Dan, first thing in the morning when you awake have a watch with a second hand at your bedside, without getting out of bed check your resting heart rate then with the example below figure your heart rate from 65%- 85% of your maximum heart rate.
This is an example of the Karvonen formula for a 23 year old person with a resting heart rate of 65 beats per minute
206.9 - (0.67 x 23 (age)) = 191
191 - 65 (resting heart rate) = 126
126 65% (low end of heart rate zone) OR 85% (high end) = 82 OR 107
82 + 65 (resting heart rate) = 147
107 + 65 (rhr) = 172
The target heart rate zone for this person would be 147 to 172
thanks guys this is very helpful think i will back it down a bit. after my ride my average heartrate is around 145 not to bad for the hills we do i seem to recover fast once i get to the top. im trying to stay healthy not damage myself thanks again.
Formula for max. HR=220-YOUR AGE=YOUR MAX. HR
220-47=173=YOUR MAX. HR
This HR is too high according to your age. Perhaps it would be best to ride at a good pace for your situation and not worry about keeping up with these younger men. Ride safe. Usually, I bike by myself because I know I will be tempted to keep up with my younger children, which isn't a good thing for me.
Well Dan im not a Doc but i do have that same issue and i say it is up to how you feel your body will not lie to you if you feel light headed then please kick that hog to the side of the road and slow it down for a bit but if it feels right and you dont feel in danger go for it.
As a person gets older the ability to tolerate a high heartrate diminishes.
There are two problems with a rate of 185 at age 47.
First problem is that the heart does not have time to fill with blood before the next cycle. This in turn results in diminished oxygen which is sensed in the carotids, which tells the heart to speed up a bit more, compounding the problem. That is why you are getting light-headed.
At such a high heart rate the chances of developing ventricular fibrillation increases.
What exactly is that chance? Impossible to state. But the danger is real.
My vote is no, you should not be exercising to the point where your heart rate is that high.
There are worse fates in life then being a straggler.