Finding it difficult to get my heart rate up
- Thread starter Edwardoka
- Start date
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Doctor appointment duly made - thanks everyone! Will let you know how I get on.
Overtraining did enter my mind as a possibility but I would imagine that I've not done nearly enough riding for that to be the case. I used to have a 150 mile weekly commute and didn't generally get the burn then, just heavy legs.
I'm also trying not to google the symptoms, because I'm a terrible hypochondriac...
Overtraining did enter my mind as a possibility but I would imagine that I've not done nearly enough riding for that to be the case. I used to have a 150 mile weekly commute and didn't generally get the burn then, just heavy legs.
I'm also trying not to google the symptoms, because I'm a terrible hypochondriac...
black'n'yellow
Guest
No offence, but it's very unlikely to be 'over training'.
None taken - I came to much the same conclusion - it doesn't feel like overtraining has in my previous experience.
Still a more likely cause than the Russian secret service poisoning me though.
Upstream
Active Member
This is really interesting especially as I had logged in this evening with the intent of creating a very similar thread and seeking advice...
In my case I have always tended to find that my achilles heel was cardio vascular and as a result I tended to work my cardio hard in order to build stamina. Over the past month where I was taking part in an online challenge, I rode more than usual (520 miles at between 10 and 20 miles each day) a mixture of on road and turbo.
What I have been finding for the past two to three weeks is that whilst my cardio seems to be handling the pace quite comfortably, my legs seem to really be feeling it (quite tender thigh muscles) however I seem to have built more "definition" in my legs. I should also say that my overall performance hasn't dropped off - if anything it has increased a little.
Someone suggested that I should perhaps start taking protein shakes as exercising tears the muscles and extra protein promotes the quick rebuilding of muscle. They said that I probably wasn't giving my legs sufficient time to recover and rebuild as I have been exercising most days. I don't really like the idea of taking protein shakes especially as they seem to contain artificial sweeteners etc but if they do have the benefit of helping muscles to recover I'd probably consider it.
Any thoughts..?
Thanks.
In my case I have always tended to find that my achilles heel was cardio vascular and as a result I tended to work my cardio hard in order to build stamina. Over the past month where I was taking part in an online challenge, I rode more than usual (520 miles at between 10 and 20 miles each day) a mixture of on road and turbo.
What I have been finding for the past two to three weeks is that whilst my cardio seems to be handling the pace quite comfortably, my legs seem to really be feeling it (quite tender thigh muscles) however I seem to have built more "definition" in my legs. I should also say that my overall performance hasn't dropped off - if anything it has increased a little.
Someone suggested that I should perhaps start taking protein shakes as exercising tears the muscles and extra protein promotes the quick rebuilding of muscle. They said that I probably wasn't giving my legs sufficient time to recover and rebuild as I have been exercising most days. I don't really like the idea of taking protein shakes especially as they seem to contain artificial sweeteners etc but if they do have the benefit of helping muscles to recover I'd probably consider it.
Any thoughts..?
Thanks.
black'n'yellow
Guest
Just drink milk - plenty of protein in that.
T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
This ^
None yet, doctor appointment is next week. Staying off the bike for a few days in any case to see if that helps.
Muscle fatigue is a normal result of training. If you've upped your mileage or intensity sharply you would expect to feel tired and sore.
You can tell when you have overtrained because your performance levels off and then starts to decrease and the more you train the worse your performance gets.
Milk / lean meat / fish as other people have pointed out. In any case, protein intake should complement a structured rest phase of your training, not replace it.
Ed
400bhp
Guru
I have a similar problem - my quads get sore without my heart rate getting up to aerobic max (160 ish). For me, I suspect it's probably something to do with:
-overtraining (probably average 150 miles per week riding 6 days)
-Saddle height and general bike setup
-relatively low cadence
-I am just sh1t
Probably the last wins, but in order to try and rule out some I'm going to get a bike fit. Seems sensible for me as I suspect my current bikes will stay with me for a few years yet so the cost of the fit should be spread well.
Never thought of lack of protein and like you I don't like the idea of shakes etc. The bike fit bod I'm going to see is a bit of an all rounder by all accounts so I will have a general chat with him.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
I would say, forget the supplements.
You have just spent a month over reaching by your own admission, it is time to have an easy week. Everyone needs an easy week every every few weeks, even the hardest training athletes work in blocks where for several weeks they train very hard, overloading the body, then they follow with a recovery week where workload is reduced (but not ceased) to allow the dissipation of fatigue, 3 weeks on, 1 week off for example.
Arsen Gere
Guru
- Location
- North East, UK
If your cadence is low your heart does not recognise the demand created from your legs and acidosis takes over making them ache. Basically you have to pump the blood back to your heart as it can't suck blood from your veins. We demonstrate this in a turbo session so people can see the value of cadence. Cadence is king.
I've read some absolute rubbish on here - but this really takes the biscuit 
