boostbutt

I'm 38 this year and getting a bit worried about my heart rate being 'too high'. Max HR = 220-38 = 182bpm simply does work for me!

On average HR : In a typical ride, say about 80km mostly flat terrain, with an average speed of 30km/h my average HR is ~155bpm. How is it that guys 10 years older than me can do this same ride/speed and yet have a ~130-140bpm range, much lower than mine? I suck that bad??

On sprints : I can exert on flat sprints up to 195bpm (can only sustain this for a minute tops), this could mean a top speed of about 55km/h and have hit ~200bpm couple of times too (this one, couple of seconds, they I'm totally deflated!). This is way above the theoretical max....I'm thinking maybe in the 205-210 range.

So I really wonder why my friends are raving about raising max HR. Mine's seems to be too high!

fadi

How fit are you?
If you have no particular medical complications that you are aware of, that could be simply due to overweight...

boostbutt

You are psychic! yes I stand in at 181cm and 85kg currently. Was 92kg at my 'peak' 2 years but then I started cycling. Somehow, I'm stuck at 85kg.

fadi

Your BMI in this case would be 25.95 kg/m²

Normal range: from 18.5 to 25
Overweight: from 25 to 30
Obese: from 30 onward

You need to drop a few kilos still and you will be fine
But bear in mind though that these numbers nonetheless are very theoretical; as long as you feel fine in your own body there is nothing to worry about!!

The more you practice and the lower your heart rate will be, and that's healthier for a longer life ;-)

Cheers
Fadi

MTBLover

Not sure why you say that 220-age works for you. The ONLY way to determine MaxHR is to measure it in the lab. That said, there are ways to estimate it without the expense and bother of going to a lab. Also, it's your resting HR you want to go down, not your max. BTW, I'm 60, and my MaxHR is 202 and I am routinely in 145-155 on a ride. My RHR is 64.

fadi

Definitely

TurboTurtle

You can chalk this up to three things:

- The equations do not work.

- The equations do not work.

- The equations do not work.

TF

Pat

OK, you figure a maximum heart rate of 182 bpm. Now, you have gone out and hit up to 200 bpm. Most people deviate from the 220-age equation anyway. So you are like most people.

Also, if we use your observed max heart rate for your "true max", at 155 bpm you are running at 78% max heart rate. That is probably a little intense, so either you push yourself hard or you have not yet reached your "max" heart rate.

You say that your firends ride in the 130-140 bpm range and you go 155. Everyone is different here. As your fitness improves, you can go the same speed at a lower heart rate. Also your friends may not be able to run as high a heart rate as you can. If both of you are running the same percent of max heart rate, you are performing at the same level.

In my experience, resting heart rate decreases as one gets fitter. I have not noticed a corresponding change in max heart rate.

caloso

I'm 43. On Saturday's group ride, my HRM recorded a max of 203. I ignore the charts.

valygrl

That formula doesn't work for most people.
Max HR is not trainable, and doesn't mean anything about how fit you are. It's just a number. Don't bother comparing it with anyone else's number, it doesn't mean anything.
Your personal Max HR may decline over time. That still doesn't mean anything.
For calculating of Percent of Max HR, use your max observed, not calculated. You're probably just a little over 200, you could use 202 or 205, it won't make much difference.