Improving Cardiac Function

Mr Dog
Mr Dog Posts: 643
edited July 2012 in Training, fitness and health
As I get ( a little ) better at climbing I've noticed the limiting factor is my heart. In days gone by my legs would blow well before anything else. Now when I step on the gas when climbing my heart rate becomes erratic, I panic, gasp for air and slow to prevent me from passing out by the side of the road. Can I improve my ticker or is it genetic? :D
Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?

Comments

  • Tom Dean
    Tom Dean Posts: 1,723
    Go to the doctor
  • Mr Dog
    Mr Dog Posts: 643
    Really? I was thinking it was a matter of fitness. I had a ECG a couple of years ago, before an op, that came back fine.
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?
  • Tom Dean
    Tom Dean Posts: 1,723
    If your heart rate is erratic and you genuinely feel like passing out, you should go to the doctor. Neither of these things are normal.
  • Mr Dog
    Mr Dog Posts: 643
    Cheers Tom. It may be worth getting checked out. :D
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Tom Dean wrote:
    Go to the doctor

    Possibly. Or he may just need to get fitter and/or learn how to pace himself up hills.
    More problems but still living....
  • Mr Dog
    Mr Dog Posts: 643
    Ah... 'getting fitter'... I was thinking hill repeats at a reduced pace. I'm from a mtb background so the climbs would either blow your legs or get so steep that you would just grind to a halt and fall off. This road riding is a whole new ball game.
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?
  • Tom Dean
    Tom Dean Posts: 1,723
    amaferanga wrote:
    Tom Dean wrote:
    Go to the doctor

    Possibly. Or he may just need to get fitter and/or learn how to pace himself up hills.

    Is there a link between fitness level and erratic heart beats?
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Tom Dean wrote:
    amaferanga wrote:
    Tom Dean wrote:
    Go to the doctor

    Possibly. Or he may just need to get fitter and/or learn how to pace himself up hills.

    Is there a link between fitness level and erratic heart beats?
    #

    Well he didn't really explain what he meant by that though did he? Could just be heart rate gets really fast, which would be normal. Could be a dodgy HR monitor. Could be all sorts of things so based on the information given, to recommend seeing a doctor is probably jumping the gun a bit.
    More problems but still living....
  • indjke
    indjke Posts: 85
    It may sound controversial, but if you improve your muscle abilities you will sustain high HR easier, and reach higher values too.

    Last year I was totally gasping with few seconds at 200 bpm and felt like I'm dying.

    This year I did a lot of muscle improving work: jumps from semi-squat position (500-600 repeats in 25-30 sets for one workout), strength-endurance training at hills (typical - 1,5-2hr at 50x12 @ 2%, half time up, half time down - recovery).

    And in this season I can now ride a 45-minute long TT at average pulse 198 and feel good! and even to breath evenly (yet deep of course).

    I think its because muscles can re-use lactate much more effective and my LT became higher.

    I can be wrong in describing reasons but result is self-evident for me... My TT pace now 38kph instead of 33kph last year and sustainable HR grown from about 180-185 to 190-195 and even 195-200 when I fully rested (as in mentioned TT). JFYI max = 214.

    So IMO it's not heart that is limiting you, but weak muscles.
    Boardman Team C / 105 / Fulcrum Racing 3
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Uhh the heart is a muscle. Which grows in response to greater demand of oxygen rich blood.

    Any form of HIIT is going to tax your heart though,the squats are irrelevant.
  • Mr Dog
    Mr Dog Posts: 643
    Can I just qualify this only occurs as I hit my absolute max. It feels as if I can't take in enough oxygen.
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?
  • freezing77
    freezing77 Posts: 731
    This is abnormal, go get it checked out by a professional (doctor)
  • Tom Dean
    Tom Dean Posts: 1,723
    Mr Dog wrote:
    Can I just qualify this only occurs as I hit my absolute max. It feels as if I can't take in enough oxygen.

    ok this sounds a little different from your first post. What do you expect it to feel like at your absolute max?
  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    Tom Dean wrote:
    Mr Dog wrote:
    Can I just qualify this only occurs as I hit my absolute max. It feels as if I can't take in enough oxygen.

    ok this sounds a little different from your first post. What do you expect it to feel like at your absolute max?

    +1

    :roll:
  • indjke
    indjke Posts: 85
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Uhh the heart is a muscle. Which grows in response to greater demand of oxygen rich blood.

    Any form of HIIT is going to tax your heart though,the squats are irrelevant.
    heart grows at low rates.
    but main thing is heart IS NOT a limiter
    Boardman Team C / 105 / Fulcrum Racing 3
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    indjke wrote:
    This year I did a lot of muscle improving work: jumps from semi-squat position (500-600 repeats in 25-30 sets for one workout), strength-endurance training at hills (typical - 1,5-2hr at 50x12 @ 2%, half time up, half time down - recovery).

    What does this mean :?:
  • indjke
    indjke Posts: 85
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    What does this mean :?:
    sorry for my English) riding ~2% uphill at gear 50x12, 4 minutes. then coasting down and recovery - 4 minutes...
    repeat 8-10 times :) (total time of training from 1,5 to 2 hours)

    btw this type of training as much profitable for medium riders has been adviced to me by seriuos specialist, consulting high level ski-sportsmans. he says, for typical beginner club rider, yesterday's audaxer, heart is for sure not the main limiter (if limiter at all), and HIIT is not such profitable as developing legs muscles. because we (low-level riders), have actually very "bad" legs, and it is the main weakness we should aim to eliminate...
    Boardman Team C / 105 / Fulcrum Racing 3
  • Mr Dog
    Mr Dog Posts: 643
    I've seen local club riders using this low cadence climbing, is this chewing on big gears an effective way to improve climbing ability, if so, what is the science behind it?
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?
  • Tom Dean
    Tom Dean Posts: 1,723
    Cadence is irrelevant
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    indjke wrote:
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    What does this mean :?:
    sorry for my English) riding ~2% uphill at gear 50x12, 4 minutes. then coasting down and recovery - 4 minutes...
    repeat 8-10 times :) (total time of training from 1,5 to 2 hours)

    btw this type of training as much profitable for medium riders has been adviced to me by seriuos specialist, consulting high level ski-sportsmans. he says, for typical beginner club rider, yesterday's audaxer, heart is for sure not the main limiter (if limiter at all), and HIIT is not such profitable as developing legs muscles. because we (low-level riders), have actually very "bad" legs, and it is the main weakness we should aim to eliminate...

    I guess it doesn't matter what gear you are in, a low cadence 60-70 rpm and keeping your heart rate down may help.
  • Mr Dog
    Mr Dog Posts: 643
    Did I a few climbs at a lower cadence which kept my heart rate down. I was a little slower but had more energy at the top. Its hard on knees :shock:
    Why tidy the house when you can clean your bike?

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