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Heart Rate - going downhill

trirebeltrirebel
in General Training Discussions

While riding yesterday, I had just finished about an hour of my normal loop and had stopped to refill my water bottle.  I started back and while riding down a really long hill, I looked down and saw my heart rate monitor said 242!.  I felt perfectly normal and wouldn't have noticed it other than I happened to glance down.  I downloaded the data and sure enough it was on there.  So today I went for another 3 hour ride.  I never once felt any problems out of the ordinary, but when I downloaded my data I saw on three big long downhills, it was showing crazy readings, like 240, 230, 198, etc.  Again, I wouldn't have known had I not downloaded my data.  

My question is, wouldn't I feel like I was gonna die if my heart actually hit 240 or so?  I'm thinking there are some interference issues going on when I'm getting in my bars and going downhill.  Like the monitor is not reading properly for some reason.  Anyone else ever experience this?  

To clarify...there were only 3 super high readings today and they all occurred when my wattage was zero and I was going downhill.  As soon as I started ascending, my HR reading returned to perfectly normal.

Comments

  • twilkenstwilkens

    Sounds like something besides you.  You should feel a heart rate of 230-240 for sure.  You can test it by taking your pulse when you are getting that reading.  I suggest you stop might be dangerous to try and count your pulse going downhill.  Anyway at 15 seconds you would have 60 beats if your heart rate was 240.  If it is really only 160 or less it should be 40 beats or less in 15 seconds.   An easy way to see.  Then you will have to figure out why you are getting the errent readings.

  • Mark StovallMark Stovall
    I was running next to a guy at the Gulf Coast HIM who was wearing a HR monitor and he commented that his HR was showing 240 as well. I told him if he was going to have a heart attack then he best do it in the shade as he would fry like bacon if he collapsed on that burning hot asphalt!

    I like Todd's suggestion but you wouldn't have to count for 15 seconds. 240 beats per minute is 4 beats per second. You will know right away!
  • kurshingkurshing

    Sounds like competing electronics, or maybe it is time to change out a battery or something.  My Polar does that from time to time, but, then it settles and the problem goes away.

    IF it was really 240, I can't imagine you would need a monitor to tell you that...

  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    Most HR monitors peg out somewhere around 240. Undoubtedly, this is an electronic issue: poor contact, low battery, interference, etc. (Don't be afraid to actually take your own pulse on your corotid or femoral arteries or on your wrist!)
  • Dan KerrDan Kerr

    What they said... It's likely interference. I have a heart afib that causes HR from 200 to 220. Feels like a can of worms in my chest - hard not to notice. I can clearly see the difference on HR monitor output between afib and electrical interference. The heart issue causes a jagged line. The electrical interference pegs at about 240 and shows as a perfectly straight horizontal line. I'd post screen shots of what they look like, but they're on my other computer. Won't have that fired up 'til tomorrow.

  • trirebeltrirebel
    I dont think its interference. I think its more of a contact issue. After I stopped and re-wet the contacts it seemed to go back to normal. Just kind of strange that it happened three times the other day and only while I was going down hill. Maybe I'm positioning myself in a strange position that causes the thing to go crazy? Not sure...
  • trirebeltrirebel
    Guys, I appreciate the help. I think I found the answer to my question.

    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/04/troubleshooting-your-heart-rate.html
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