Heart rate questions

thedoc46 · 29 Apr 2015 at 21:20

So according to this, http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/watching-rate-monitor?page=2

Anything over 80% of your of your max heart rate is apparently not good for you.

In their own words

Be careful not to exceed your target heart rate. This increases both cardiovascular and orthopedic risk and does not add any extra benefit. Instead, slow down until your heart rate gets into the proper range.

Cos I'm nearly 43, that means my heart rate should never exceed 150 ish... I like to push myself every morning and go out for a cycle. My average HR when really pushing myself is around 168bpm. When I push myself but like not to the max its around 155ish. (19mph average) I feel i quickly recover and well after a shower and drive to work, i'm 100% fine.

Cutting to the chase.. Am i doing more harm than good pushing myself to the max everyday? Expert opinions please.

thedoc46 · 30 Apr 2015 at 11:56

GSVBagpuss said:
All nonsense. Try this
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/heart-rate-monitor-training-for-cyclists-28838/

Great article.. Thanks for that.

thedoc46 · 30 Apr 2015 at 17:03

Freefaller said:
Your average is 168? Or your peak is 168? An average of 168 is quite high no?

Yes 168 is my average during the cycles where I 'REALLY' push it. When i go easier as in not trying to beat my circuit time its more like 158ish. According to the new calculation of 210 minus half your age, then subtract 5% of your body weight in pounds. Add four for a male and 0 for a female. My max is supposed to be 185bpm. Which makes better sense, and a number that is not so alarming.

So that means I'm spending my rides at 90% of my heart rate max on my bike.

Which feels about right to me... As in I'm going at it, giving it 90% of my absolute max over a sustained period. I've been cycling for yrs and yrs. nothing competitive just for regular exercise. Bought myself a heart monitor last week, out of curiosity (& have an apple watch on order) so started taking a little more note of what my heart rate is... It actually surprised me that it was so high on a bike. When i go to the gym, its more like 150bpm on an elliptical, using the built in sensor. I guess being out on the open road on a bike makes me want to push harder than being in a gym on a stationary exercise machine.

thedoc46 · 1 May 2015 at 14:28

Not really concerned as such, more curious that by the general consensus i wasn't doing more harm than good, by pushing it. After looking at WebMD, it made me stop to think ! I've always thought pushing yourself was good for you.. Seems that its fine to an extent.

I seem to have done ok on it.. As in never really fallen ill my entire life. Never spent a day in hospital. My ticker is fine I had one of those ekg's or whatever they're called a couple of times in my life and the doc said you're in good health !