Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Have only been cycling for a bit over 4 months and with a HRM since mid December. Since getting the HRM I've noticed my averate heart rate seems to be crazy-high compared to most others I've come across.

I'm 34, 6' 2", 105Kg (Granted... probably heavier than I should be). Don't have any health issues though.

Here's a few examples...

http://app.strava.com/activities/3657442
http://app.strava.com/activities/3475256 - 24 minutes at 180+
http://app.strava.com/activities/4052004 - Average 180

I will generally hit 170bpm within 50m of leaving home. I generally don't feel like I'm over-exerting myself - if it wasn't for having a HRM I really would be oblivious to my high heart rate.

So I guess my question is: is this a cause for concern? Could it be normal...for me...or is it something that is likely to decrease over time if/as I lose weight? (Ideally I'd like to be around the 90-95Kg mark)

My GFs HR monitor for her Garmin Edge 500 gave consistently high readings, 40+ beats per minute higher than I would expect. We thought maybe she just had a high heartrate, but she used my HR strap and her readings went down to what we expected. I know other people who have Garmins, specifically those that have the soft premium heart rate strap, that have been getting dodgy heartrate data. So I would suggest that maybe the strap is dodgy, maybe send it back or contact them with your concerns, or try and borrow someone elses strap and see if that makes a difference. I also get dodgy data when it's time to change the battery on the strap, so that might be worth a go as well.

nescius wrote:My GFs HR monitor for her Garmin Edge 500 gave consistently high readings, 40+ beats per minute higher than I would expect. We thought maybe she just had a high heartrate, but she used my HR strap and her readings went down to what we expected. I know other people who have Garmins, specifically those that have the soft premium heart rate strap, that have been getting dodgy heartrate data. So I would suggest that maybe the strap is dodgy, maybe send it back or contact them with your concerns, or try and borrow someone elses strap and see if that makes a difference. I also get dodgy data when it's time to change the battery on the strap, so that might be worth a go as well.

That's an interesting thought - I hadn't considered it may be wrong. I do happen to have the premium HR strap too.

I have however ruled out static or any other external issue as the results are certainly consistent and I don't get the common 220+ spikes.

I'll look into it.

I've just binned my premium Garmin HRM for the standard one. Much more consistent readings now. And nothing really lost in the comfort factor either.

If its like my old strap my resting heart rate was also higher. Easy way to check is count your pulse when resting and compare the pair.

take your own pulse with your finger and check the number is right... if it is, then you know that the strap is not the issue (and see your doc if you are worried about it).

I found that if i wear my Garmin HRM strap too high I get high readings. I have found that I have to wear it just below the ribcage for it to read correctly.

nescius wrote:My GFs HR monitor for her Garmin Edge 500 gave consistently high readings, 40+ beats per minute higher than I would expect. We thought maybe she just had a high heartrate, but she used my HR strap and her readings went down to what we expected. I know other people who have Garmins, specifically those that have the soft premium heart rate strap, that have been getting dodgy heartrate data. So I would suggest that maybe the strap is dodgy, maybe send it back or contact them with your concerns, or try and borrow someone elses strap and see if that makes a difference. I also get dodgy data when it's time to change the battery on the strap, so that might be worth a go as well.

I have the Garmin 500 with Premium Heart Rate strap and I have no problems at all. Pardon the pun but it's never missed a beat.
PS: I wear it about 2" below my nipples. Pretty kinky huh!

Crittski wrote:take your own pulse with your finger and check the number is right... if it is, then you know that the strap is not the issue (and see your doc if you are worried about it).

OK - while sitting up HRM showing 80bpm and manual reading seems to agree. So at low heart rates at least - it seems accurate.

iMad wrote:

nescius wrote:My GFs HR monitor for her Garmin Edge 500 gave consistently high readings, 40+ beats per minute higher than I would expect. We thought maybe she just had a high heartrate, but she used my HR strap and her readings went down to what we expected. I know other people who have Garmins, specifically those that have the soft premium heart rate strap, that have been getting dodgy heartrate data. So I would suggest that maybe the strap is dodgy, maybe send it back or contact them with your concerns, or try and borrow someone elses strap and see if that makes a difference. I also get dodgy data when it's time to change the battery on the strap, so that might be worth a go as well.

I have the Garmin 500 with Premium Heart Rate strap and I have no problems at all. Pardon the pun but it's never missed a beat.
PS: I wear it about 2" below my nipples. Pretty kinky huh!

If I wear mine that high I get high readings.

