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>tfw back in the flat Netherlands just as I finally got comfortable with the climbing in the glorious Swiss alps
When climbing over there I noticed that my heart rate got significantly lower over the course of the two weeks, probably from getting used to the altitude. First few climbs I was in the red all the time heart rate wise (180bpm) because my legs could easily keep up with that. Ended up with my whole body shaking and shivering with the legs feeling fine. A week and a half later it was the other way around, 160 average HR which is low for me, in the lowlands I can hold 170 for an hour quite easily. I was significantly faster at the end with the 160bpm than I was at the start with the 180bpm, clearly the legs were limiting towards the end resulting the in the lowish heart rate. Should really work on riding at low cadence riding because I think that was limiting me on those steep long climbs, being at 70rpm for over an hour. I did feel significantly more comfortable with the low cadence towards the end as well but hell, time was up.
So a tip for anyone who is from the flatlands who wants to go do some significant climbing: train at low cadence before you go, you will need it for the steeper gradients and its a waste of time when you are struggling on the actual trip. Also going to the high mountains as a sea level pleb might not be the best idea either, takes time to get used to and reduces the time for the true fun.
I am wondering about my heart rate back here though, I expect it will be significantly lower than it was, wonder if that will make me faster or whether its purely the legs that determine the pace in the end.
