Eric Olthwaite
Guest
I am an inconsistent cyclist. I often have a couple of quiet months, then build fitness back up for a few months. I've noticed something during these build ups that I find strange, and would appreciate any thoughts that would help me understand it better.
As I do more miles and become fitter, I get faster in terms of average speed on the same loop (duh). But as my speed rises, so does my average heart rate for the ride. It's almost as if training somehow makes it easier for me to put more effort in, at a higher HR, and it is that which is helping me to go faster.
It seems a bit odd that training just helps me to rev the engine faster, but doesn't much increase the power available at a given level of revs? Or perhaps I have never reached the level of fitness at which that happens...
I just wondered whether anybody can point me to something that explains this
As I do more miles and become fitter, I get faster in terms of average speed on the same loop (duh). But as my speed rises, so does my average heart rate for the ride. It's almost as if training somehow makes it easier for me to put more effort in, at a higher HR, and it is that which is helping me to go faster.
It seems a bit odd that training just helps me to rev the engine faster, but doesn't much increase the power available at a given level of revs? Or perhaps I have never reached the level of fitness at which that happens...
I just wondered whether anybody can point me to something that explains this