RUOkie

OP, all I can tell you is that no 63 y/o man should make any attempts to figure out his max HR except in a Cardiologist's office. You could just have a low HR, but you could also have heart block. See your doctor and for the time being, don't worry about the numbers. Ride like you have been.

Yankeetowner

Blood work in 5 weeks, physical on August 8th. Rode 21 miles this morning with 18.7 mph average through urban southern Orlando with a sprint towards the end to 28.5 mph on Orange Avenue with morning traffic...quite an experience for a guy used to riding rural roads. Didn't wear the monitor.

txags92

^^ This +1. I am 44 and my max is around 172. A good hard climbing effort for me is around 160-162. And my resting HR is around 55. There is no reason to automatically assume that somebody 20 years older than me should have a max HR in the 180s. The easy solution is to take your pulse a few times while on the bike to ground truth what the HR monitor is reading. If they match, problem solved...

CharlyAlfaRomeo

I would t put any stock in what anyone says about your HRM or your HR being abnormal, you may just be an outlier.

A guy I race with at the velodrome can't get his heart above 150 BPM and that's after ending a fast race with a sprint. He's 55 FWIW.

Try stopping and manually checking your pulse against the HRM after a hard pull and sprint.

I have one question though, how high is your avg cadence? A low cadence in a high gear is less strenuous on your cardiovascular system than spinning at higher RPM and will typically result in a lower HR for a given speed.

Other than that good luck on the physical, too bad you have to wait so long for it!

merlinextraligh

You can't say that. HR varies significantly by individual. Also the power someone can put out at their LTHR will vary dramatically from individual to individual with training.

The fact that the OP has a resting HR in the 40's would indicate he's pretty fit. It could be that his LTHR is 130, which would be rather low, but not off the charts.

For one individual with a low LTHR and very good power at threshold, 24mph, particularly for a short period (the OP didn't say he was averaging 24mph) they might see a HR of 125.

For another individual with a high LTHR, and poor power, 24mph might be 195bpm.

And for the same individual, 24mph might be 140bpm one day, and 180bpm another, depending wind, grade, duration,hydration fatigue, etc (which is the reason we use power meters.)

The only way for the OP to sort any of this out is to do a field test. Assuming he's otherwise in good shape, and been riding a fair amount he can do a field test and determine his LTHR, and set zones from there.

igosolo

Using a HR monitor helps me pace myself and know how I am doing on a long climb or if I am taking it too easy. 150s, 160s I go all day, low 170s for a long climb, high 170s to low 180s and I am going too hard, 190s and its an all out sprint.....for me. Reached 199 once and about fell over nearing my max. Obviously everyone's numbers will vary with their own body. But once you get a feel for what your numbers are, then it is very valuable information.

I am 43 and my calculated heart should max out at 177 and mines at least 199+/- so it is what it is. Comparing heart rates is kind of like getting fitted for your bike on Bike Forum like I see so many do or using the BMI charts as a one size fits all.

Campag4life

Just to throw out a counterpoint since the OP is 63 and his max heart rate seems to be low or maybe age appropriate. I am just the opposite.
I am 60 y.o. On it seems pretty much any ride I am on, my HR hits 180 bpm + Yesterday when I was riding with a TT guy on a long stretch when we were pushing it, mine hit 183 bpm. I can ride at 175 bpm for a long way and not go anaerobic. I guestimate my LTHR is 170 or so and my true max HR is unknowable...maybe 190...not willing to find out. But pretty routine that I hit 180 bpm. But OP, to show you just how different we are, my resting HR is in the mid to high 60's. I have never had a low resting HR and I have been athletic my whole life and always had good cardio fitness. So genetics are a big factor as it relates to age in particular.

Yankeetowner

My cadence is pretty high...I stay between 90-95 most of the time, however occasionally as high as 100+, or as low as 85 on rolling hills.

as far as getting in for a physical, I was lucky to get August 8...it was a cancellation otherwise late September.

Hammondc

Im in the market for one as well. As for the usefullness, I want it to get a more 'accurate' calorie burn than just a guess. I know a power meter would be better, but I can't drop $500+ on that right now.