I have been biking as a supplement for running, but I find that my quads will feel weak and tired before my heart rate reaches east run heart rate. I have not been cross training for very long, should I keep cycling at a higher resistance to get to desired HR at the cost of the legs, or go at a lower resistance?
Don't overthink it. The more you bike, the more your legs respond. Maybe tone it done until you start to adjust to the stimulus.
Drop hr until legs catch up.
Keep volume high. Maybe avg HR 135ish until you're confident
Only while cross training? Are they strong the rest of the time?
literal lenny wrote:
Only while cross training? Are they strong the rest of the time?
Similar to the feeling while squatting, feels fine during running
I think you just need to warm up and ease into it. It takes me about 10 minutes before I feel good. If I start at full speed, I get a similar feeling to you.
Need help!! wrote:
I have been biking as a supplement for running, but I find that my quads will feel weak and tired before my ***heart rate reaches east run heart rate***. I have not been cross training for very long, should I keep cycling at a higher resistance to get to desired HR at the cost of the legs, or go at a lower resistance?
Cycling hr zones are lower than running hr zones (swimming is even lower) - the heart has to pump harder the more vertical you are, to counteract gravity. My max hr is about 195 and cycling 120 and running 140 both feel about the same level of truly easy but not a total jog or spin
Edit: oh yeah, are you using a strap to measure hr? Watches are notoriously bad at measuring cycling hr, I don't do many bike workouts but I remember one time it was reading 110-120 through an entire threshold effort workout
HR on the bike and running are totally different. I think I even asked something similar when I switched to the (indoor) bike from running during my pregnancy. I had a Whoop at the time and it wouldn't even register a workout despite the effort feeling hard. I'm back to running now, but still bike once a week, but don't bother monitoring my HR and go by effort.
As for your quads, cycling and running use different muscles. If you're primarily a runner and you feel strong running, relax and remember cycling is just supplemental to your running. You're still helping your cardiovascular system and giving your legs a break from the impact of running.