Commute Stats - am I overdoing it?

arranandy

Meant to post this earlier today but was a bit busy with work. Anyway wore my HRM watch this morning on my commute into work. Stats are as follows -

Distance - 13.8 miles
Time - 58 minutes
Kcals burnt - 941
Average heartrate - 166
Max heartrate - 189

Am I overdoing it? I'm 38, 5'11", weigh just over 12 stone.

Currently fueling up for the return journey!!!

lateralus

that's a decent commute. I guess only you know if you're overdoing it - do you do it every day? Feel knackered?

bossman13

arranandy wrote:

Currently fueling up for the return journey!!!

on what? i'm always bl00dy starving by the time i get home..!

cupofteacp

arra, do you have a lot of hills and do you ride an MTB

Eat My Dust

I've done my 13 mile commute in just over 43 minutes, so you have some catching up to do!!!!

fidbod

for a bit of contrast - I did a training ride last night consisting of

central london to richmond park followed by repeated hill climbs between Kingston gate and robin hood gate then home to stockwell. here are the stats from my HRM for you to compare

2 hrs 40 mins
133 average hr 170 max HR
1732 kcals burnt
34 miles.

me 28, 6ft 1 about 95 kgs

I did a proper recovery after the training session and felt fine this morning. but based on that training session I would have to be working massively hard to maintain an average HR of 166

I am no physiologist but I suspect your average HR will plummet as your body aclimatises to the commute - it would be interesting to hear if it happens.

Given you are working at high levels >80% of max HR don't forget to give your body time to recover

Hairy Jock

Don't worry about it and keep going, best off without the HRM, just go with what feels good.

tyskie

I would say that with an average pulse of 166 you are in the anaerobic zone too much. Can't see that as being beneficial day in, day out.

Flycatcher

fidbod

Out of interest what does your recovery consist of please?

Dave

arranandy

bossman13 wrote:

arranandy wrote:

Currently fueling up for the return journey!!!

on what? i'm always bl00dy starving by the time i get home..!

2 bananas and a Nutrigrain bar.

Commute is downhill then flat for a mile then short steep climb the fairly flat for the next 8 miles. Then another short steep climb followed by another flat section of about a mile then basically the last 2.5 miles is all uphill - not too steep but a good drag. Doing commute on a hybrid with 700c wheels and slick tyres. Bike has a pannier with lunch, change of clothing, etc. in it. Feel fine when I get to work just a bit sweaty. HR comes down pretty quickly and after a shower, a bowl of porridge and a cuppa I'm ready for a day's work. I think I'm actually more productive at work on the days I cycle in.
Currently doing this 2 days a week plus a 60-70 mile run on road bike at weekends.

jam1ec

Your heart rate is pretty high but i'd say not disastrously. If you are only doing it 2 days a week it shouldn't be a problem. Also, check your resting rate before you get up in the morning, if you are overdoing it and becoming run down it will be higher.

Time wise i imagine you will improve with practice. My 17 mile commute takes 53 mins on a single speed mountain bike with slick tyres ( i have a bigger chainring for riding on the road). It is flat and i do it 4 days a week. I couldn't agree more about feeling better at work the days i ride in.

Greenbank

Everyone is different.

On a recent Audax I averaged 150bpm for 12 hours. This included 2 hours of sitting down either resting or eating. Assuming these two hours were at an average HR of 75bpm then that still gives me 10 hours at 165bpm.

My point is it all depends on the individual. As you get fitter you'll be able to see the trend in your resting and average heart rates. Keep a record of it all (bikejournal.com is good for this, and free). You may also want to look into training techniques. For example (and a big generalisation here), if you want to lose weight you'd be better off keeping your HR under 150bpm (odd hill excepted) rather than going balls out.

nappe

I do 15.5 miles in 52 minutes or less, I am always pushing hard up the numerous hills and I am always knackered at the end of the week. However, for the last 2 weeks my wife has been working with me and our commute home has taken 12 minutes longer.....suprise, suprise, I feel great and am quite looking forward to the weekends riding on holiday in Wales.

Sometimes it does you more good to ease off a bit.

Of course, when my wife is no longer with me I'll probably turn back into testostorone idiot and start racing cars again

fidbod

In response to Flycatcher....recovery routine

I am putting my body through the wringer a bit at the moment combining training for my first cyclosportive in the middle of september with rugby club preseason training.

Basically after a heavy training session as soon as I am off the bike or field I neck one of those recovery drinks (SIS rego is one example). I was sceptical of their effect until I started using them a month ago and really found they improved general well being the next day and your ability to go out and train the next day. From looking at the literature it is super important to get the drinks down as soon as you finish your excercise.

lots of stretching after every work out

After my sunday bike sessions which are the heaviest of the weak and my two rugby training sessions I also have an ice bath - got into doing these when training for a half marathon and I fnd they really help reduce how sore you are the next day.

Finally thursday is rest days - I don't even cycle into work - so that the body has the chance for a proper recovery

CarKiller

Don't wear a HRM on your commute! Just ride!

BentMikey

That's not overdoing it, IMO. Here are my stats on a Berlin marathon (not running, skating) from a couple of years back:

Distance 26.2 miles
Time: 1:17:48 (20.2mph)
HR max 188
HR ave 179
Age: 33

AndyGates

That commute's caning it. Which is either "yay!" or "watch it" depending if you cane it every day or not and how fit you are.

Ride as hard as you like, just don't ride yourself into a hole.

fatherted

arranandy wrote:

Distance - 13.8 miles
Time - 58 minutes
Kcals burnt - 941
Average heartrate - 166
Max heartrate - 189

Am I overdoing it? I'm 38, 5'11", weigh just over 12 stone.

Currently fueling up for the return journey!!!

My journey is about the same distance , SM6 into London EC4.
i reckon i burn about 500 calories ,
takes 45-50 minutes , i'm 47 , 1.88m , about 80kg.

When you say are you overdoing it do you mean will you die?
you will if you don't eat enough but as others have said that
heart rate looks a little high.