VO2Max test

DeF said:

I tried out for a cycling exercise physiology
research program last week which involved doing
a VO2Max test (among a couple of other things).
It turned out I'm too old, fat and slow to be a
research subject but it was interesting anyway.

For the VO2Max test I was put on a stationary
bike where the resistance could be controlled.
It started at 100W then went up by 50W every
5 minutes. I made it through 5 minutes at
350W but fell apart not long into the 400W
interval.

It was interesting to be hooked up to all the
equipment and watch what was happening. My
heart rate hit 176bpm near the end and my
cadence sat around 92rpm until the last jump
in power.

I've now got 4 zones with HR boundaries that
can apparently be used to training purposes.
Have to work that bit out yet.

DeF.

Interesting, when I did my VO2 max, I was a runner, so I didn't like the
cycle ergometry test. My biggest problem was keeping the cadence low
enough - I was asked to maintain 70rpm and even back then my body
defaulted to 90rpm (too much running at 180 steps/min). 92 is much
higher than that. Did they tell you which protocol they used? (For
example, Astrand-Ryhming use a 50rpm cadence, the YMCA cycle ergometry
protocol also uses 50rpm, as per ACSM guidelines)

Tam

Tamyka Bell said:

DeF said:

....but it's been snipped

Interesting, when I did my VO2 max, I was a runner, so I didn't like the
cycle ergometry test. My biggest problem was keeping the cadence low
enough - I was asked to maintain 70rpm and even back then my body
defaulted to 90rpm (too much running at 180 steps/min). 92 is much
higher than that. Did they tell you which protocol they used? (For
example, Astrand-Ryhming use a 50rpm cadence, the YMCA cycle ergometry
protocol also uses 50rpm, as per ACSM guidelines)

Tam

I don't know what protocol (if any) was followed. I was told
to pedal at a comfortable rate and for me, that's in the low
90's rpm. When I do a TT I'm usually around 95. Over recent
years I've tried to slowly increase my RPM as I was getting
some knee twinges.(*) I'd find it very hard to get any power
out at 50rpm - I'm guessing that since I don't have particularly
big muscles, to get the power output up I increase the cadence.

DeF

(*) On a related note: I play the drums and a few years ago,
my teacher did a test to find my "natural" tempo. Basically,
he made me play a fixed pattern to a metronome, then switched
the metronome off. If I then increased the tempo, my natural
tempo was faster. If I slowed, it was slower. He did this until
there was not drift. My natural tempo turned out to be the fastest
of any of his students - and faster than his. Looks like it's
thrash-metal and 60" gear fixed wheel for me.

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Tamyka Bell said:

DeF wrote:

Quoted message said:

Interesting, when I did my VO2 max, I was a runner, so I didn't like the
cycle ergometry test. My biggest problem was keeping the cadence low
enough - I was asked to maintain 70rpm and even back then my body
defaulted to 90rpm (too much running at 180 steps/min). 92 is much
higher than that. Did they tell you which protocol they used? (For
example, Astrand-Ryhming use a 50rpm cadence, the YMCA cycle ergometry
protocol also uses 50rpm, as per ACSM guidelines)

The tests my riders get done are a combined VO2max/lactate test at
Victoria Uni, by Dr Simon Sostaric, who does the VIS's testing, and we
do a 3 minute steady state ramp test - usually increments of 50w at a
time, starting between 100 and 200w. Cadence around 90rpm, but
whatever's most comfortable - given that the ergo we use demands a
constant wattage, by slowing cadence you make it a -lot- harder in
terms of muscle fatigue (which we're not testing). Interesting that a
test would be done at 50rpm?

You can see a sample printout (this is mine from a few years ago, not
one of my riders!) here :

http://www.aboc.com.au/docs/20040129vo2.htm

The AIS use a 5 minute interval, I think? Byron will know, he did one
recently.

