High average heart rate

[capediver]

If you have concern's about heart rates, fitness etc etc, please see a doctor......

[buckstopper]

13 minutes ago, capediver said:

If you have concern's about heart rates, fitness etc etc, please see a doctor......

Maybe one from like Science2Sport etc...

['Kaze Pete]

1 hour ago, cadenceblur said:

743 tss. Goodness that’s high, what do you average ?

Is this high? I'm averaging 651 over the past 10 weeks. Past two weeks were 767 & 770

 

 

[cadenceblur]

Horses for courses I guess

[pietas]

Not medical advice.

Some questions:

• what is your max hart rate? Don't guess. Do proper tests to determine it. And most definitely don't use 220 minus your age. Every person is different.
• how long have you been cycling? Recreational/racing
•  

 

You do realise that if you participate in a race your hart rate will most likely be higher than when you train.

And you can't compare your hart rate against your wife's. Does not work that way.

If you are concerned about your hart, go and see a cardiologist. Don't ask for advice on the internet.

[NicholasT]

An interesting read on the 220 - age = …. method. 
https://www.asep.org/asep/asep/Robergs2.pdf

[Underachiever]

My 2c...

As being stated HR is DNA dependant

I've been using a HRM since '95 when I was 27, so I have plenty, plenty data

I am 57 now..

Current RHR = 43-47bpm

Max HR = 184bpm

Avg HR for a hard race of about 2-3 hrs will be about 158-163bpm

Avg HR for a training ride mixed Zone 2-3 = 147-154bpm

 

[reteid]

I would start with correctly determining what the correct hr zones are FOR HER. Secondly get something that measures the heartrate accurately ie a chest strap. Set up the zones correctly and work from there. Until such time as you know you have set up the zones correctly and then measure it accurately it is a futile exercise in my view and it is then better to work on RPE.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

☝️ what he said... determine her max and set the zones up correctly on her watch, then you have solid base to work from. On average, a woman HR is normally 10bpm higher than a mans as well.

I've had mates ride with me saying they were in the red the whole time,  meanwhile their watch is set to a max of 175 when it should be 195 so they were probably only Z3. Net result is they're not training to their full potential.

I've got a diesel engine, my resting rate is 46 but my max is only 176.

[DieselnDust]

22 hours ago, Spafsack said:

Hi guys, girls 😀

Need some advise.

My wife and i have started to train [mtb cycle] a lot, around 3 to 4 times per week. We have also entered a few races the last two weeks, the last one was actually yesterday where Wify got a first place in general ladies and in her age group [masters aged 50 to 60], she is 51. Very chuffed for her 😍. The problem is this.

Her average heart rate stays around 161bpm, max heat rate on hectic climbs tips 176bpm. Her watch tells her, or should i say warns her that she is in zone 5 for lets say almost an hour out of a whole race. Her watch subsequently says around 74 hours of recovery is needed, which i do agree with. I am however worried about her high average heart rate [around 161bpm]. If i look at her graphs, she starts to hit around 150 then 160 very early into each race. Does this mean she is not fit enough, or cycling too hard?

If i Google they say 220 minus age, for max heart rate, but that is just a general rule isn't it... Her resting heart rate is 56, and her heart rate drops quick once we have finished the race, so in my mind, she is not 'unfit', but perhaps not fit enough, or should we start slowing down so she is not in max effort for 90% of the race?

If so, what training or cycle training when we do go in the week would be good to get her average heart rate lower, or are some people just 'beating faster' ? She does feel tired after each race but i just dont want her to damage her heart, hence why i am asking, maybe i have over worried, but keen to hear thoughts please.

I suggested we start doing training rides in zone 3 for perhaps an hour and a half, to build up endurance perhaps, where you only average around 140bpm, maybe that would help?  Most races she does are short ones, weekend warrior type, 30km, some 35km, so its fast from the start. If i think back to years back, her average heart rate has always been way higher than mine, but now that we really trying to enter as many races as we can, just a bit worried.

 

Quite frankly if she's winning races and her heart beat does not show any signs of arrhythmia (irregular, too ast or too slow at rest or irregular under load) then you're just dealing with a fast ticker and or also possibly one that has not experienced years and years of conditioning.

You might want to split training load into Zone1/zone 2 for endurance

and Zone 4/5 for intervals sessions. Allow the heart muscle to build more strength so that it doesn't rely solely on high rate to pump blood. This comes with training.

 

If you are concerned , see a doctor ASAP and get a medical clearance to train. Maybe also consider a coach

[Spafsack]

37 minutes ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

☝️ what he said... determine her max and set the zones up correctly on her watch, then you have solid base to work from. On average, a woman HR is normally 10bpm higher than a mans as well.

