Originally Posted by
oilman_15106
"and that's when I'm doing some steep climbs - and I feel like crap! "
This is abnormal?
One thing that crossed my mind when reading this is to get someone to allow you to put on their HR monitor strap and check your HR on another computer against yours. Stuff does not last forever.
To me the numbers do not add up. Generally HR recovery rate is the best indicator of increased fitness. I am way more fit than 5 years ago yet my HR average and peak numbers are still about the same. Recovery from peak to average has improved.
My monitor is a Suunto T1 watch with belt. I've had it about five months. I checked it, once, against a NONIN pulse/ox monitor that we use at work. It was spot on - then!
You make a good point. I'll change the battery in the belt and see what happens.