DRLski

I didn't notice this before but while looking at my ride log I noticed that throughout the week my avg heartrate will go down and then if I take a day off, on the next ride it will go right back up again and start going down throughout the week again. Why would this be? Not huge drops either, like it would go from 164 to 162 to 159 to 158, etc and then back up to 164 if I take a day off from riding.

thx,
Dave

titanium

lower heart rate means you are getting over trained or at least no recovering fully from day to day. The day break gives you a chance to recover so your heart rate is higher. If you notice from the start of 1 week to the next your heart rate is lower each week then take a rest, you are over training. When oyu are training you should take a week out where you only cycle lightly every 4-5 weeks so you can recover.

terrymorse 

Possible overtraining. Do you check your resting heart rate in the morning? That's probably the easiest measurement for overtraining. If it goes up more than 10%, it's time to take an easy day.

DRLski

so is your resting heart rate the only way to really tell? Because aren't you supposed to have a lower average heart rate as you get fitter?

ZackJones

No there are other signs you can look for. Changes in sleep pattern is also something you can monitor. How do you feel when you do your rides later in the week compared to those you do earlier in the week?

Phatman

generally, when overtrained, your HR goes down in workouts with relation to effort, and your resting HR goes up.

Its probably fine, since it recovers fully on your off day. this is why we have days off in the week. the training process consists of tearing down and rebuilding, you need both to make a good program.

Doctor Morbius

I think some of that is typical especially if you are riding several days back to back. I noticed that some of the guys in last year's TdF had a very low working HR during the final week due to fatigue. I've even noticed that if I took a little time off, say a week, then started riding my working HR would be higher than the previous week when I was riding consistently. However, within a short period of time (3 days) my working HR would drop back to where it had been the prior week before I took time off. I especially noticed it if I was doing 5 days of 2.5 hour rides followed by 3 days off then 5 more days of 2.5 hour rides.

I don't believe what you are describing would classify as overtraining.

Nice Avatar, by the way!

DRLski

Dr., thx, that's actually exactly what I was looking for because my training is similar at times.

and yes, Army of Darkness all the way!

Doctor Morbius

Clatto Verata Nicto

vrkelley

hmmm...How does a person distinguish lowered HR due to fitness and overtraining then? Is there something else to look for?

Doctor Morbius

When overtrained there will be other telltale signs (mood swings, changes in sleep patters) on top of the HR difference. Basically, if you've had a RHR of 50 BPM for several months and you notice your training is all out of whack (no motivation, sluggishness) so you check your RHR again and it's at 60, then there's probably something afoot. I'm not willing to say that this constutues overtraining at this point as it also describes over reaching. If you take a few days off and your back to normal then you can be fairly sure it was just due to over reaching. Overtraining is much more serious and can take months of zero activity to recover from. I've read where people have quit the sport because of it.