CPRam
Regular
- Location
- Rugby, Warwickshire
I'm 34, and I've been riding for a fair few years. My resting HR is around 48bpm and my Max is 200bpm. I've used HR and power as a measurement for the last 3 years and it has always been fairly consistent.
However these last two weeks I've noticed a significant drop of around 20bpm or more when exercising. Basically, if I'm doing Zone 3 power my HR is Z1 or if I am doing Zone 5 power my HR is Zone 3. At first I thought it was the equipment, but I've tried 2 different HR monitors (chest and wrist) and both show the same results.
Even going at my hardest I can barely get over 170bpm other than one time I pushed absolute max effort in a race and got 180bpm, where as two weeks ago I would go over 190bpm easy and probably tip 200bpm. I've measured both on a turbo and outside thinking it may be temperature related.
I'm probably overthinking it, but I'm interested in what may be causing this. Have I just got fitter? I don't feel sick, I'm definitely not overtrained. Is this just something within the range of general fluctuation?
It just seems odd that after a training session or ride when my legs are blasted, my HR suggests I've just done a short Z2/3 ride.
However these last two weeks I've noticed a significant drop of around 20bpm or more when exercising. Basically, if I'm doing Zone 3 power my HR is Z1 or if I am doing Zone 5 power my HR is Zone 3. At first I thought it was the equipment, but I've tried 2 different HR monitors (chest and wrist) and both show the same results.
Even going at my hardest I can barely get over 170bpm other than one time I pushed absolute max effort in a race and got 180bpm, where as two weeks ago I would go over 190bpm easy and probably tip 200bpm. I've measured both on a turbo and outside thinking it may be temperature related.
I'm probably overthinking it, but I'm interested in what may be causing this. Have I just got fitter? I don't feel sick, I'm definitely not overtrained. Is this just something within the range of general fluctuation?
It just seems odd that after a training session or ride when my legs are blasted, my HR suggests I've just done a short Z2/3 ride.