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Which test? VO2MAx or Blood Lactic Acid

Old 12-12-06, 08:15 PM
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Which test? VO2MAx or Blood Lactic Acid

Hi,

I am wondering of the above tests, which one would be money better spent? I can only afford to have one of the two done, and therefore need to make a wise decision. Perhaps next fall, I could have the test performed again to check progress, but that's no guarantee. I would expect a change to the VO2 max, for the better, but I don't know enough about the lactic acid test to know if the lactate blood analysis would change.

Anyone with any suggestions for a first time triathlete hopeful????

Thanks.
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Old 12-12-06, 08:35 PM
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If I had to choose, I'd do the lactate blood analysis test
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Old 12-12-06, 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by branman1986
If I had to choose, I'd do the lactate blood analysis test

Branman -- thanks for the reply. What info would that provide me that would be more useful than the VO2 max testing?
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Old 12-12-06, 11:31 PM
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I would first save the money. If I had to spend it, I would do the VO2max test.

Lactate threshold can be very closely/accurately approximated with a field test. Also, it can change a lot, even over the course of a month - meaning you need to retest often. Lastly, it is a pretty inaccurate measurement. You will get pricked and have blood drawn every 1-2 min or so, and the person in charge will try to catch you as close to 4mmol/L as possible without going over. If you do go over, that person has to estimate your threshold - possibly extremely inaccurate.

VO2max doesn't change much, and is mostly genetic. To find out what your max potential is as a cyclist, I would have this done. It's a pretty useless number other than bragging rights, or to make a correct career choice - but at least it isn't worthless in a month.
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Old 12-13-06, 03:35 AM
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Personally I would do both if you can because they are different tests. LT is for muscular-exertion and VO2-max is for aerobic-capacity. Having both sets of data and being able to graph relative to HR will give tremendous insight. However, as previously mentioned, you can test LT out in the field while VO2-max requires a lab. So if you can only do one, do the VO2-max first. While it does improve slightly with training, it doesn't increase anywhere nearly as dramatic as power-at-LT and muscle-efficiency (power per O2 consumed).
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Old 12-13-06, 04:57 AM
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If the VO2max test includes pinpointing your LT then just do the VO2max test. You don't have to have your VO2max in order to figure out your training routine, but you really need your LT. Tossing around your VO2max is like slapping around your penis. It's how you work it.

OTOH if you're an advanced cyclist and you need to do different types of intervals, a lactate profile is really beneficial. You get into stuff where you're doing intervals at 6-10 mmol for 6 minutes, stuff like that. It can get pretty involved.
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Old 12-13-06, 07:08 AM
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Originally Posted by DannoXYZ
Personally I would do both if you can because they are different tests. LT is for muscular-exertion and VO2-max is for aerobic-capacity. Having both sets of data and being able to graph relative to HR will give tremendous insight. However, as previously mentioned, you can test LT out in the field while VO2-max requires a lab. So if you can only do one, do the VO2-max first. While it does improve slightly with training, it doesn't increase anywhere nearly as dramatic as power-at-LT and muscle-efficiency (power per O2 consumed).
I prefer to think of VO2Max as the size of one's engine and LT as the governor on that engine. With the proper training, the governor's setting can be set higher without "blowing up" and will be a greater percentage of what your engine is capable of yielding.

