my fittest and normal HR of about 70. After the Heart attack I was down to 30 and one triple bypass later---------

My mate had no symptoms but had a bit of indigestion. Went to the doc and Straight into E.R. He was not as lucky.

TomD77

Sorry, I wasn't plain enough. I wear a HR monitor and occasionally will see how fast my heart rate will decline after a sprint or climb. For example, 2 weeks ago during a climb my HR went to around 162 (out of 174 max); at the top I coasted for a while watching the HR monitor. After 60 seconds, my HR had dropped to around 105, this was about average for a fair number of similar tests but during the last week the HR RECOVERY has dropped into the mid-30's in the first minute. That + the other symptoms means something is up.

Just checked pulse while siting at the computer; 64 BPM, standard for me.

10 Wheels

Do you take any BP meds?

BigAura

Possible artery blockage GO TO DOCTOR!

Phil85207

I hope as I type this you are on your way to the doc. After all, whats the downside? In this case, ignorance is not bliss.

locolobo13 

If I'm reading this right your HR monitor is saying you have a mid 30s pulse while coasting on the bike for 1 min? If so I would doubt the readings. But from the rest of your story I agree with the others. See a Doc.

DnvrFox

I read it differently - that his heart rate 1 minute recovery rate used to be a 60 bpm drop (from whatever reading after exercise) to now a 30 bpm drop in 60 seconds.

Example: previously - 160 to 100 drop in 60 seconds ( a 60 bpm drop)

.............Now: - 160 - 130 drop in 60 seconds ( a 30 bpm drop)

Anyway, I would see a doc, either way.

I would suspect overtraining - a REAL phenomenon, not just a cutesy phrase:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overtraining

Persistent muscle soreness
Persistent fatigue
Elevated resting heart rate
Reduced heart rate variability
Increased susceptibility to infections
Increased incidence of injuries
Irritability
Depression
Mental breakdown

TomD77

I'm sorry, I mean my heart rate is dropping from around 160 BPM to 125 or 130 BPM in one minute after a sprint, more ordinarily I would expect it to drop into the sub-110 BPM range after one minute. My pulse has never been as slow as 30.

JanMM

On first read, I thought you meant a HR of 30 but then figured out it had slowed by 30. That is much less alarming.

sauerwald

Past week or so doesn't sound too bad. I was thinking that my body doesn't seem to be working so good over the last decade or so.

Seriously, it sounds like it could be heart/circulation related, so it wouldn't hurt to go to the Dr. for some routine maintenance.

MinnMan

About a year ago, my 1 minute recovery HR took a precipitous drop from about 50 to 30 and this concerned me greatly. I posted about it here and saw several doctors over a period of months. I had several examinations including a resting EKG (not a stress Echo, though), and they didn't find anything wrong and mostly shrugged - as far as they were concerned, a recovery HR of 30/minute is still excellent health.

Meanwhile, I keep riding. I'm not that happy with my cardio performance - I redline more easily than I think I should and I don't have the stamina that I would like to have, but I've put in >6000 miles in 2011, including a very tough century at the end of October (10k climbing), with no adverse affects.

Some times these things are just hard to figure.

So sure, go see a doc. Maybe something is wrong. Or maybe your performance will go back to the way it was in a week or so. Or maybe it won't, even though there isn't anything obvious that is wrong....

We are all operating a very complex machine for which the owners manual is missing key pages and the diagnostic tools incompletely developed. Do the obvious things, consult with the so-called experts, try to figure out what's right, and then ride some more.

locolobo13 

Cool. That makes sense. Knew I was not getting it somehow. Good luck with the Docs.