Heart rate charts and effort.

[Chris1963]

Hi all,

Just out of curiosity I thought I'd cycle the same 30 mile route over a few weeks with the Surge and then compare the heart charts. I did this non techy by tracing overlays on an A4 sheet with different colour pens...old ways sometimes the easiest!

Although on some rides there is a clear resemblance to another showing climbs, flats and downhill, quite often the peaks and troughs are really varied in intensity and sometimes arent that clear at all. Overall average rates for the ride vary between 130bpm and 150bpm, which kinda correlates with wind intensity but is still a fair gap. Rides all with a few minutes of each other. 

A big assumption  is that the Surge is recording accurately every day but assuming its thereabouts has anyone else done this sort of comparison and what were your conclusions?

Just interested as to perhaps the science behind it, I know hydration, stress, caffeine etc all have an impact but effort I would also think easily overides these. Or perhpas it is the tracker? Oh my recovery is fine, max 185 to 120 in around 2 mins, I'm 53 not that that should mean much! Cheers all. 

[mlaccs]

My HR seems to be accurate  +- 10%.  I have the same path and when mapping (similar to you) I see variations in Heartrate, distance and Calories that validate this is just a tool gor estimation and not any kind of scientific device. 

I LOVE to tool and it is one of the best investments ever.  But it is still jsut a tool.

[betpchem]

One thing I might suggest @Chris1963 is, are you being consistant with where you put the fitbit on your wrist? That can make a difference. But, as @mlaccs said, it's just a tool. As long as it gives you the general picture, I think that's just fine.

[I-train-hard]

The man who eats tons of ice cream mlaccs is correct +/-10%