removing lactic acid
 

hi
i just did my first bicycle fitness test and found out my endurance, maximum- speed- is very good. the only thing that stands out is the speed of removing lactic acid, which is not poor but not ok either.

So how could i improve it? are there many ways?

What kind of test measures lactic acid metabolism? Do you have a link?

it's a test where they draw blood every time you add more power.. i don't know how they come up with the figures but they had a machine where they analyzed my blood samples.

Just Google "Lactate Pro".

lemon juice is one way, since the citric acid helps get rid of the lactic acid... deep breathing will help it from accumulating. lactic acid is the product of muscle fermentation under anaerobic conditions... make them aerobic conditions and lactic acid isn't created :)

How does adding more acid get rid of acid?

Can't you just eat Rolaids and be done with?

ill have to dig up a source to explain this one...

How long have you been riding? Seems to me cardiovascular efficiency is directly tied to lactate buildup. The better your efficiency, the more acid that is removed.

I found this URL on Wikipedia to a full PubMed article about lactic acid if anyone is interested. http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/co...ull/287/3/R502

There's some stuff on this in Carmichael's ultimate ride.

My recollection is that the way you improve your lactic acid elimination is by spending time near the lactate threshold. Tempo rides that spend 20 (ish) minutes there are one way - another way is to do over/under intervals where you ride perhaps a minute around 4-5 BPM above the threshold, then drop below by 4-5 BPM to recover, and then repeat.

thanks for advices!

i now did some research, found out the reason for this might be that I gotta focus more on my nutrition, stretching, warming up and cooling down when i exercise because my muscles might get "jammed", right?

I might be ignoring all of those more or less.

Lactic acid is fuel for your muscles.

Yes. It's the hydrogen ions that accompany the lactate ions that supposedly causes the lose of coordination and feeling of fatigue.

Look here:

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

Take a strong base to combat the acid. Two tablespoons of baking-soda dissolved in 8-10oz of water. Slug the entire mixture 15-20 minute before your sprint-event and you'll notice your legs won't burn as much at 100% effort. You'll be able to keep up the sprint-effort for an extra 5-seconds or so. Track racers do this all the time, I've known some crit guys as well. However, the effects wear off after 30-40 minutes...

(ps. may also cause upset stomachs and barfing....)