Originally Posted by
chasm54
No. Maximum heartrates vary widely between individuals but tend to be higher when you're young. Going over 200 bpm as a 25 year-old isn't unusual.
160 for a recovery ride seems quite high. Nothing to worry about, but it implies that your "recovery" ride is quite vigorous. Personally I like to recover in zone 1, which is closer to 60% of my max HR.
Agree totally and this is the best article that I've read that explains why heart rate zones vary so much
'Maximum' Heart Rate Theory Is Challenged - NYTimes.com
The charts are industry-driven, not backed by science.