"Bleve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tamyka Bell said:

DeF wrote:

Quoted message said:

Interesting, when I did my VO2 max, I was a runner, so I didn't like the
cycle ergometry test. My biggest problem was keeping the cadence low
enough - I was asked to maintain 70rpm and even back then my body
defaulted to 90rpm (too much running at 180 steps/min). 92 is much
higher than that. Did they tell you which protocol they used? (For
example, Astrand-Ryhming use a 50rpm cadence, the YMCA cycle ergometry
protocol also uses 50rpm, as per ACSM guidelines)

The tests my riders get done are a combined VO2max/lactate test at
Victoria Uni, by Dr Simon Sostaric, who does the VIS's testing, and we
do a 3 minute steady state ramp test - usually increments of 50w at a
time, starting between 100 and 200w. Cadence around 90rpm, but
whatever's most comfortable - given that the ergo we use demands a
constant wattage, by slowing cadence you make it a -lot- harder in
terms of muscle fatigue (which we're not testing). Interesting that a
test would be done at 50rpm?

You can see a sample printout (this is mine from a few years ago, not
one of my riders!) here :

http://www.aboc.com.au/docs/20040129vo2.htm

The AIS use a 5 minute interval, I think? Byron will know, he did one
recently.

How does one get on one of these trials or, failing that, what would it cost
to book one of these tests somewhere in Melbourne?? I would basically be
keen to do it out of morbid curiosity more than anything. I take my resting
HR pretty regularly when laying in bed and unable to sleep (look at digital
clock with eyes just open and count beats for a minute - usually puts me to
sleep in less than 5 min). Anyway, my resting HR has always been pretty low
(around 40), but lately I have been regularly getting about 35 or 36 bpm.
My upper HR is quite high.....220 minus age gives me 186, but I regularly
get up to 200 when doing maximum efforts and I have been told that it is a
good thing to have a large gap between resting and max HR (not sure how true
this is??).

So, if there are any budding physiology (are they the ones who test this
stuff??) students in Melb who want a guinea pig who would be in at least the
95th percentile size-wise, then let me know. Failing this, I would be keen
to hear any advice on how I go about getting one of these done and how much
it will cost me.

Ride On,

Gags

Gags said:

"Bleve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

How does one get on one of these trials or, failing that, what would it cost
to book one of these tests somewhere in Melbourne??

Dr Blood (Sostaric) does 'em for $200 a pop. Let me know if you're
interested and I'll give you his email address offline.

Quoted message said:

I would basically be
keen to do it out of morbid curiosity more than anything. I take my resting
HR pretty regularly when laying in bed and unable to sleep (look at digital
clock with eyes just open and count beats for a minute - usually puts me to
sleep in less than 5 min). Anyway, my resting HR has always been pretty low
(around 40), but lately I have been regularly getting about 35 or 36 bpm.
My upper HR is quite high.....220 minus age gives me 186, but I regularly
get up to 200 when doing maximum efforts and I have been told that it is a
good thing to have a large gap between resting and max HR (not sure how true
this is??).

So, if there are any budding physiology (are they the ones who test this
stuff??) students in Melb who want a guinea pig who would be in at least the
95th percentile size-wise, then let me know. Failing this, I would be keen
to hear any advice on how I go about getting one of these done and how much
it will cost me.

Exercise physiologists all will want biopsies from their lab rats...
give them an inch, and they want your tissues! Better off paying for
the test, I reckon 🙂

DeF said:

I tried out for a cycling exercise physiology
research program last week which involved doing
a VO2Max test (among a couple of other things).
It turned out I'm too old, fat and slow to be a
research subject but it was interesting anyway.

You're lucky. Those accepted probably have to eat
nothing but potatoes and remain celibate for 3 months :-)

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Michael Warner said:

DeF said:

I tried out for a cycling exercise physiology
research program last week which involved doing
a VO2Max test (among a couple of other things).
It turned out I'm too old, fat and slow to be a
research subject but it was interesting anyway.

You're lucky. Those accepted probably have to eat
nothing but potatoes and remain celibate for 3 months :-)

Shhhhhhh!

You're giving away my training strategy!

Marty

Bleve said:

Gags said:

"Bleve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

How does one get on one of these trials or, failing that, what would it cost
to book one of these tests somewhere in Melbourne??

Dr Blood (Sostaric) does 'em for $200 a pop. Let me know if you're
interested and I'll give you his email address offline.

