I have made up my mind to bike one half of Skyline Drive. Here is my concern; It seems that when I am biking an 8% grade my heart rate is in the mid to high 130BPM range. According to a V02 test that I took recently my peak AT is 163 with a V02 peak of 27.9(ml./kg/min) Skyline drive has long grades with at least 8%. I am sure my heart rate will be at least 130 and above for an extended period of time. I am a 56 year old male. Is this a do able task, biking the drive with an extended heart rate such as this? I maxed out at 320 watts.
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I have made up my mind to bike one half of Skyline Drive. Here is my concern; It seems that when I am biking an 8% grade my heart rate is in the mid to high 130BPM range. According to a V02 test that I took recently my peak AT is 163 with a V02 peak of 27.9(ml./kg/min) Skyline drive has long grades with at least 8%. I am sure my heart rate will be at least 130 and above for an extended period of time. I am a 56 year old male. Is this a do able task, biking the drive with an extended heart rate such as this? I maxed out at 320 watts.
Thanks for any input.
Are you only doing the Skyline Drive or the BlueRidge Parkway? I have made two trips on my recumbent on the BRP and others on a DF. I do not think you will exceed the 80% very often. Getting up to the BRP is more of a challenge than riding along it. Screaming down those long grades at 50 mph is more frightening than going up. For in going up you can stop and catch your breath.
I have made up my mind to bike one half of Skyline Drive. Here is my concern; It seems that when I am biking an 8% grade my heart rate is in the mid to high 130BPM range. According to a V02 test that I took recently my peak AT is 163 with a V02 peak of 27.9(ml./kg/min) Skyline drive has long grades with at least 8%. I am sure my heart rate will be at least 130 and above for an extended period of time. I am a 56 year old male. Is this a do able task, biking the drive with an extended heart rate such as this? I maxed out at 320 watts.
Why not take the hills more slowly? Put lower gears on your bike if necessary.