zizou

I've got about a 1500+ hours worth of heart rate data on my garmin connect account - road sprinting where i leave everything on the line, going up mountain passes in 30 degrees C where it feels like i am about to explode, trail running where i want to throw up, max efforts on spin bikes, turbo trainers and the treadmill. Basically what i'm meaning to say is i thought i knew my max heart rate, it had been fairly consistent over the the last few years.

That was until i started track cycling. Couple of weeks ago i recorded a new high which was 191 which is 4 more than i'd seen before. No big deal, its just a data spike i thought. Well last session i was in the string behind the derny bike going at 60+ kmh and i had to dig in pretty damn deep to hold on (largely because the guy immediately behind the derny wasnt peeling off like he should have been to give others a chance!)....I had my HRM on and on looking at the data after finishing i now discover my max heart rate is 196 bpm!

So i guess this means i have been subconciously slacking off in every other bit of exercise i've been doing for the last few years

Pantani98

WOW! I'd say you were diggin' deep. Haha! Funny timing on the post. I was actually thinking of going out today and picking up a HRM for my new Garmin. Wondering how many people actually monitor and track their heart rate. Very impressed by all the data you have. I know Carleton is a data/numbers junkie and am willing to bet he'll chime in.

carleton

Everything done on the road is inherently sub-maximal.

As you have seen, many track efforts require full maximum effort.

I hit 200BPM regularly, and sometimes I'll see 204 or 205. I've seen a 22 year old jump to 224BPM.

Lew.

On the HR figures, on a road ride two nights ago I looked at my HRM afterwards, max of 232 where I had gone to take back my KOM on Strava hehe.
I'm yet to use my HRM on the track, by "road is inherently sub-maximal" - Carelton. Do you mean this may go even higher on track efforts - in general?

carleton

I'd venture to guess that that 232 value was a spike. Have a look at the HR readings in the seconds before and after the 232 mark. If they are in the 220s or 230s then it may be legit, but if they aren't, it's an outlier. Basically the HRM goofed. It happens a lot. Especially if there is another HR monitor around being worn by another rider.

Lew.

It's not a fancy Garmin or anything, just a monitor by Polar. Afterwards it will tell the avg and max. of the ride/workout. I guess I will keep an eye on it next time around that KOM. When I am looking at it, the values seem realistic and don't suddenly higher/lower. And there wasn't another HRM around, three of us on the ride and I was the only one to use any electronic stuff (HRM/bike computer).

Velocirapture

A Polar HRM can also spike from being near powerlines, and other random reasons. I'd agree with Carleton that the 232 was unlikely your actual max, all things considered.

Allegheny Jet

I have had several occasions during dry windy days that my HRM would show 232 BPM. I think it had something to do with the jersey flapping and lack of a good contact to my skin. A little spit on my fingers applied to the back side of the strap fixed the issue while on the fly.

carleton

Maybe it's a small static charge?