Quoted message said:

I would basically be
keen to do it out of morbid curiosity more than anything. I take my resting
HR pretty regularly when laying in bed and unable to sleep (look at digital
clock with eyes just open and count beats for a minute - usually puts me to
sleep in less than 5 min). Anyway, my resting HR has always been pretty low
(around 40), but lately I have been regularly getting about 35 or 36 bpm.
My upper HR is quite high.....220 minus age gives me 186, but I regularly
get up to 200 when doing maximum efforts and I have been told that it is a
good thing to have a large gap between resting and max HR (not sure how true
this is??).

So, if there are any budding physiology (are they the ones who test this
stuff??) students in Melb who want a guinea pig who would be in at least the
95th percentile size-wise, then let me know. Failing this, I would be keen
to hear any advice on how I go about getting one of these done and how much
it will cost me.

Exercise physiologists all will want biopsies from their lab rats...
give them an inch, and they want your tissues! Better off paying for
the test, I reckon 🙂

Contact your HMS/Kinesiology/Phys Ed/Sport Sci/Exercise Sci department
at your local uni and ask when students are getting assessed or
instructed on lab testing, particularly VO2 max. The downside is that
while the students are supervised, they're not yet fully qualified. But
it's okay for a general idea.

Carl, how does your doc do the lactate testing?

Tam

Michael Warner said:

DeF said:

I tried out for a cycling exercise physiology
research program last week which involved doing
a VO2Max test (among a couple of other things).
It turned out I'm too old, fat and slow to be a
research subject but it was interesting anyway.

You're lucky. Those accepted probably have to eat
nothing but potatoes and remain celibate for 3 months :-)

Well, I was reading through what the actual trial
entailed and it was pretty full on. 30km TTs, more
time and effort on stationary bike....then there's
the rectal thermometer. The whole trial is over several
months I think.

My guess is that they took one look at me and worked out
that I wasn't going to make the grade before I'd even
started but were too polite to tell me!

Still, I tried a breakaway in a B-grade crit last Sunday
and stayed away for about 4 laps.

DeF.

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DeF said:

Michael Warner said:

DeF said:

I tried out for a cycling exercise physiology
research program last week which involved doing
a VO2Max test (among a couple of other things).
It turned out I'm too old, fat and slow to be a
research subject but it was interesting anyway.

You're lucky. Those accepted probably have to eat
nothing but potatoes and remain celibate for 3 months :-)

Well, I was reading through what the actual trial
entailed and it was pretty full on. 30km TTs, more
time and effort on stationary bike....then there's
the rectal thermometer. The whole trial is over several
months I think.

My guess is that they took one look at me and worked out
that I wasn't going to make the grade before I'd even
started but were too polite to tell me!

Still, I tried a breakaway in a B-grade crit last Sunday
and stayed away for about 4 laps.

DeF.

You were just doing it for the rectal thermometer, weren't ya :P

(_!_) hahahaha

Tam

Tamyka Bell said:

Carl, how does your doc do the lactate testing?

Fingertip [censored], and a tester very similar to a diabetic BSL meter

Tamyka Bell said:

DeF said:

Michael Warner said:

On Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:23:21 +0800, DeF wrote:

> I tried out for a cycling exercise physiology
> research program last week which involved doing
> a VO2Max test (among a couple of other things).
> It turned out I'm too old, fat and slow to be a
> research subject but it was interesting anyway.
You're lucky. Those accepted probably have to eat
nothing but potatoes and remain celibate for 3 months :-)

Well, I was reading through what the actual trial
entailed and it was pretty full on. 30km TTs, more
time and effort on stationary bike....then there's
the rectal thermometer. The whole trial is over several
months I think.

My guess is that they took one look at me and worked out
that I wasn't going to make the grade before I'd even
started but were too polite to tell me!

Still, I tried a breakaway in a B-grade crit last Sunday
and stayed away for about 4 laps.

DeF.

You were just doing it for the rectal thermometer, weren't ya :P

(_!_) hahahaha

Tam

<kenneth williams>
Ooooh, Matron!
</kenneth williams>

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Bleve said:

The AIS use a 5 minute interval, I think? Byron will know, he did one
recently.

Correct. That is the new protocol at the AIS (apparently). 5 minute ramps starting from 100 watts.

hard work....

DeF said:

I tried out for a cycling exercise physiology
research program last week which involved doing
a VO2Max test (among a couple of other things).
It turned out I'm too old, fat and slow to be a
research subject but it was interesting anyway.

