KEEPING YOUR HEART RATE LOWER

Did you know that your body position can increase your heart rate while cycling?

Body Position on the Bike will Influence Heart Rate.

For example, let's say I am riding on an indoor bicycle trainer with my upper body parallel to the ground (Hands on the drops) at a heart rate of 145. Raising upright while continuing to cycle at the exact same workload will result in an increase in heart rate of about 5 beats per minute.

Trust me I have experimented with this effect on many a winter evening! This is due to decreased venous return in the more upright position. Heart rate increases to compensate for the slightly decreased venous return and stroke volume, keeping cardiac output constant. When I return to the drops, the heart rate drops again.

So remember to keep off the hoods and on the drops!