How do we compare with other athletes?

This is interesting, but how about comparing cyclists\’ hearts with those of runners and/or swimmers? Would there be a difference? Especially when it comes to cyclist versus swimmer.

I\’m guessing that a cyclist\’s heart would be more like a runner\’s than a swimmer\’s. After all, both runners and cyclists are upright while exercising. Unless, perhaps, you\’re riding a recumbent.

It gets more complicated, I suspect, when you take into consideration that a cyclist\’s weight is supported by the bicycle. Unless, that is, you want to climb all the way up Mont Ventoux out of the saddle!

It\’s many years since I\’ve been in a swimming pool, but I remember how hard swimming felt. I never seemed to have the upper body strength necessary. I got out of breath all too quickly. Thus I never cared much for swimming.

If I did try swimming again, and could use a heart-rate monitoring system while at it, how would the readings compare to those of a bicycle ride? As cyclists, how do we compare to runners, gymnasts, swimmers, and so on? It might be interesting to find out.