- Jul 26, 2008
- 3,512
- 2,058
((caution: I'm new to this, so understand that I'm speaking from ignorance))
I've been browsing around the web on this, and (apart from extremes) it all looks pretty mushy and unclear. There seems to be a generic disclaimer that you either need to get tested right (thoroughly/completely), or you take a given calculator's "results" with a grain of salt and adjust your level up or down depending on how you feel...
And there are people who have posted here, such as: https://tokyocycle.com/bbs/threads/today-september-2013.4837/page-3#post-69904
Also, I've looked at calculators such as at: http://www.digifit.com/heartratezones/maximum-heart-rate.asp?Age=62#table
Or: http://www.digifit.com/heartratezones/training-zones.asp?MaxHR=170&Age=62&RHR=65
I think the numbers I put in those will come thru in the links, but in the 2nd link MaxHR could be lower by 10 bpm from 170, depending on the chosen formula. (220-62=158)
***
The reason I've been looking at this is that I've started using a trainer (besides ongoing swimming). All well and good, and I'm satisfied with those things, but when I look a little more and try to judge what I maybe should be doing, or try to align what I'm doing with the numbers, I'm puzzled by the numbers.
On the trainer, I've been doing sessions like 30min+30, 40+20-25, or 45 straight. No variation in difficulty (no intervals), just what I can maintain for that long. It depends how I've been pushing, but at the end of any time period I'm usually close to 150bpm, and sometimes 156. Which would seem to be zone 4 or even 5, depending on which maxHR calculation system is used. I try to hold a cadence of 85, but usually slip back to 80 or a little less.
After sessions like that, I'm not really exhausted aerobically, but my legs are ready for a break. (This could be lactic threshold? --another thing I'm pretty ignorant about.) These trainer sessions are similar to a part of my normal fair-weather riding, where I'll go hard for 40min or more on the way out, and then take it easy on the way back.
Tho I see some advantages to the steady push on the trainer--no stop lights (breaks), no coasting along with traffic, no downhills to take it easy on (just steady work)--I think I end up breathing more when actually out riding.
***
ramble, ramble...
So, keeping in mind that I'm a pretty casual rider, and while training a little, not at all training for anything apart from general health (no racing, or other specific goals, etc), any suggestions/ideas/comments?
I've been browsing around the web on this, and (apart from extremes) it all looks pretty mushy and unclear. There seems to be a generic disclaimer that you either need to get tested right (thoroughly/completely), or you take a given calculator's "results" with a grain of salt and adjust your level up or down depending on how you feel...
And there are people who have posted here, such as: https://tokyocycle.com/bbs/threads/today-september-2013.4837/page-3#post-69904
Also, I've looked at calculators such as at: http://www.digifit.com/heartratezones/maximum-heart-rate.asp?Age=62#table
Or: http://www.digifit.com/heartratezones/training-zones.asp?MaxHR=170&Age=62&RHR=65
I think the numbers I put in those will come thru in the links, but in the 2nd link MaxHR could be lower by 10 bpm from 170, depending on the chosen formula. (220-62=158)
***
The reason I've been looking at this is that I've started using a trainer (besides ongoing swimming). All well and good, and I'm satisfied with those things, but when I look a little more and try to judge what I maybe should be doing, or try to align what I'm doing with the numbers, I'm puzzled by the numbers.
On the trainer, I've been doing sessions like 30min+30, 40+20-25, or 45 straight. No variation in difficulty (no intervals), just what I can maintain for that long. It depends how I've been pushing, but at the end of any time period I'm usually close to 150bpm, and sometimes 156. Which would seem to be zone 4 or even 5, depending on which maxHR calculation system is used. I try to hold a cadence of 85, but usually slip back to 80 or a little less.
After sessions like that, I'm not really exhausted aerobically, but my legs are ready for a break. (This could be lactic threshold? --another thing I'm pretty ignorant about.) These trainer sessions are similar to a part of my normal fair-weather riding, where I'll go hard for 40min or more on the way out, and then take it easy on the way back.
Tho I see some advantages to the steady push on the trainer--no stop lights (breaks), no coasting along with traffic, no downhills to take it easy on (just steady work)--I think I end up breathing more when actually out riding.
***
ramble, ramble...
So, keeping in mind that I'm a pretty casual rider, and while training a little, not at all training for anything apart from general health (no racing, or other specific goals, etc), any suggestions/ideas/comments?