Heart Rate Monitor - An Experiment

[Ernie Phillips]

At Little Egypt CC I wore a Heart Rate Monitor to see how hard my heart was working.  (I had always assumed that one-hour of racing through the woods was a good work-out.).
Saturday:   141 avg,  163 max  (I think the 163 was when I helped Christopher unsuccessfully push-start his rig)
Sunday:     138 avg.  150 max
What does all this mean?  For me, it means that if I want to improve my physical condition (race results), I need to be stressing my body (heart) for at least 1 hour and keep my average HR at or above 141.  This is a strenuous workout – lots of Hindu squats!

What should your MHR be?  From the CDC (modified for 54 year old person):
"For vigorous-intensity physical activity, a person's target heart rate should be 70 to 85% of his or her maximum heart rate. For example, for a 54-year-old person, the estimated maximum age-related heart rate would be calculated as 220 - 54 years = 166 beats per minute (bpm). The 70% and 85% levels would be:
•   70% level: 166 x 0.70 = 116 bpm, and  
•   85% level: 166 x 0.85 = 141 bpm
Thus, vigorous-intensity physical activity for a 54-year-old person will require that the heart rate remains between 116 and 141 bpm during physical activity."

By the way, according to my HRM I burned 1200 calories during each of these one hour events highlighting the importance of Race Day nutrition.  (No, it does not mean you can eat a dozen Krispy Kremes and not feel guilty)  While I'm trying to improve my condition, I am amazed at is the number of fat fast guys on the AHRMA circuit.  I'm talking large men!  And, and some of them smoke ... on the track and tobacco too.  Shed a few pound, can the cancer sticks ... they could be scary quick!!

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

[Tennessee Vol]

FAT MEN AT Little Egypt----------[?] Ernie I resemble those remarks!! It took my wife many years to get me in the shape I am in!![:0]

 We just get big bore bikes and Ford 3/4 ton rear springs.[]I have a set of Dual rate 12.0 rear springs for the MC5 400 I am building.

 The fast in shape racers like Gary Ellis and Team Phillips on their well prepped Pentons are the ones that are whipping everyones tail.Then high adventure guys like the whitewater rager Dennis Jones!!;) make us fat slow guys look silly.

 Us fat guys have to work twice as hard on everything,or maybe it is my German heritage on both sides comming through.[8]

 Although I am not fast (never have been or never will be) I have never uesd a cancer stick,some people are not rail thin like the Phillips.

 Everyone missed a good race at Little Egypt,it was well done for all levels of racers.

 Ernie tell us what type of monitor you had and we can give our readings also.

Bojo Stults



 

[brian kirby]

Bojo, despite what he says, is NOT slow. He is not skinny, but he is not slow either. I agree with Bojo, I'd like to get a heart monitor and see what my average and max rates were in a race.

Brian

[Ernie Phillips]

I'm using a Polar FS/3 or F4 purchased at Target for ~$40.  I tried using one of the cheaper pulse monitors but it would loose signal and you have to push a button to get a reading.  Look for something with a transmitter that straps around your chest and has a watch-like readout that you wear on your wrist.  A HRM can be a useful tool to gage one progress and establish training targets.  At the next event, you guys are welcome to try mine.  

[url9http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/productfinder/productfinder.asp][/url]

Bojo, As last years PV 200 Int. CC National Champion, you proved to everyone that you WERE fast!  Now, as an Expert, you have to click it up a notch ... it will be easier if you loose the lard .  (Don't you love MotoTally  ) Seriously, what got me motivated to get fit was a sound butt kicking at Little Egypt and Mid-O last year.  Losing to riders of greater skill is one thing, but getting beat by so-so riders on a ratty-tat-tat bikes is too embarrassing.  Those ole timey body weight exercises; squats, push-ups, sit-ups... eat breakfast, drink water, portion control, take a multi-vitamin are small steps toward better results and more importantly, better health.

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

[Lew Mayer]

Where did you find one for $40? All I see are $80 to $90 at Target. They sound like a good idea.

Lew Mayer

[Ernie Phillips]

I think I got it for $40.  Maybe I paid $80 and only told my my wife $40. I'll check my local Target and let you know what the real price is. Dicks Sporting Goods also had them but they wanted full retail. -EP

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

[tmc3c]

Bojo, So much for racing for the fun of it!! Now drop and give me twenty!!:D



Thomas Carmichael


1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler

[Lew Mayer]

Thomas, when yer slow like me, I need all the help I can git.

Lew Mayer

[Tennessee Vol]

Thanks Ernie I am going to get one,and lose some of this fat.We just had our 5th child and I gained over 20 pounds.It sure sounds like I was the one carrying the baby doesn't it. [:0]

Bojo Stults

[tmc3c]

Lew,I am slow, so slow in fact I get knocked down by the iron men running for the plastic medals! It is just for fun! We aren't going to pick up any factory rides for this. My day has already come and gone like most. I said once before "The first time around it was about the racing and now it is about the people and having fun"



Thomas Carmichael


1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler

[Lew Mayer]

Thomas, you're right on. When this stops bein' fun, I'm quitting.

Lew Mayer

[tmc3c]

Lew, You know whats fun? Going out early in the morning with your 17 yr old son getting biscuit and going to the local woods and ride! Sitting under the easy up tent and laugh about almost busting your behind or roosting one another! Having people you don't know or might never see again come up to you and talk about your old Penton!!! Wow I must be old this sounds like a post card or something! But you know what I mean,Riding with your friends is SO much fun to me!
     AHRMA is fun to a lot of guys because they get to see friends they raced with over the years and to ride again with! You have never seen two grown men more happy than Greg Holder and Dwight Rudder at a event! They are in their element great Friends enjoying each others company!! I was fortunate to witness this and all of the rest of the guys. It has to be about the people! I am so thankful of the friends I have made because of my Penton motorcycle that I think I am going to the garage and kiss the tank if I can find it!![]I am going through a slight rebuild.



Thomas Carmichael


1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler

[pketchum]

For those who missed Teddy's ISDTVQ this year at Combs, Arkansas or those who want to see Dwight Rudder/Greg Holder having LOTS of fun while you weren't there check out these pictures.


http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/563343370IutlBo


Ernie, I always thought my heart rate would be ~ 180 max after a hard moto.  Surprisingly, yours was much lower than I would have expected.  Thanks for the great info. and great times on the trails.  You, Christopher, Wendell and even that inbred cousin of yours, "Baby Brian", are class acts for sure.

Phil

[Lew Mayer]

Thomas, the people you know through this are what makes it fun.
Phil, thanks for the pictures. I needed that.

Lew Mayer

[tmc3c]

Thank You lew for the ear!!:)



Thomas Carmichael


1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler