Thank you OHB! Just last week I got the results of a cardiolite treadmill stress test with a heart perfusion scan - the radiologist reports no coronary artery disease (the test due to some deviance in the slope of my ST wave.) I took my heart rate up to 172 BPM during the treadmill test with no pain. I'm waiting to hear back from the cardiologist as to his recommended max heart rate - both in training and when in the tropics - but I bet he'll play it safe. Wouldn't you if you weren't a sports physician with a 57 year old patient? I'm itching to find out my real max - just see how high I can go! Last night I went to 172 - that I can do. But it scares me a little (and excites me too) to try higher!
There's another Cyclefit class in an hour. If you don't hear from me, call a saint and find me the garments!