Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Edge 305 heart rate accuracy

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Edge 305 heart rate accuracy

Old 10-29-09, 06:51 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Edge 305 heart rate accuracy

The heart rate monitor on my Garmin Edge 305 is the first that I've owned, and I just started using it today. I'm 25, and the Edge told me my max heart rate should be 193. That seems to agree well with various calculations I've seen on the internet. However, during my workout, I was sustaining something like 107% of this maximum for a couple of minutes.

So, I'm aware that the calculations of max HR are just estimates, but can the measurement really be far enough off that this happens?

During the workout, I did not think to hand-count my HR. I will try this next time.
LinebackerU is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 06:56 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 70
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I asked a similar question a while back on the power thread. It seems that no one could establish the actual accuracy and/or precision of HRMs. That being said HR is very individually variable, some people have faster heart beats than others. FWIW I am 24 and regularly put up AVG HRs of 193-195 for 45-60 minute crits.
CrossCountry2k7 is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 07:50 PM
  #3  
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 47
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm 59 and standard calculations put my MaxHR around 160~ but I've hit 180 ...
milt is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 07:59 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Kurt Erlenbach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Space Coast, Florida
Posts: 2,465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
As I undertand it, sometimes friction with the jersey or other things can create some static that might affect the wireless HRM. I never happened to me with my 305 over 3 years, but I've read of others with the problem. If you get a good connection with the skin on your chest, like with an electrode cream, it should work fine.

Or maybe your heart rate is really abnormal and you should see a cardiologist to avoid sudden death.

It's probably one or the other.
Kurt Erlenbach is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 08:02 PM
  #5  
sensei
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 194
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
sometimes your jersey flapping in the wind will give you readouts of the the vibrations as heart rate. in all reality if you are much over 200 you might wanna figure out its accuracy/see a doctor. this jersey flap problem is known for on the garmin straps. it is especially prevalent in the winter/dry climates. I ahve found my luis garrneau to be the worst.

to fix this problem I make sure to wet my chest and/or the strap before putting it on(with spit or water from your bottle) to strengthen the connection your sweat once your warmed up will keep the connection and/or wear a baselayer under my jersey to separate the jersey from my strap.
emj2390 is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 08:09 PM
  #6  
Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,569

Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1102 Post(s)
Liked 2,135 Times in 1,440 Posts
Two things. One is find your max. Do a search and you'll find various ways to discover your own. The other is you get false readings - dry conditions and cool temps with static on jersey's can do that. Learn to detect false readings from actual.
StanSeven is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 08:14 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Near Sacramento
Posts: 4,886
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I found my max on a climb. I developed tunnel vision, black was creeping in around the edges. Very very close to passing out. HR was 193. I figure my max is about 195. I'm 40, so the 220-40=180. Big difference.

My wife has seen 208 on her HR and she's 39. No cardio issues, she just has a fast heart.
__________________
-------

Some sort of pithy irrelevant one-liner should go here.
JoelS is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 08:25 PM
  #8  
Wheelsuck
 
Fat Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,158
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by CrossCountry2k7
FWIW I am 24 and regularly put up AVG HRs of 193-195 for 45-60 minute crits.

Dude, get out of the freakin' wind!!!!

-------------------------------

To OP. The equation for max HR is wildly inaccurate and really means nothing. Just get used to reading the data on the computer and within a week you'll know what's real and what's an error.
Fat Boy is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 08:46 PM
  #9  
Farmer tan
 
f4rrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 7,986

Bikes: Allez, SuperSix Evo

Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2870 Post(s)
Liked 28 Times in 23 Posts
Lick, then stick.

Otherwise you get funny readings until you work up a sweat.
f4rrest is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 09:05 PM
  #10  
umd
Banned
 
umd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Any "calculation" that is done to "estimate" your max is going to be meaningless. It is most likely that the readings are accurate and the max is bogus.
umd is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 09:20 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 632
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Ok, let me throw some other numbers at you. If you're a 25 year old male, you should wear size 10 shoes. Your inseam should be 32 inches. Your waist should be 29 inches. You should wear a size 7 1/4 hat.

Do ALL of these other measurements accurately describe you? If so, go ahead and use the heart rate "formula" to find your max.

If not, however, you'll see how silly the pre-set formula is. I'm 40 and I hit 193 max HR a this summer. I'm also 6'6", so the 'average measurements' for an American male don't apply to me either.

The only way to find your max is to go out and hit it. You may not even get there the first time you try to find it. Set your garmin so that it shows absolute numbers, not percentages. Whatever your max was last time (107% of whatever) use that as a starting point. To really find your max, you need to find a big hill and go up it as fast as you can. When you're about to pass out from the effort, sprint all out. If you don't pass out or puke, look at the number. That's pretty close to your max.