For the VO2Max test I was put on a stationary
bike where the resistance could be controlled.
It started at 100W then went up by 50W every
5 minutes. I made it through 5 minutes at
350W but fell apart not long into the 400W
interval.

It was interesting to be hooked up to all the
equipment and watch what was happening. My
heart rate hit 176bpm near the end and my
cadence sat around 92rpm until the last jump
in power.

I've now got 4 zones with HR boundaries that
can apparently be used to training purposes.
Have to work that bit out yet.

DeF.

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To reply, you'll have to remove finger.

You didn't tell us your VO2 max! By the way, maintaining 350W for 5min puts you well above the average punter.
I didn't say this, but one way to have one done would be to see a respiratory physician at a large hospital and claim to be unusually short of breath when cycling up hills....Technically true for all, I imagine 🙂 .

In article <[email hidden]>,
DeF <[email hidden]> wrote:

(snip)>

Quoted message said:

I've now got 4 zones with HR boundaries that
can apparently be used to training purposes.
Have to work that bit out yet.

DeF.

Read this:
<http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/power1>
and
<http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/power2>

They have more zones but Bicycling magazines 'Complete Book of
Long-Distance Cycling' uses only four zones:
Zone 1 - <65% of max HR (recovery, use fat stores)
Zone 2 - 65% - 84% of max HR (build aerobic endurance)
Zone 3 - 85% - 94% of max HR (to reach lactate threshold), and
Zone 4 - >94% of max HR (develop anaerobic system for short bursts)

regards,
Darryl

artemidorus said:

DeF said:

SOME STUFF

DeF.

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You didn't tell us your VO2 max! By the way, maintaining 350W for 5min
puts you well above the average punter.
I didn't say this, but one way to have one done would be to see a
respiratory physician at a large hospital and claim to be unusually
short of breath when cycling up hills....Technically true for all, I
imagine 🙂 .

Relative VO2Max 51.5 ml/kg/min
Absolute " 5.02 l/min

Absolute number isn't too bad - the low Relative figure
is because, I think, I'm overweight. 350W for 5 minutes was
bloody hard. I was surprised how steeply the perceived
effort went up from the jump from 300 to 350. The clock
seemed to slow down terribly for that last 5 minutes.

DeF.

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darryl said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
DeF <[email hidden]> wrote:

(snip)>

Quoted message said:

I've now got 4 zones with HR boundaries that
can apparently be used to training purposes.
Have to work that bit out yet.

DeF.

Read this:
<http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/power1>
and
<http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/power2>

They have more zones but Bicycling magazines 'Complete Book of
Long-Distance Cycling' uses only four zones:
Zone 1 - <65% of max HR (recovery, use fat stores)
Zone 2 - 65% - 84% of max HR (build aerobic endurance)
Zone 3 - 85% - 94% of max HR (to reach lactate threshold), and
Zone 4 - >94% of max HR (develop anaerobic system for short bursts)

Those zones are quite similar to the CA coaching guideline zones.

They're all doing roughly the same thing.

DeF said:

Relative VO2Max 51.5 ml/kg/min
Absolute " 5.02 l/min

Absolute number isn't too bad - the low Relative figure
is because, I think, I'm overweight. 350W for 5 minutes was
bloody hard. I was surprised how steeply the perceived
effort went up from the jump from 300 to 350. The clock
seemed to slow down terribly for that last 5 minutes.

What grade are you riding? And with what sort of success?

"darryl" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
DeF <[email hidden]> wrote:

(snip)>

Quoted message said:

I've now got 4 zones with HR boundaries that
can apparently be used to training purposes.
Have to work that bit out yet.

DeF.

Read this:
<http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/power1>
and
<http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/power2>

They have more zones but Bicycling magazines 'Complete Book of
Long-Distance Cycling' uses only four zones:
Zone 1 - <65% of max HR (recovery, use fat stores)
Zone 2 - 65% - 84% of max HR (build aerobic endurance)
Zone 3 - 85% - 94% of max HR (to reach lactate threshold), and
Zone 4 - >94% of max HR (develop anaerobic system for short bursts)

regards,
Darryl

Do you still burn fat as effectively in zone 2 or do you wind up using more
glycolysis than lipolysis? I don't have a biology background at all, so
layman answers would be nice *grin*