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Re: Getting heart rate up when on a trainer. [sonofdad]
I think most see a slightly higher HR while running than cycling at similar efforts. But being that far off on a hard ~6 minute effort? Maybe your perception of effort is too strongly tied to how hard your pressing the pedals (torque), and doesn't take in the other half of the power equation which is cadence? Your HR might not be as high if you're pedaling slower but harder, biasing your effort more towards anaerobic. In a workout of a just-below-threshold-power intervals, I typically ride at a cadence of around 90rpm and have a HR around 160. If I drop the cadence to 70, but maintain that same power by pressing harder, my HR will be ~10bpm lower. One might think that "lower HR = less work = more sustainability," but the truth is, I have much more endurance at 90rpm than 70rpm for the same given power.

You could use more data than HR, like cadence and power. If you don't have a power meter, wheel speed on the trainer can be a proxy. While it's not always a linear relationship, resistance is generally constant for a given wheel speed. So while 22mph might require more (or less) than 10% more power to sustain than 20mph, the power to maintain 22mph should be the same every ride.* Try riding at the same wheel speed at different cadences by changing gears. See what happens to your HR. Find a cadence that lets your HR get up closer to your easy 30 minute run HR. If that's low 140's, I'd be looking for a cadence that get's my HR to the mid 130's.


*if it's a wheel-on trainer, it's important to maintain the same tire pressure and the same amount of tire deflection on the roller.

"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"
Last edited by: gary p: Feb 27, 19 6:01

Edit Log:

  • Post edited by gary p (Dawson Saddle) on Feb 27, 19 5:52
  • Post edited by gary p (Dawson Saddle) on Feb 27, 19 5:54
  • Post edited by gary p (Dawson Saddle) on Feb 27, 19 5:54
  • Post edited by gary p (Dawson Saddle) on Feb 27, 19 5:57
  • Post edited by gary p (Dawson Saddle) on Feb 27, 19 5:58
  • Post edited by gary p (Dawson Saddle) on Feb 27, 19 6:01