IMHO, LT @ power (watts)/kg of body weight is the best metric, but only if you can make measurements on a regular basis. A single measurement (of either) is of no value.
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Old 12-13-06, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by woody_1029
Anyone with any suggestions for a first time triathlete hopeful????
Ask yourself this. How would you use the data from each test and which use do you think is more beneficial. To put it another way, what is it you can't do now that having the data from one or the other test would allow you to do?
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Old 12-13-06, 05:00 PM
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Having just had my VO2 max tested, I found it useful because it better defined my training zones. I now know where my lactate threshold heart rate is (a little lower than my field test, she said that is normal) and altered my training to more effective to increase it. It also told me what my max heart rate was which was higher than I had thought before. Good luck!
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Old 12-13-06, 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by asgelle
Ask yourself this. How would you use the data from each test and which use do you think is more beneficial. To put it another way, what is it you can't do now that having the data from one or the other test would allow you to do?
+1.
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Old 12-14-06, 06:23 AM
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Originally Posted by race newbie
I now know where my lactate threshold heart rate is (a little lower than my field test, she said that is normal) and altered my training to more effective to increase it.
If you could be tested daily, you would find that your LT heart rate changes daily (actually it changes more often depending on your current metabolic status, which is influenced by environment, rest, hydration, stresses). This is why a powermeter is much better. It's not influenced by any of those factors. It's a non-idiosyncratic metric compared to heart rate.
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Old 12-14-06, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by asgelle
Ask yourself this. How would you use the data from each test and which use do you think is more beneficial. To put it another way, what is it you can't do now that having the data from one or the other test would allow you to do?

No offense, but if I knew the answer to that, I would not be asking for info and suggestions on this forum.
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Old 12-14-06, 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by woody_1029
No offense, but if I knew the answer to that, I would not be asking for info and suggestions on this forum.
No offense, but that tells me you're not ready for either test. First figure out how you'll use data before you spend money to get it. Data is not the answer, what you do with it is.
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Old 12-14-06, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by NoRacer
If you could be tested daily, you would find that your LT heart rate changes daily (actually it changes more often depending on your current metabolic status, which is influenced by environment, rest, hydration, stresses). This is why a powermeter is much better. It's not influenced by any of those factors. It's a non-idiosyncratic metric compared to heart rate.
My tester commented on that as well, it's on the list of things to get. I had just bought a cadence computer, didn't know enough to get the power meter instead.
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Old 12-14-06, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by asgelle
No offense, but that tells me you're not ready for either test. First figure out how you'll use data before you spend money to get it. Data is not the answer, what you do with it is.
Well duh! Why didn't I think of that? Perhaps if all of my learning was through osmosis I would be able to do that all on my own and not have to read through moronic replies
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Old 12-15-06, 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by race newbie
My tester commented on that as well, it's on the list of things to get. I had just bought a cadence computer, didn't know enough to get the power meter instead.
No worries. It's a development thing. Most of us, who are interested in performance, start out with nothing, progress to using a watch, then an HRM, then a power meter (or powermeter in conjunction with an HRM). You'll get there, eventually, if maximizing performance is your goal.
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Old 12-16-06, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by woody_1029
Well duh! Why didn't I think of that? Perhaps if all of my learning was through osmosis I would be able to do that all on my own and not have to read through moronic replies
Duh, how stupid of me to not realize when you wrote "which test should I get" what you really meant was "teach me everything about developing my training plan and how to use physiological data." Forget the fact that you told us nothing about your current fitness, strengths/weaknesses, goals, or previous training history. You're right, it's our fauly for not guessing all that. You don't have to rely on osmosis, why not try reading some books on training and physiology (if you're serious about using physiological data) by reputable authors to get a foundation from which to ask your questions?
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Old 12-17-06, 07:14 AM
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Originally Posted by asgelle
Duh, how stupid of me to not realize when you wrote "which test should I get" what you really meant was "teach me everything about developing my training plan and how to use physiological data." Forget the fact that you told us nothing about your current fitness, strengths/weaknesses, goals, or previous training history. You're right, it's our fauly for not guessing all that. You don't have to rely on osmosis, why not try reading some books on training and physiology (if you're serious about using physiological data) by reputable authors to get a foundation from which to ask your questions?


Thanks for your most helpful replies. May I suggest that from now on, you keep them to yourself and not hi-jack a thread with your elitist superior intelligence and attitude!
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Old 12-17-06, 09:40 AM
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Woody, just take the VO2max test and find out your true LT. First start training around one key workout a week around your LT and with plenty of rest. A few months later add another key workout. All this time keep increasing the distance in your long workout per week.

If you haven't trained before, 5-6 hours a week is plenty. Start with 3-4 hours and increase to 6-7 hours, up to 300 hours a year. If you can make it through the first year without injury then maybe go 350 hours the next year, if not, 330 hours. You get the pic?
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