Your max could lie anywhere from 150 to 230. Everybody's is different.
NYJayhawk is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 09:46 PM
  #12  
moth -----> flame
 
Beaker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916

Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
+1 for all of the above. I'm 38, and my MHR *should* be 182 by that calculation. It turns out that that's in fact pretty close to my lactate threshold HR. The MHR I've actually seen on a stupidly steep climb was 201. Ignore the MHR calculator and measure your LTHR for more informed training.
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
Beaker is offline  
Old 10-29-09, 09:58 PM
  #13  
Never fear the hills...
 
psuaero's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 872

Bikes: 2011 Giant TCR Advanced, 2010 Motobecane Fantom Cross Pro, 2011 Redline Monocog Flight 29r

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I agree with everyone above. I've been wearing a HRM monitor for 4.5yrs and I log the min/max/mean data in Excel from every run/ride. My max. hasn't changed over the past 4+ years even with a switch in HRMs. For the last year I've been using a PowerTap so I can literally review the entire workout in detail.

According to the formula my max should be 183. I'm literally just getting warmed up at 175-180 bpm. If I don't hit between 198 and 200 on a ride I feel like I'm not working hard enough. I've been consistently hitting 204 on my hard workouts. It's easier on a run but a nice hill and some pushing gets me there as well. I've seen higher (215 to 220bpm) from time to time but I usually can attribute that to interference because it's a spike. It doesn't happen much with the coded PowerTap either.

Short story.. test yourself and establish your own baseline. Don't believe what you read. As long as your a healthy 25yr old and have been exercising regularly you should be OK to push yourself. Listen to your own body and quit when you feel you need to.

PS: I'm no doctor so what do I know anway.
psuaero is offline  
Old 10-30-09, 04:34 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for the input. The formula I found was (206.8-0.67*age), and the article claimed this was more accurate than the 220-age. My instinct is always to trust the data rather than some estimate, but I asked because the HRs I was seeing were higher than that formula would allow (i.e. higher than 206.8), so I figured something might be amiss.

I'll keep an eye on the numbers and set out to find my max.
LinebackerU is offline  
Old 10-30-09, 06:43 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Tampa
Posts: 1,088

Bikes: ?

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Those formulas aren't even in the ballpark for most everyone except the person that came up with the calculation. According to that 206.8-(.67*age) my max should be 186. I've seen 197 before.

When you're at or very close to your max, the feeling is unmistakable and from my experience there ain't a whole lot of thinking that takes place over your body telling you to please stop.
saratoga is offline  
Old 10-30-09, 06:48 AM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 242
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm 29 and I've gotten above 200 once (206). I regularly hit 190-195 when climbing. I also have chased my coach around for two hours and averaged 180. People come with different sized hearts and arteries. My heart seems a little smaller, so it has to beat faster, and I'm still a fatty. What everyone is saying is that there are lots of factors that go into your heart rate. Wait til you race in 105 degree heat and see what your HR does. You'll pass out just from checking it.
davesax36 is offline  
Old 10-30-09, 07:32 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
exRunner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 772

Bikes: Panasonic 500

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Max Hr is a funny thing. When I had it measured a few years ago in a clinical trial mine was 212, but...

That was the point at which my blood pressure suddenly dropped and my heart started to beat funny - not something that anyone should do on a bicycle (or a track or swiming pool for that matter), nor is it something that the average person can push themselves into. The actual test was a clinical evaluation of exertion and pain threshold tolerance for soldiers in battle.

I use a HRM, but I have never put a lot of faith in it. It is more a toy than anything else.
exRunner is offline  
Old 10-30-09, 07:38 AM
  #18  
I eat carbide.
 
Psimet2001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,627

Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer

Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1325 Post(s)
Liked 1,306 Times in 560 Posts
You know when you've gotten close to your max. If you hit your max on a bike....you won't be on the bike for long.
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels

Psimet2001 is online now  
Old 10-30-09, 07:50 AM
  #19  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've definitely hit my max before (but without a HR monitor on me), and from that experience I know that I didn't hit it last night.
LinebackerU is offline  
Old 10-30-09, 09:18 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,606
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Just use the highest HR you've got recorded for at least a few seconds. Voila. That's your max heart rate for training purposes. Just enter it in the Garmin. In reality, you never want to reach your true max HR. Only matters what you can hit and still be alive. GL
kleinboogie is offline  
Old 10-30-09, 09:29 PM
  #21  
umd
Banned
 
umd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by kleinboogie
Just use the highest HR you've got recorded for at least a few seconds. Voila. That's your max heart rate for training purposes. Just enter it in the Garmin. In reality, you never want to reach your true max HR. Only matters what you can hit and still be alive. GL
Or better yet, don't try to figure out your max, and base everything off LT instead.
umd is offline  
Old 10-30-09, 09:47 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,606
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by umd
Or better yet, don't try to figure out your max, and base everything off LT instead.
+1. Exactly. I got that from Allen and Coggan's book. Problem I'm having now is at moderate intensities my HR is one zone higher than my Power. I take that to mean more aerobic fitness is needed and my power needs to increase. I need to ride more.
kleinboogie is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.