Originally Posted by brigadon
The puzzling result from this afternoon's first trial is that riding as hard as I could I couldn't push the heart rate above 128 bpm which is a long way from my theoretical maximum of 174 bpm. Now, I wonder, does this indicate that I'm exceptionally weak, exceptionally unfit, or the opposite....that I'm pretty fit for my 72 years? Or does it mean something else?
One of the early lessons I learnt about using HR is that your MAX HR is the maximum that YOU can attain. The formulas do not work!!!
I also found that it depends on the type of exercise. On a treadmill I can just barely achieve 145. On the bike I can hit 188 on a steep hill. I am 52 yrs old.
I understand that the level of fitness is related to resting HR and the speed of recovery. Max HR is down to genetics.