Illness?

I’m obviously not an elite athlete but training has been a passion of mine for a long time and I’m a nerd when it comes to the data. Local mx races aren’t a good comparison because they’re so short but when I compare my own heart rate data from a MERP, I spend majority of the race 180+ bpm and my resting heart rate is 50.

Comparing that to when I run a 5k race and my heart rate usually averages around 170-175 and I’m on the verge of death it feels like lol. Point being is I think adrenaline really spikes the heart rate during a race. My heart rate is typically 120 range when sitting on the line before the gate drops.

This data is from a MERP. If I can maintain that for 30+ mins as a 37 year old average rider, a pro mx racer in elite physical condition easily does. Have you ever seen GNCC guys heart rate data on their strava? They’re zone 4 and 5 for 3+ hours! Unreal!

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What a cool share! An adrenaline rush as part of "fight or flight" on the line? I've found over many years that I can do an hour of aerobic exercise daily but I don't start losing weight until I spend serious time on a stand up jet ski or an MX bike. Those two motorsports have been for me anyway, a core workout like no other. It just feels so good getting a workout playing on a ski or turning MX laps.
 
What a cool share! An adrenaline rush as part of "fight or flight" on the line? I've found over many years that I can do an hour of aerobic exercise daily but I don't start losing weight until I spend serious time on a stand up jet ski or an MX bike. Those two motorsports have been for me anyway, a core workout like no other. It just feels so good getting a workout playing on a ski or turning MX laps.
I imagine the vibration and the overall choppiness of the ride of the bike may be skewing that heart rate to be a bit higher. Unsure. Hard to tell. Unsure how to test that with the current equipment that’s essentially designed for running, lifting, cycling swimming etc.

I’ve done the same, and my heart rate does the same 120. Start riding goes to 200. Then sustains. Unsure if it’s actually that fast though because when in run I feel like I’m dieing at 170 like you mention.


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I imagine the vibration and the overall choppiness of the ride of the bike may be skewing that heart rate to be a bit higher. Unsure. Hard to tell. Unsure how to test that with the current equipment that’s essentially designed for running, lifting, cycling swimming etc.

I’ve done the same, and my heart rate does the same 120. Start riding goes to 200. Then sustains. Unsure if it’s actually that fast though because when in run I feel like I’m dieing at 170 like you mention.


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I think chest strap heart rate monitors are accurate. If you were just tracking heart rate from the watch on your wrist I could see vibration skewing it.

George, do you wear a chest strap heart rate monitor?
 
Ha- ! I've always thought the same thing.
How accurate are these devices - for a few dollars - that are strapped on randomly, getting massive vibration and external roost. going to be?
 
Chest straps are accurate, every serious trainer and or athlete rely on them. If there was an issue, it would common knowledge.

Cross training isnt going to mimic actual racing. When I was 50 on heart medicine that limits heart rate, I would run 20 mins between 170 and 180 on practice days. I never ran a monitor on race day though. I trained off bike 6 days a week and rode 3 days.
 
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