Trainer and Heart Rate in Aero position
141
Member
1054 days
ht001 posted 29 weeks ago.
I generally see lower HR when in the aerobars on the trainer; just like on the road.
For your situation - there could be more going on here than just the trainer AB configuration, though you are still going to be adapting to the new toy and set up, which on it's own might keep your HR up slightly until you're settled with it. Anyway consider that 2-3 bpm is really fairly insignificant. Heart rate drift during workouts is common and can be just a few bpm higher or lower than what you're used to observing. You also could have been pushing just a bit harder than you realize. Because you don't have the typical things to look out for while riding on the trainer vs. the road it is possible that you might be driving the pedals more in the aero position indoors than out. Just some thoughts. I'd say overall you should give it some time and observation before messing with your position.
266
Member
318 days
cjhoffmn posted 28 weeks ago.
Thanks, seems very reasonable. I observed the same tonight, but still sample of 3... I'll give it some time and see how it works. I appreciate your response.
To tri or not to tri - that's not a question at all!
620
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428 days
Iron Dan posted 28 weeks ago.
Could it be something like when you tuck into your aero position, you are bouncing up and down it the saddle a little bit. This action could cause your heartrate to shoot up a couple of beats per minute. Like ht001 said, if you are pushing just a little bit harder on the pedals, it could cause you heart rate to shoot up and you could be feeling like you are moving aroung in the saddle slightly more than usual.
266
Member
318 days
cjhoffmn posted 28 weeks ago.
I don't think so, but possible. I'm really starting to believe that its a positioning issue. In particular, I've noticed that when I'm tucked, I seem to feel pressure in the front of my neck - as if blood is "hanging out" there. Similar to the feeling you get when you try to turn your face red (you know - like when you were a kid). When I sit up a little - I get a quick rush and relief from the pressure. Mind you this is a subtle thing - my head isn't beet red or anything. I also noticed that if I slid up onto the front of my saddle in the aero position it seemed to relieve the same pressure and my HR dropped.
I'm pretty sure I'm not changing the power - although I don't have the power meter on the bike yet, I'm keeping cadence and speed the same so I presume I'm putting out the same power.
I'm also pretty sure that its not just volatility - there's a very direct correlation, sit up, HR down about 2-3 bpm, aero tuck, up it goes - repeat - same result.
I'm going to experiment with my saddle position first and perhaps bring it a little closer to the front. When I had my fitting done about 6 months ago, I had started with my saddle in a very back position, I'm thinking that the fitter didn't move it far enough forward because of how far back it started.
To tri or not to tri - that's not a question at all!
179
Member
339 days
Nutty posted 17 weeks ago.
I have the same issue, though i notice it to be about 5-8bpm change. Ive attributed it to my bike setup having me reach out too far to get into the aerobars, which makes it thougher to breathe. Then as breathing becomes more shallow and labored, hr goes up. When i sit up the airway is opened back up and the hr drops. I ordered a shorter hbar stem and am looking into ways to get my seat further forward to alleviate the problem.
Glad to see im not the only one experiencing this. I have a feeling it happens on the road too, it just isnt as noticable because of the wind factor. But its pretty in your face on the trainer.
-Alan
My fancy new blogitty blog.
http://therunningfridge.blogspot.com/
830
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1234 days
JamieM posted 17 weeks ago.
Do you have a block under the front wheel to level out the trainer?
And I also wonder if it's because of how narrow your aero bars are positioned. When you get down on the bars, and your arms come closer together you may be constricting your chest a bit.
As Nutty said, reach may also be an issue, try a minute or so just grabbing the bars a little further back and see how that feels.
266
Member
318 days
cjhoffmn posted 17 weeks ago.
Y, on the trainer, its plainly obvious. I've been using the Kurt Kinetic power meter, and irrespective of whether a watt actually equals a watt on the thing, I've pretty much confirmed its a position issue. If I slide out onto the nose of my saddle, the problem virtually disappears, but power stays about the same.
I've been experimenting with both issues - the reach and the width of the aerobars. I'll post anything I do good or bad.
After a FIVE WEEK layoff because of Stomach virus/Flu/Sinus Infection/Bronchitis that I suffered, I'm just getting back into the saddle, but more soon.
To tri or not to tri - that's not a question at all!
89
Member
690 days
Tri Fanatic posted 17 weeks ago.
I have seen and read studies (probably from UCLA, but i forget where they were done) that discovered a steeper seat tube angle and going into the aero position caused a lower HR, or more WATTS for the same HR.
For Christmas, I just was given my first indoor trainer. Woohoo! Worlds of pain for the fun of it. I'm getting rid of the spin bike and moving to this instead. I've only ridden it twice so far, but noticed on both rides, something that struck me as strange.
When I tucked into an aero position in my Abars, my HR went up 2-3 beats per minute at the same cadence. In particular, my HR dropped very quickly if I sat up out of the aero position on my brake handles. Is that normal? I seemed to expect that dropping to aero would be more comfortable and drop my HR, not the other way around.
When riding out on the road, aero certainly gets me a lower HR for the same speed - which I'm assuming is all about the aerodynamics. Any thoughts? Does this suggest I need to evaluate my position?
-C
To tri or not to tri - that's not a question at all!