MIN 

I just got back from a short but hilly ride. 24 miles with 2,400 ft of climbing. Set a PR by 8 minutes. (Whoot Whoot.) This is the first time back on the bike in 7 days (way down from my usual 150 to 200 miles per week.) I did run 12 miles on Sunday though.

I don't know if it's because I am rested and able to push harder or if it was the late afternoon Starbucks (caffeine) or the warm temperature, but my avg HR was ridiculously high. Average HR for the ride was in Zone 4.4. For reference, what is the LT? Isn't that around 90% Max HR?

https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/2820114

Heart Rate Data Avg Low High
Heart Rate (%max) 84 54 94
Heart Rate (zone) 4.4 1.5 5.5
Heart Rate (bpm) 163 106 184

Heart Rate
Time (t) Distance (d) Speed (s)
Zone 0 0-50
00:00:00 (t) 0.00 (d) 0.0 (s)
Zone 1 50-59
00:00:26 0.04 6.0
Zone 2 59-69
00:00:28 0.11 14.0
Zone 3 69-79
00:19:19 5.80 18.0
Zone 4 79-89
01:00:48 14.92 14.7
Zone 5 89-100
00:11:46 2.61 13.3

Plow13

thats not hilly...come to pittsburgh, we will show you hills

MIN 

Excellent analysis!

2,400 ft over 24 miles isn't too shabby.

aham23

my first thought is, how have you determined you MAX HR? just maxed observed or did you do some type of specific MAX HR workout? maybe your max is higher then you think? later.

MIN 

Haven't determined my "true max" - this is based on the default formula. But my comments on my high HR was based on having done this route with a much lower avg HR before.

merlinextraligh

1)Until the zones are set for you, rather than by formula, no one can do any really meaningful analysis.

2) Don't worry about your average speed. Rather do intervals targeted to the particular ability you're working on.

MIN 

1) True however, precision will remain the same despite an inaccurate max HR. So relative comparisons are still meaningful. Meaning, I've done this route before and the avg HR was not nearly this high.

2) Avg speed? I don't think I mentioned speed at at. Particularly on hills, I am concerned with HR above all.

merlinextraligh

^^^^ "Set a PR by 8 minutes"

And the relative comparisons aren't very meaningful. If you're training by Zones, you're trying to work within certain zones to accomplish certain things. You have to know your zones for the whole concept to work.

MIN 

How much variability is there in max HR? For example, default is 195 bpm and if my "true max" was 200 bpm, then that's only 2.5% variance. I am 26 years old.

GuitarWizard

It depends on your area. Around here, 2,400 feet in 24 miles means LOTS of steep grades....10%+ grades.....and those wear you down pretty quickly versus longer, more gradual climbs.

MIN 

Where are the bench-racing data junkies when you need them?