Originally Posted by
Mobile 155
That has to be a formulated vo2 max. That can not be a machine measured vo2 max because you can not exceed you maximum intake of 100 percent. Since I can't see any gym testing on a machine, Direct testing is the "only" way to measure vo2 max. looking at the link you posted they set the resistance to 170 percent of the effort you normally use to reach your 100 percent exhaustion level. But understand 100 percent vo2 max is the point where you can no longer exercise and vomiting often starts. From the Sports medicine site I checked "
Measuring VO2 max accurately requires an all-out effort (usually on a treadmill or bicycle) performed under a strict protocol in a sports performance lab."
As you may know the USADA and the UCI have been working on tests to measure the vo2 max of riders and anyone that ever tested at 170 percent would be bounced for EPO. But I agree if someone could suck in 170 percent of the oxygen necessary to continue racing, running or exercising that would be difficult. Sounds like some people estimate vo2 max like others do calorie counts.
How long it takes you to reach an O2 consumption of VO2Max is a function of intensity above your threshold power. If you ride at 200% of FTP you'll reach VO2Max faster than if you ride at 110% of FTP. Basically, any effort above FTP will eventually cause you to your O2 consumption to reach VO2Max.
When studies refer to VO2Max power it is in the context of a prescribed ramp test, typically starting at 100-150W and going up 25W every 3 min.
So in the Tabata study when they refer to power at VO2Max you need to look at the ramp protocol they used. As a rough guide power at VO2Max is roughly equal to the average power you can put out in an all-out 5min effort. Doing 170% of that power for 20 Seconds is easy. Repeating it 8 time with minimal rest is the difficult part.