Heart Rate

Bob Zabenko can’t get his pulse over 100 bpm. He is fit and has had a recent EKG, so he feels that he is doing something wrong and it’s not his health that is question. He wants to hear our thoughts:

Question:
I’m 51, fairly fit, and midway into returning to cycling for cross-training. I teach Spinning and have been riding ~50 miles~2x/weeks at ~17mph average. I got a HRM and can’t seem to get my HR above 100 bpm, even at a pretty substantial “perceived exertion.” I’ve had a recent EKG and know that I don’t have a conduction defect or something…
Why can’t I get to a “training” zone?

Hi Bob.

OK Bob, let’s go through the problem and see if we can find what is wrong.

First let’s start with the HRM, does it work properly? Have someone else try it to see if they can get over 100 bpm or borrow another HRM and see if they both give the same results or go to the old fashioned method of taking your pulse from your wrist. This should prove if your HRM is working well, if it is within a few beats either way then the HRM is good.

If you are worried that you have something wrong with your heart then see if you can arrange for a ramp test. This is where you are either running or cycling on a stationary rig which has a variable tension, you will be wired up and then pushed to your utmost limit under supervision to make sure all is OK…or not.

At your spinning class do others wear HRM and does their pulse go above 100 bpm? Maybe the work-outs are not hard enough?

If you feel confident enough to try, and then ride some hill intervals, these should get your heart rate up! Just find a hard climb and attack it as hard as you can in as big a gear as you can manage, be careful not to over do it the first time, but if you feel strong then go for it.

Are you taking any medication that might be affecting your heart? If you are worried that you have a heart problem then get it checked out before you do anything too vigorous.

Things to do:
1. Check the HRM works properly.
2. Have a heart ramp test.
3. Go for a hard ride and push yourself.

Good luck and we hope all turns out well?