Anyone else get 'crazy' heart rate readings at start of a ride.

pastryboy
pastryboy Posts: 1,385
edited July 2016 in Road general
I've got a garmin transmitter, fresh battery on a polar belt (which is supposed to be the best one) and using a ton of spit but I'm constantly getting high readings when I start riding - it just climbs up and up into the 90's (%MHR) as soon as I push a little bit. If I then come to a stop it will very quickly drop to 60-70%. Yesterday it got as high as 107% even though I wasn't pushing that hard.

It seems to be affected by the wind but I've got a base layer and a jersey on so I can't see what else I can do to prevent it. It seems to get settle after about 15 minutes.

Does anyone else get this and is there any solution?

Comments

  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    Your strap contact may be dodgy - try using water instead of saliva. The other possibility is that the readings are genuine and that your %MHR number is way off. How did you calculate your max?

    The other possibility - if the readings are genuine - is that it might be worth a visit to the GP.
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    What he said.
  • Man Of Lard
    Man Of Lard Posts: 903
    If you have a hairy chest, try shaving a stripe for the strap... better skin contact is probably the answer.
  • lesfirth
    lesfirth Posts: 1,382
    I get a good reading when I first fit the chest strap with a bit of spit and a good reading when I start to sweat a bit. At times if I don't start to sweat quickly enough I get erratic readings which suggest I am going to explode.
    If you have any doubt about readings just check your heartrate with your pulse and a watch.
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    It's common, especially when windy.

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/12/annu ... pikes.html
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,379
    as well as making the pads damp, make sure it's tight enough
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    spit on it.
  • wongataa
    wongataa Posts: 1,001
    pastryboy wrote:
    Does anyone else get this and is there any solution?
    The only time I have had crazy readings at the start of a ride was the time I did not wet the sensor pads on the belt and my skin where the sensor pads sit. If the correct parts are damp from the get go the readings will be more sensible.
  • IanRCarter
    IanRCarter Posts: 217
    I use this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electrode-Gel ... xyaTxTRWNI - instead of water/saliva. Takes longer to dry out than water, so it doesn't matter if you don't start sweating at the start of the ride.

    Alternatively, if the strap is quite old, it may need replacing. I've got through a few over the past three years. You can get cheap straps from a brand called Abody on Amazon, think they're about £8 and compatible with Garmin HR units.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    I've wondered if static from certain jerseys or combos of top can cause it too. Once you generate a bit of your own moisture, it damps everything down preventing static.

    But, as with others, it's pretty common.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • pastryboy
    pastryboy Posts: 1,385
    My max heart rate is 187 and I'm confident that's correct from FTP test indorrs. I know by feel when I get close to that but I'm hitting 95-96% when it should be more like 80%.

    When I use the strap for running it seems to give perfect readings but then I can't keep my heart rate as high as on the bike.

    Strap and battery are new, area is not hairy and it's tight enough to leave a mark when I take it off.

    The strange thing is it has gotten worse on the last few rides for no discernible reason.

    May give the gel a try.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    pastryboy wrote:
    My max heart rate is 187 and I'm confident that's correct from FTP test indorrs.

    Not sure what you mean by that. An FTP test will not tell you your MHR. Either you have tested your max or you haven't?
  • pastryboy
    pastryboy Posts: 1,385
    I know I was at my absolute limit at the end of FTP tests. I've also done many, many rides with heart rate data so I'm confident my max is right.
  • topcattim
    topcattim Posts: 766
    meanredspider wrote:
    I've wondered if static from certain jerseys or combos of top can cause it too.
    That's definitely my experience. I had some crazy HR readings when I was descending in the Dolomites recently, but only if I was wearing my gilet.
  • stretchy
    stretchy Posts: 149
    pastryboy wrote:
    I know I was at my absolute limit at the end of FTP tests. I've also done many, many rides with heart rate data so I'm confident my max is right.

    The point is that you shouldn't be hitting max when doing an FTP test.
  • mrfpb
    mrfpb Posts: 4,569
    My HRM always gives a spike when I start running - up to 90% for a few seconds before going down to zone 2/3 when I get into my stride. I always thought it was the heart responding to the sudden change of pace, I never thought it might be a fault with the HRM.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    stretchy wrote:
    pastryboy wrote:
    I know I was at my absolute limit at the end of FTP tests. I've also done many, many rides with heart rate data so I'm confident my max is right.

    The point is that you shouldn't be hitting max when doing an FTP test.

    ^^ This. Consequently, either your FTP is out, or your MHR is out.
  • jimnm
    jimnm Posts: 29
    Dodgy ticker ;)

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