R12RT wrote:

iMad wrote:

nescius wrote:My GFs HR monitor for her Garmin Edge 500 gave consistently high readings, 40+ beats per minute higher than I would expect. We thought maybe she just had a high heartrate, but she used my HR strap and her readings went down to what we expected. I know other people who have Garmins, specifically those that have the soft premium heart rate strap, that have been getting dodgy heartrate data. So I would suggest that maybe the strap is dodgy, maybe send it back or contact them with your concerns, or try and borrow someone elses strap and see if that makes a difference. I also get dodgy data when it's time to change the battery on the strap, so that might be worth a go as well.

I have the Garmin 500 with Premium Heart Rate strap and I have no problems at all. Pardon the pun but it's never missed a beat.
PS: I wear it about 2" below my nipples. Pretty kinky huh!

If I wear mine that high I get high readings.

When you say high readings, do you mean spikes or consistently higher than they should be?

There after plenty of threads about garmin premium straps.Mine was ok for ages then it started to spike and read high. I bought a polar wear link strap to use with the garmin its heaps better. I also fixed my garmin strap by sucking hot water through the strap behind the contact pad I think salt builds up on the back of the pick ups.

Sent from my MB526 using Tapatalk

This post was an error... sorry.

iMad wrote:

Marty Moose wrote:There after plenty of threads about garmin premium straps.Mine was ok for ages then it started to spike and read high. I bought a polar wear link strap to use with the garmin its heaps better. I also fixed my garmin strap by sucking hot water through the strap behind the contact pad I think salt builds up on the back of the pick ups.

Sent from my MB526 using Tapatalk

How often and how did you wash your Garmin Premium strap if you don't mind me asking?

I washed it every ride under the shower! I tried sucking the back of the strap after reading about salt build up, low and behold there was salt even after a hot water wash after every ride. The Polar strap seams to be easier to clean its more porous. To rub salt into the wound so to speak the garmin strap now works fine

MM

Out of curiousity after reading the 'Has anyone else tried wearing their Garmin Edge to bed?' thread : http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewt ... 12&t=48961 I thought I'd try wearing it to bed...

The results look pretty much like everyone elses:



I'm pretty confident the garmin is giving me accurate readigns since there were no real anomalies on the sleeping test and when tested at 80bpm it matched a manual reading and I don't see the 220+ spikes that others report with interference.

I was doing some reading last night and it seems it's likely to be normal (for me), it's also likely to be fine.

Your bed has some big elevation changes

I've checked mine with two machines. If my HR is below 140, I'm not even trying. You read/hear about pro's blowing up if they push 150 for ten minutes. I push 180 for ten minutes to do that. Efficiency of the heart/system plays a part I guess (I'm not medically trained at all), but some run high, some run low.

Jim

Hi,

I regards to a high HR, if you don't have chest pains at a high rate it's ok, I beat high

Mine are:

Rest HR : 80-85bpm
Max HR : 200-210bpm. Using the formula 220-age (age 36) I should max at about 184bpm.

Infact here are my stats from my last 2 rides
Avg HR: 185 bpm
Max HR: 201 bpm

Avg HR: 189 bpm
Max HR: 204 bpm

I will feel puffed at about 200 but i can hold 180 - 190 for most of a ride.

Also, I've been dow the track of thinking my HR monitor (Edge 500) was reading high, but I ran it with another independent monitor ( a Sigma wrist) and both read +/-2-3 of each other

Emjay57 wrote:Hi,

I regards to a high HR, if you don't have chest pains at a high rate it's ok, I beat high

Mine are:

Rest HR : 80-85bpm
Max HR : 200-210bpm. Using the formula 220-age (age 36) I should max at about 184bpm.

Infact here are my stats from my last 2 rides
Avg HR: 185 bpm
Max HR: 201 bpm

Avg HR: 189 bpm
Max HR: 204 bpm

I will feel puffed at about 200 but i can hold 180 - 190 for most of a ride.

Also, I've been dow the track of thinking my HR monitor (Edge 500) was reading high, but I ran it with another independent monitor ( a Sigma wrist) and both read +/-2-3 of each other

Thanks Emjay - good to know.. Looks like you're at least +10 on me (average, max and puffedability <-- you know what this means... automatically makes it a word ).

How long have you been riding with HRM? Has it changed over time or do you think it's once high always high?

Been riding with a HR for about 18mths and the Garmin Edge 500 for only 1 mth.

No I've always been high, the doc is always happy with my resting beat and blood pressure. I just beat high. A good rule of thumb is, can you hold a converstion normally, if you are your in a safe bpm area.

If your not sure, you should really see your doc and get it checked maybe even a stress test.