I had a question for folks - I understand that max HR is often different for specific sports, which makes sense to me and I understand the reasons.
Would one expect LT HR to also be different? I ask because this would theoretically put my LTHR pretty low for sports where my max is lower. Lower than I my experience would suggest it is. I have to look into ways to estimate LTHR but I was curious about people’s experience and current thinking on this.
Thanks,
Michael
I don’t know the answer to your question but just wanted to point out that Intervals.icu supports different LTHR and max HR for each sport.
Thanks and I just realized that I could get a good estimate from the HR curve you already have. That number makes much more sense to me. I had seen elsewhere to use about 0.8 * Max HR and that was coming out very low, but the number from the curve is almost exactly what I was estimating from just watching my HR during my rides.
Cool stuff.
This is such an amazing platform. So much in there.
Thank you!!!
Metrics from those static formula’s are only good to estimate a very basic starting point. You should always use the values from data gathered during multiple months. If you do regular hard group rides, it will speak for itself.
And yes, HRmax and LTHR are different for specific sports. Running for example almost always has higher values than cycling. Has to do with the overall muscle mass that is involved, which is higher during running.
Thanks much!
I’ve been doing a “feel” test for 30 yrs. to test my LTHR (*a true LTHR test is conducted by finger or ear prick, testing blood lactic levels) or as I call it AnT. It’s simple, doesn’t cost anything and once you develop the feel, it’s reliable (*I had a Vo2max test once, and told the guy conducting the test my AnT was 163 bpm, when he finished, it was 163 bpm). The reason I’m telling this is so maybe you can use it to test for different sports to set your zones accurately based off LTHR (AnT) . Here is how I do it for cycling (that’s all I do). All you need is a heart rate monitor and I use a trainer, although I can tell when I’ve reached AnT on the road. The test procedure: using a wind/fluid/smart trainer warm up well, then using a moderate gear and starting from a very easy effort, every 2-3 minutes increase the effort/intensity a little (go a little harder, go a little harder , go a little harder), pay attention to your “body” for clues. Usually the 1st clue is when your breathing increases, note your Hr, that is usually around 10 bpm below AnT. Once you reach your AnT, you should feel just a small, barely detectable, burning in the quadriceps. Notice what your Hr is!!! Ease up on the intensity and slowly ramp the intensity back up and notice if you don’t feel that same sensations at the same Hr… If you do this enough, you get really familiar w/ that “feel” and can use it to gauge intensity for steady state efforts such as Time-Trials and threshold intervals. I even use it to determine my FTP simply by doing a Time-Trial effort and seeing what my FTP once I reach AnT. I use this test fairly often through the yr. to calibrate my zones and look for improvement (AnT @ higher % of MHR).