Heart Rate Maximum - does it indicate fitness

macondo01

Cycling up a hill at the weekend, working quite hard, the highest my ticker went to was 165 (my resting is 60). I am 44, 5'7'', 65kg. My pal is 40 and his heart rate was about 185. He is taller and 10kg heavier. We were going up at the same speed. Is there any meaning in comparing heart rates? Would it be better if I went up the hill with a lower heart, would that indicate getting fitter?

Pross

Heart rate doesn't indicate fitness per se. You could get a rough idea if you knew what percentage of your maximum heart rate you were riding at i.e. you would know who was working harder for the same pace but again the heavier rider is likely to have to work harder to get up a hill in any case.

Time taken for your heart to get back to resting rate from maximum is probably the best indicator of 'fitness'. Theoretically you could also use riding at a set speed over the same course at regular intervals and as you got fitter your heart rate should reduce but in practice there are to many variables for that to work outside a lab.

macondo01

Thanks - I think I need to work out my proper max by doing some sprints or something on the turbo. I understand the various formula's aren't much cop.

Bronzie

Macondo01 wrote:

Is there any meaning in comparing heart rates?

No

Macondo01 wrote:

Would it be better if I went up the hill with a lower heart, would that indicate getting fitter?

Yes*

* - although heart rate can be affected by various environmental factors such as heat, dehydration, drugs in the blood (ie caffeine), fatigue so not an exact measure of "fitness" - but generally speaking, being fitter will result in a lower heart rate for the same power output

oldwelshman

Your heart rate recovery is more of an indication of your fitness.
Compare only with your own heart rate not others.