If you're seeing stars, or about to puke, you're at the max, at least that's how I gauge it. The max I've recorded this year is 183 (no stars, almost puked). Seven years ago it was 195. Like you, I've gotten serious about riding again after five years off the bike (except for occasional rides), but I don't have high BP. All the zones I mapped out years ago were apparently too high, at least by current recommendations: seems I've been pushing Z4 thinking I was in Z2! lol No wonder I'm fatigued! I'm used to thinking of 150s as endurance. Whoops. Time to recalibrate my thinking.
I've begun using a power meter to more accurately assess effort/workload. I kept my HR at 150 or lower during my "endurance" ride today, but the power meter was not on the bike I was riding, so I'll have to repeat this test another time, with the meter. It will be interesting to see how the power measures correlate to HR between 140 and 150 (what I used to think of as Z2). I'm also looking forward to using power to structure my workouts. I hope to see lower HR with higher power at some point.
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2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
Last edited by horatio; 08-25-19 at 07:52 PM.