Heart Rate Zones

[yoshirider]

Strava says my heartrate is in Z4 - Threshold A LOT. When I say a lot, I mean 50-80% on solo rides and 20-50% on group rides. Surely this can't be normal? :\

[rnhood]

I don't use Strava. I recommend a Garmin and you can load the proper HR zones in it. There are several formulas but the results are generally similar. These will be shown in Garmin Connect when you download.

Remember that people often low ball their max rate. It really takes a lab, or a competitive situation to see your true max rate. It isn't a matter of huffing and puffing on some experiential stretch and thinking this is my max rate.

When your arms are suddenly losing strength and tingling, and you suddenly feel like puking, then you are getting close to hour max rate. I'm just guessing, but I think your max rate is higher than you have entered.

[yoshirider]

Strava thinks my max HR is 197. Z4 - Threshold is listed as 172 - 191 and Z5 - Anaerobic is listed as > 191.

When I'm looking at my Garmin on a ride, my heart rate usually shows 170-185. I get light headed when I get close to 190.

[ptourkin]

Strava thinks my max HR is 197. Z4 - Threshold is listed as 172 - 191 and Z5 - Anaerobic is listed as > 191.

When I'm looking at my Garmin on a ride, my heart rate usually shows 170-185. I get light headed when I get close to 190.

Strava "thinks" this because of your settings. Go into "My Performance" and set your correct max by hovering over "based on a max of xxx" and clicking on the pencil. As long as this setting is the same in Garmin Connect, your zone readings should be the same.

[MattTuck]

I have a buddy that I joke with. I think he keeps his Max HR artificially low on strava so that his suffer score is higher.


I had a similar question, the thread can be found here. (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=108453)

[jensenn]

i think garmin also calculates your max hr with your age. i had the same issue as you, i just adjusted all my settings and also put in my resting hr and it made a huge difference.

[ptourkin]

I have a buddy that I joke with. I think he keeps his Max HR artificially low on strava so that his suffer score is higher.



Guilty of the same:banana:
(but I also use a Powercal, so I get different intensity data)

[ahemphill]

Determining zones based on "maximum" heart rate still seems to be a fairly contested topic — which probably lends credence to its shortcomings as a system for training.

[shovelhd]

MaxHR is a useless metric for training. Do a 20 minute test.