"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - VO2Max testing

My wife and I had a V02 and RMR test today. I wrote a longer account (http://www.photoscene.com/kimandsteve/283/vo2-test-results) of it on my blog, but am summarizing my results here. It was relatively straigtforward. First we sat for the RMR test, with a mask over our face to measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide. The test took 5 minutes, and then we had the results. It was interesting to note that for both of us, we had a small movement that caused a noticeable spike in the data! Also, although it wasn’t being recorded, my HR was between 38 and 47 for the duration of the test, and usually in the low 40s.

For the RMR tets, my VO2 was 249, VCO2 238, for a respiratory quotient (RQ) of 0.96. Kim’s VO2 was 239, VCO2 213, for an RQ of 0.89.

For my VO2 test, I was just under 300watts for my AT, after about 10 minutes with an HR of 162bpm and a VO2/kg of 52.6. I continued for another 5 minutes to a peak of 400watts at 181bpm and a VO2/kg of 65.9. I may have been able to hold the next level for a few seconds but I didn’t care to try.

For my recovery from the peak of 181bpm, I was at 144bpm after 1 minute and 119bpm after 2 minutes, and my RQ was 34% and 57% recovered, respectively.

after reading your blog post, i must say...


20 minutes up OSM is not an easy pace.

20 minutes up OSM is not an easy pace.

He's half asleep right now, but he asked me to say that it's all relative, or something like that.
I agree that it's not an easy pace. I take, like, twice as long.

How do you find places that do VO2 max testing? I'd like to find a place in MA.

Did mine at a university. I'm betting most universities with a decent-sized athletics program has the equipment.

Some places you can walk into and have it tested, too.

googled

http://www.stage5cycling.com/escotto/s5c/default.nsf/section?openform&name=Fitness%20Testing

VO2 max doesn't change with fitness, correct?

I did mine through Xtreme O2 (http://www.xtremeo2.com/page/page/4399247.htm). The guy came out to us and tested a bunch of people in the area through a local coach.


20 minutes up OSM is not an easy pace.

What I tried to ask my wife to write last night was that "easy" is relative, considering that all out TT pace is in the 18-19 minute range. My PR is just over 18. Wednesday was 20:18, I was chatting the whole time, and according to the testing it was right at or just under my LT. The effort was high enough there were a few gaps in the conversation, but generally breathing was not too difficult. Thursday my "very easy" pace was 22 minutes, avg HR 155. There is only so easy you can ride up an 8% grade... if I go much slower than that it actually starts to get harder because I lose the momentum of my legs and have to labor every pedalstroke...

VO2 max doesn't change with fitness, correct?

Here is one source of information: A Guide to VO2 Max (http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/VO2max.html). I didn't read it, but from the material that I have read, seems that you can't increase your V02 max, but you have to be fit to reach your full potential. I.e. an untrained person probably won't have the cardiac or muscular capacity to max out their V02. I could be completely mistaken, that is just my inderstanding of it.

Looking back at the tets materials and printouts that they gave me, it appears that I probably didn't hit my V02 max, I never had the plateu in O2 consumption that would indicate it. I basically "gave up" because I didn't think I could sustain the next level of intensity. My reading was only for my "peak" V02 consumption.

Got ya, makes sense. I just figured since i am only at a university for another 2 months or so i may look into testing, but i'm certainly not in peak health right now...

I should add the the units for VO2 include kg (ml/kg/min), so training that decreases your weight will increase your VO2 simply by divinding the same volume of air by less mass...

Here is one source of information: A Guide to VO2 Max (http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/VO2max.html). I didn't read it, but from the material that I have read, seems that you can't increase your V02 max, but you have to be fit to reach your full potential.

Along the same lines, it's not the max that matters so much (although it helps), it's how long you can stay at or near your max that matters. I've read a number of studies that supported that conclusion.

umd,

ExtremeO2 uses Korr CardioCoach equipment, so what you are actually seeing is a submax test, with a linear projection for V02 max.

And yes, you can improve your V02 max with training. The gains will be less, depending on your fitness when first tested. If you have done little or no training at the time of the first test, then you might see pretty substantial gains with subsequent testing. But if you are very fit at the time of testing, you might only see very small gains. You can however, also improve on your aerobic VO2 and your anaerobic (lactate) threshold. FWIW

The number is pretty irrevelant, its all about at what heart rates you are burning calories. And yes you can change your vo2 a little maybe a point or two.

Also I have met fast pros with very low vo2s like in the 50s, I wont say any names.

The number is pretty irrevelant, its all about at what heart rates you are burning calories. And yes you can change your vo2 a little maybe a point or two.

Also I have met fast pros with very low vo2s like in the 50s, I wont say any names.

Huh?