Originally Posted by
vasuvius
Hmm.. Interesting point about red blood cells. I'm severely anemic - very low red cell count and iron. It's genetic so nothing can be done.
I can easily keep my HR in the 160-180 range for over an hour, but likely not getting efficient oxygen delivery. The heart and lungs work well but the blood can't absorb enough oxygen to power the muscles? Resting HR is mid 40s so it's not a heart/lung conditioning issue I imagine.
This morning I was looking at one of the other guys computer and his HR was at 115 while I was at 157...we had just stopped at a traffic light..
I just need to keep working at it and I'll get there eventually.
Good grief, folks. Try reading the guy's posts. Oxygen is transported by red blood cells. The OP has a lot fewer than normal and no iron to use to make any more. Climbing is totally dependent on oxygen transport. It's aerobic, right?
So sorry, but you'll never climb with this group. Isn't going to happen. All the work in the world won't make it happen. You can get better, sure, but so can they. I.e. you'll always get shelled. So, as it is said, find a slower group of friends. The other thing you can do is change sports: hike in the summer, Alpine ski in the winter. Neither of those are particularly dependent on aerobic ability, though you'll be altitude limited. The High Sierra won't be much fun.
Another thing you can do is forget the group ride thing and just go soloing: explore and have fun riding. That's what I did as a kid. Tremendous fun.