Resume Cycling - Can't get to target Heart Rate
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Resume Cycling - Can't get to target Heart Rate
Guys,
I have just resumed cycling after a long time. And doing mostly indoor cycling.
Had my roller painted and installed new bearings. Changed the heart rate monitor’s battery. New tires cause the old ones dried out due to the lack of use. Bought a new shoe and readjust the whole bike geometry (a great and old Kestrel 500sci)
It's been a couple of months now and I already lost a some pounds as expected. Self stem and shape are much better than before.
I'm 49 years old, was a bit overweight but far from being a potato couch.
But now I'm facing something weird and I'd like to know if anyone has ever experienced anything similar?
I set a target heart rate of 130 just to get back on the bike and loose some weight. 130 should be the starting point of my aerobic range.
So far so good. But this week I’m having difficult to reach even 130. For the same effort of last month I can barely reach 120 bpm. And in order to get to 130+ I have to increase my cadence way too much or drop to heavy gears.
Any thoughts on that?
Tks.
Marcelo
I have just resumed cycling after a long time. And doing mostly indoor cycling.
Had my roller painted and installed new bearings. Changed the heart rate monitor’s battery. New tires cause the old ones dried out due to the lack of use. Bought a new shoe and readjust the whole bike geometry (a great and old Kestrel 500sci)
It's been a couple of months now and I already lost a some pounds as expected. Self stem and shape are much better than before.
I'm 49 years old, was a bit overweight but far from being a potato couch.
But now I'm facing something weird and I'd like to know if anyone has ever experienced anything similar?
I set a target heart rate of 130 just to get back on the bike and loose some weight. 130 should be the starting point of my aerobic range.
So far so good. But this week I’m having difficult to reach even 130. For the same effort of last month I can barely reach 120 bpm. And in order to get to 130+ I have to increase my cadence way too much or drop to heavy gears.
Any thoughts on that?
Tks.
Marcelo
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So let me get this straight. You're saying you now have to ride faster to reach the same heart rate? And this is a problem? Wish my problems were like that...
Ok, sarcasm aside, my thoughts are that you are getting fitter. Congratulations.
Ok, sarcasm aside, my thoughts are that you are getting fitter. Congratulations.
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But such a low hr is just too good to be true. I'll recheck the hr monitor and try my old outside route - so far I've confined myself riding on rollers.
Anyway, I'd appreciate more comments on the subject.
Tks all.
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Some hills or headwinds will help you get your heart rate up.
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Guys,
I set a target heart rate of 130 just to get back on the bike and loose some weight. 130 should be the starting point of my aerobic range.
So far so good. But this week I’m having difficult to reach even 130. For the same effort of last month I can barely reach 120 bpm. And in order to get to 130+ I have to increase my cadence way too much or drop to heavy gears.
I set a target heart rate of 130 just to get back on the bike and loose some weight. 130 should be the starting point of my aerobic range.
So far so good. But this week I’m having difficult to reach even 130. For the same effort of last month I can barely reach 120 bpm. And in order to get to 130+ I have to increase my cadence way too much or drop to heavy gears.
Ride outside and measure your LTHR and your MaxHR and base your training on those numbers.
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Agree with greg above, you may not have the strength to get HR up. I went through this, and have been working on some power intervals, low cadence high gear 2-3 minutes and 5 sets. ITs really helping.
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You don't say what your recent workout history is, what your HR has been these last 2 months, etc. But my guess is that you started way too hard and are cooked. Take 4 days completely off and have another go. If that doesn't do it, try just riding zone 1 for a few more days.
You don't need strength to get your HR up on rollers, just cadence. 53X12 at 95-100 cadence should get your HR plenty high if you hold it for 5 minutes. If it doesn't, or you can't even do the effort, you're cooked.
Beginning or restarting riders will normally have a much higher HR for the same perceived effort than a trained cyclist. Not lower.
You don't need strength to get your HR up on rollers, just cadence. 53X12 at 95-100 cadence should get your HR plenty high if you hold it for 5 minutes. If it doesn't, or you can't even do the effort, you're cooked.
Beginning or restarting riders will normally have a much higher HR for the same perceived effort than a trained cyclist. Not lower.
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Tks for the inputs guys.
Probably it was a bit of everything you said.
I'll go for a couple of rest days and then restart slowly again. I guess 49 isn't 30something anymore. Need to get used to that. It sucks, but I'm still riding and that's what it counts.
tks again.
Probably it was a bit of everything you said.
I'll go for a couple of rest days and then restart slowly again. I guess 49 isn't 30something anymore. Need to get used to that. It sucks, but I'm still riding and that's what it counts.
tks again.
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My guess is that the problem comes from using rollers. I know that I can ride up my local hill and average 173 over 40 minutes, whereas on rollers I find it hard even to hit that HR, never mind maintain it. Try again on a real hill and I'd bet you'd get a different result. Let us know how you get on. To be honest, indoor cycling, unless absolutely necessary, sounds a bit demotivating!
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As a reasonably fit BF50+ refugee, I find that I need to warm up for nearly an hour before I can easily climb out of HR Zone 2. Once warmed up, I find I can hit any Zone within a few moments of increasd/decreased effort. Consider the possibility that you may need additional warm-up to hit your HRs now that you're fit and on the cusp of 50+. Adjusting to the phenomenon of protracted warm-up was one of the many concessions I've made to stay in the saddle-as-fitness.