Training & Nutrition - How do I get an accurate Max HR or max VO2?

I'm just starting to get back in shape and I think it would be fun to have reliable numbers so I can see my progress after one year.

Right now I'm using the 220-age formula for my max heart rate. This means 190 for me. If I pedal really hard on the trained and get a higher numder than 190 should I use this as a max HR?

How can you find out your VO2 max? Are there places where they test you for this for a reasonable fee?

How accurate is the calories display on polar computers?

If you measure a heart rate higher than the formula prediction, then you should use it instead of the formula.

Max HR you can sort of estimate through max efforts as you've done, but VO2 requires lab testing and they'll get your max HR at the same time. I'm getting ready to do it and it will cost around $100 here.

As far as I know, the Polar uses averages for weight and sex to determine calories. I've used an HRM as a calorie counter effectively to lose 60 lbs. so I have to assume it's pretty close to actual consumption.

You may want to check this out:

http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/vo2max.htm

If any of you do a VO2Max test, it would be interesting to see, how accurate the formula:

%MHR = 0.64 × %VO2 Max + 37

...is.




% MHR and %VO2 Max
It is possible to estimate your exercise intensity as a percentage of VO2 Max from your training heart rate. David Swain (1994) and his US based research team using statistical procedures examined the relationship between %MHR and %VO2 Max. Their results led to the following regression equation :

%MHR = 0.64 × %VO2 Max + 37
The relationship has been shown to hold true across sex, age and activity.

i'm participating in university research programs and Im going to get free LT and vO2 testing.

i'm testing a new drug.. dont know what it is tho



haha no its for some muscle metabolism stuff and they just take a biopsy
http://edweb6.educ.msu.edu/kin/Research/mandml1.jpg

not good if you dont like needles..

The calories for the Polars are pretty accurate assuming the information you put in it is accurate( age, wt, gender, Ht) As far as determining mx HR you can try doing several hill repeats to get your HR up to max. This is a crude method but should be accurate to with in 5-10%. If you want to get tested try to find a university nearby that has an Exercise Physiology department. They may take volunteers for their students to practice doing exercise Rx's on. For general fitness puroposes, however, you can determine your own max HR and be fairly accurate.

[QUOTE=*cough]i'm participating in university research programs and Im going to get free LT and vO2 testing.

i'm testing a new drug.. dont know what it is tho



I was just wondering how much you get paid for being a test subject for an as yet unproven drug that you have no idea what the drug is.

Instead of MHR or VO2Max, use AT as determined by the test in the 2x20 Anaerobic threshold test (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=43102) thread, at the top of the T & N forum. It also spells out the training zones based on AT.

[QUOTE=*cough]i'm participating in university research programs and Im going to get free LT and vO2 testing.

i'm testing a new drug.. dont know what it is tho



I was just wondering how much you get paid for being a test subject for an as yet unproven drug that you have no idea what the drug is.


Answer: Not enough!