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.
/quote

Biggest part of the communication problem is we DO read his posts.
First post OP says he hangs with A group, then later on he says he's on the ragged edge just hanging, before the climbs starts - which is it ???

Above he talks of severe anemia and low iron - genetic. Yet he says he has mid40s resting HR. I mean, on planet earth?
Check with any MD, read any reference, anemia is associated with HIGH resting rates. Blood chemistry dictates the HR at any time.
so what is it? There are a lot of things which can cause some anemia, same with low iron levels...
make your own inferences on what is and what isn't on what he claims...

OP: Never look at another's HR as a comparison at any time. There are reasons his was low and yours was high and these are not directly comparable. Comparable is yourself to yourself, on any common road section, in the same environmental conditions, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I'm gettin you're a new rider and maybe over-reaching. And not getting shelled climbing, by better riders is one of the hardest things to overcome.
Apply some more HTFU sauce....