Max HR vs Lactate Threshold

ziglar

Despite reading a few articles I'm still confused by the data I am getting from my Powertap Joule which expects me to enter my lactate threshold rather than my max HR.

Is it possible to reliably interpolate your Lactate Threshold from your max/average HR and if you are operating at, or very close to, your maximum HR should your breathing be laboured or as normal?

I recently did a reasonably flat run of just over 23 miles ( http://www.strava.com/activities/150261081 ) and got this data:



I didn't find my breathing to be difficult except for a couple of short periods. Having said that, the return trip was slow as I was knackered.

My max HR is 170 which was measured at the BikeRadar event at the Bike show Jan 2013 so I'm pretty sure it's accurate.

I've done less than 300 miles since October so my training is very inconsistent due to work/time pressures.

Is this data consistent or is my max HR likely to be wrong?

wavefront

Something seems a little wrong doesn't it?

I did a hill climb event this morning, with new power best, on the rivet for 1.5 minutes, and needed a lie down afterwards!! I still didn't hit the my max hr.....but knowing your max doesn't really help.

Lactate hr could be anywhere from 80-90% or your max hr as a very rough guide! but the only way to know is to do a test. Google LTHR test, joe friel which should give you a good description of how to go about getting a figure. Worth doing as it'll give you a good guide to set your zones for training sessions.

A bit confused tho that strava seems to think you are riding with a power meter?

Hope this helps.

imposter2.0

ziglar wrote:

Is it possible to reliably interpolate your Lactate Threshold from your max/average HR and if you are operating at, or very close to, your maximum HR should your breathing be laboured or as normal?

Threshold HR is typically around 85-90% of MHR and if you are riding at that level then your breathing will not be 'normal'. If you are close to MHR, then - by definition - your breathing will definitely not be normal.

ziglar wrote:

I didn't find my breathing to be difficult except for a couple of short periods. Having said that, the return trip was slow as I was knackered.

My max HR is 170 which was measured at the BikeRadar event at the Bike show Jan 2013 so I'm pretty sure it's accurate.

I've done less than 300 miles since October so my training is very inconsistent due to work/time pressures.

Is this data consistent or is my max HR likely to be wrong?

I would suggest your MHR of 170 is probably inaccurate - how was it tested?. Although if you've only done 300 miles in the last nine months, then I would just focus on getting some more miles in at the moment, rather than worrying about MHR and LT..

ziglar

Wavefront: I do have power meter

Imposter: max HR was determined by 15-20 min stationary ride and ramping up the resistance (ramp test) until failure

imposter2.0

ziglar wrote:

Imposter: max HR was determined by 15-20 min stationary ride and ramping up the resistance (ramp test) until failure

Doesn't sound like a particularly effective way of determining it, to be honest. If you were fairly comfortable at 2bpm off your supposed MHR (which you said in your OP), then I would suggest that 170 is probably nowhere near your true MHR.

wavefront

Hi Ziglar,

Ok, so Strava is telling me the weighted power was 98% of your FTP, which means this was a threshold ride in which case your hr will be around LTHR for this zone - could be your LTHR is 159 then, but I would still think your max hr would be at least 177..... (1/0.9 x 159) This is of course very unscientific and a complete guess based on limited numbers.

If you were as close to your max hr as you were for the majority of the ride (159), then your breathing should have been pretty heavy and you should have felt as if you couldn't give much more?

Hope this helps.

indjke

IMO as you were keeping 160 avg HR for an hour, then your LTHR must be somewhere between 165-170 and your real HRmax at least 180.