I've had mates ride with me saying they were in the red the whole time,  meanwhile their watch is set to a max of 175 when it should be 195 so they were probably only Z3. Net result is they're not training to their full potential.

I've got a diesel engine, my resting rate is 46 but my max is only 176.

Hi Buff, good advise, and that's exactly what i am going to do. Her H2 settings are the same as mine, so i agree 200%. Her zone 5 should perhaps only start at 165, perhaps range from 165 to 180. If i look at her graphs, its very flat, no peaks, even when we train. I will see if i can get some screenshots and share here. 

[The Guy in Pink]

I am 78 in two months, and below is my HR during  this morning exercise.  The First 28 minutes was on an elliptical trainer and last 7 was rebounder. (Had to end session @ 35 minutes as rebounder accelerates bowl movements  ) And my Blood pressure 5 minutes later after the bowl movement was 106/66. 

55 years ago In 1970 at the age of 23  I did a series of stress tests on a bicycle ergometer at the Human sciences lab in Crown Mines and my max HR was then measured at 188 BPM during a 3 minute test.  (In 1970 it needed and oscilloscope and about 30meter of paper being spit out from a galvo-meter  pen to recorded 3 minutes of heart rate )  

So Max HR does not reduce with age if you stress yourself frequently throughout your life and for a normal healthy person there is no need to EVER worry about high heart rates

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JoeMerida]

On 4/13/2025 at 3:07 PM, Spafsack said:

Hi guys, girls 😀

Need some advise.

My wife and i have started to train [mtb cycle] a lot, around 3 to 4 times per week. We have also entered a few races the last two weeks, the last one was actually yesterday where Wify got a first place in general ladies and in her age group [masters aged 50 to 60], she is 51. Very chuffed for her 😍. The problem is this.

Her average heart rate stays around 161bpm, max heat rate on hectic climbs tips 176bpm. Her watch tells her, or should i say warns her that she is in zone 5 for lets say almost an hour out of a whole race. Her watch subsequently says around 74 hours of recovery is needed, which i do agree with. I am however worried about her high average heart rate [around 161bpm]. If i look at her graphs, she starts to hit around 150 then 160 very early into each race. Does this mean she is not fit enough, or cycling too hard?

If i Google they say 220 minus age, for max heart rate, but that is just a general rule isn't it... Her resting heart rate is 56, and her heart rate drops quick once we have finished the race, so in my mind, she is not 'unfit', but perhaps not fit enough, or should we start slowing down so she is not in max effort for 90% of the race?

If so, what training or cycle training when we do go in the week would be good to get her average heart rate lower, or are some people just 'beating faster' ? She does feel tired after each race but i just dont want her to damage her heart, hence why i am asking, maybe i have over worried, but keen to hear thoughts please.

I suggested we start doing training rides in zone 3 for perhaps an hour and a half, to build up endurance perhaps, where you only average around 140bpm, maybe that would help?  Most races she does are short ones, weekend warrior type, 30km, some 35km, so its fast from the start. If i think back to years back, her average heart rate has always been way higher than mine, but now that we really trying to enter as many races as we can, just a bit worried.

 

Too High 

[mrcg]

The only conclusion you can arrive at, is to NOT tap around in the dark. Go to the Sport Science Institute and do the required tests and get professional advice. This will enhance any training results for both of you.

Or if you, or more importantly, your lady friend is unconcerned and not feeling any side effects, then carry on.

[The Guy in Pink]

On 4/13/2025 at 3:07 PM, Spafsack said:

Hi guys, girls 😀

Need some advise.

My wife and i have started to train [mtb cycle] a lot, around 3 to 4 times per week. We have also entered a few races the last two weeks, the last one was actually yesterday where Wify got a first place in general ladies and in her age group [masters aged 50 to 60], she is 51. Very chuffed for her 😍. The problem is this.

Her average heart rate stays around 161bpm, max heat rate on hectic climbs tips 176bpm. Her watch tells her, or should i say warns her that she is in zone 5 for lets say almost an hour out of a whole race. Her watch subsequently says around 74 hours of recovery is needed, which i do agree with. I am however worried about her high average heart rate [around 161bpm]. If i look at her graphs, she starts to hit around 150 then 160 very early into each race. Does this mean she is not fit enough, or cycling too hard?

 

There is nothing wrong with that heart rate. Individuals vary a lot, in the  1990's I trained two guys , of the same age, weight and height, one hit 220bpm often the other never got over about 165bpm, yet on the ergometer they produced the same power at those vastly different heart  rates  and at our reginal races they often alternated in  sharing  positions 1 and 2. . 

If your Garmin says you need a 72 hour recovery, recovery by going on some easy rides and then hit the training hard again. The 220 - age thing only works for those that don't train hard all their lives.  If it did work that means I'm  still only 23 and not 78.