I wore my heart rate monitor today when biking home from school. My max heart rate reached 180 BPM. This was at the top of a hill. Pretty brutal hill but i had the bike in a very low gear. But i didn't struggle to breathe or gasping for air. The entire bike ride was 8 km long and took approximately 30 min. The average heart rate was 155 BPM (keep in mind this included waiting for red lights about 6 times).
I am not in very good shape, but definitely not terrible condition. I'm 20 years old and my max heart is approximately 200 BPM, maybe more haven't pushed myself further recently. i would probably puke if i did. My RHR is about 55 BPM. sleeping heart rate about 45 BPM.
BTW i'm starting to cycle to school everyday from now on. I haven't cycled nor have i walked longer distanced on a daily basis in the last 5 years. I have not been consistent in any activity other than resting for the last 5 years :-)
I think my heart rate seems very high even though i only felt a little strained at one point (the hill). Do you think this is normal?
To comparrison when walking my heart rate averages about 115 BPM. It seems like that bike ride resembles a Cardio session even though it doesn't feel like it at all.
It also seems like my heart rate varies quite a lot. from 45 BPM to 200. Any comments on that. Maybe i should also mention that i have pretty high vital capacity (when i was 15 years old and 5 inches shorter it was 6,5 litres) if this has something to do with my lungs not feeling very strained.