Yesterday's Ride and Heartbeat

Triathlon Forum
1

I am relatively new to cycling (3 years) and I have a reasonably regular 35-mile ride that I go on in Long Island – some small, rolling hills, but generally pretty easy. Most of the time, I do it averaging 22.0 mph and 130 bpm. But yesterday, it was 20.0 mph with 115 bpm. Now, it was really windy at that would account for the slower speed, but I was really working hard (RPE), so I don’t understand the HR. I don’t think it was fatigue or other normal HR limiters. Could my legs just not be strong enough to cut through the wind and allow my HR to rise?

Any thoughts?

2

Is your HRM ok? If I was at that speed at that HR I think I could rule the world. I did a 24.6mph TT last week and I was at 175. My max is 180 so I was just about red lined. I don’t understand 115 bpm as working hard, I think I get that with cheap smelling perfume.

3

What is your resting HR and your max HR?

Are you sure your bike computer is calibrated correctly? Seems pretty fast for such a low HR.

4

That is my HR during a recovery ride.

5

The HRM is definitely working right. Combination of low HR DNA and 30 years of competitive swimming. Resting HR = 38-40; max 175-178. But for some reason, when it is windy, I just cannot get my HR above 120 bpm for a sustained period before my legs tire.

6

But for some reason, when it is windy, I just cannot get my HR above 120 bpm for a sustained period before my legs tire.

Sounds like you need to shift to a smaller gear and spin a bit more. Tired legs and unusually low HR… You’re probably over geared.

Of course, if you worship in the church of ‘PC’ we would conclude that your fitness has improved and you simply haven’t ‘adapted’ yet.

7

I’ll go with JustCurious’ impression of needing to go to a lower gear to spin more. What were your RPM’s?

As for the PC comment, I have no idea what JC meant…what idea is it that you intended to convey?