How long can you go in the 80-90% HR zone?

[RoboLuke]

From what ive read its meant to be 20-40 minutes. But when I race I sit here for 2 hours? Does this mean that as long as I keep on taking lots of food/energy drinks that one can maintain 80-90%?

 

(My HR is always higher than my buddies by a good 10 beats per minute.)

 

At what % do you start 'burning out' - in my mind - pulling glycogen from your muscles which you cannot replenish during the race and then you hit the wall.

[Wil6]

To be able to race in that zones you need to train in that zones.If I ride a race and my average is less then 80% then it was a fun ride.So basically the harder and longer you train to ride at that pace the easier and the longer you can do it.

Edited March 16, 2012 by Wil6

[Minion]

I believe the 80-90% thing is pretty consistent. It's more likely that your max heart rate is higher than you've calculated and you're actually sitting below 80%.

[jaxtun]

After Attakwas they posted garmin info for the 2nd lady home and for the 6 odd hours or so of racing her average was 90% as opposed to my 10 hours at 80%!!!

[D-Mike]

I find that I cannot emulate my race heart rate during training rides. On a long training ride I can get my heart rate average to 160-165 which is a bit over 80% while in a race my average goes up to 172-177 which reaches 90%. Race conditions make a huge difference when adrenalin is in your system.

 

A colleague of mine has done a race in which his average heart rate was 93% over 3 hours.

[mooky]

I find that I cannot emulate my race heart rate during training rides. On a long training ride I can get my heart rate average to 160-165 which is a bit over 80% while in a race my average goes up to 172-177 which reaches 90%. Race conditions make a huge difference when adrenalin is in your system.

 

A colleague of mine has done a race in which his average heart rate was 93% over 3 hours.

 

I agree here, during training my average heart rate is about 80%. During the Argus my average heart rate was 90% - maintained for 4 hours!!!! Crazy I know - but my polar cant lie!!!

Average 171, where normally my average would be about 155...

[fandacious]

80%? forever...

[FanieFiets]

it not about % of mhr but where your Lactic Threshold is. Some people low....others a very high % of mhr.

[covie]

Yup as i said to roboluke in one other post about heart rate to have a total acurate figure of your percentages you have 2 options.

 

One go see a medical professional and let them determine your lactic threshold, and vo2max.

Two, do a home based one where you basically ride till you puke

 

option one is much nicer though.

[BMXER]

My last 94.7 was 2:48, I maxed at 190bpm and averaged 170bpm. At 36, I spent 50% of my race over 180bpm. To answer your question as to how long can you go, this depends on your body and training regime.

[DJR]

During the Argus my average heart rate was 90%

Extremely hot weather can easily give you 10 beats per minute highter than on a cooler day for the same effort.