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Seem to be struggling to get my heart rate up above about 120 while riding at the moment, even on pretty intense rides.
This morning (6.15), I did 3 fast Richmond Park laps - 2 in a group and 1 solo after being dropped. I was working above threshold for most of the ride but average HR was only 114 for 48 minutes (with some big downward spikes in the trace). Last week was similar - average 118bpm.
I did 10k warmup - mixture of high/low cadence and was out of breath at the start. I'm 39 and in reasonably good shape. Normal threshold HR is 165ish.
For comparison, I ran 10k at the weekend RPE about 6/10 and HR was 156. All measured on garmin vivoactive HR - will try with a chest strap next week.
Is this a symptom of something? Illness? overtraining? Is it likely to be affecting performance? Am I just not trying hard enough? or a dodgy watch?
Any tips gratefully received!
with some big downward spikes in the trace
This is makes me think it’s just not picking up your HR properly
Above threshold following a power meter and ftp testing?
Seems strange that your heart rate is so low but you are still riding above threshold.
I can’t help with the symptoms, but as an example, if I’m above threshold for over 5 minutes my heart rate is heading up to 160.l, so yours does look low.
If you have a power meter I would recalibrate it and then perform an FTP test aiming to hit just over existing FTP, that will give a good indication of whether there is a kit or rider problem. If you can’t sustain your existing FTP (or get close to) then you know it’s rider.
just what I would do as my first thoughts would be that there is a kit problem.
Are you using a chest strap currently?
If wrist only then they can be slightly dubious for cycling. Best remedy seems to be having it painfully tight.
Try a new battery in the monitor.
If You're getting a steady reading, it's usually ok (unless "stuck")
If you've been riding a lot I'd say fatigue or overtraining.
"Above threshold" on RPE and compared to times I've done previously. Power meter is on the wish list.
Indoor FTP is about 330, Strava estimated 350 for this ride - I appreciate this is not the same thing!
I thought it was a bad reading, but my HR for the commute half an hour later - 16km cruise on the flat was average 131.
Perhaps I just need a longer warm up? but surely it should be going up during the ride?
Anyway, thanks for the comments. have dug out chest strap and will compare results.
Yup, HR strap / watch not functioning or simple over-trained / not enough recovery
Dodgy watch sounds most likely culprit by far. I have a similar threshold HR to you and cannot see how you can work at / above threshold for 48 mins [going off perception of effort, speed because you know the course etc] at 118 bpm average.
Seems like far too big a gap (50 bpm) to be over-training, fatigue. Be interested to know if it is physiologically possible to depress the HR that low and still work at threshold for a decent time - surely you would just collapse?
have a cup of coffee before you start. Proper coffee, not that instant shoot.