vo2 max potential

[gnat23]

Also in reading, I found that a person can improve their vo2 max w/training... BUT, only to a certain point.

It's just one piece of the puzzle tho.

To use myself as an example, I have a freakishly high VO2 max (52 ml/kg/min). The chart they gave me said that was an "OLYMPIC" level. Well, Olympiad I ain't. And it's not going to help me to raise it.*

Just because I can intake oxygen like a double-gilled whale doesn't mean that my lactate threshhold is any good, nor my type I/type II muscle ratio is optimal for my sport, or that my power-to-weight is, uh, (ice cream? what ice cream?) or that I just don't feel like going fast today.

-- gnat!

* OK, it might, but it's not what's limiting me from going faster!

[gnat23]

This has a bunch of answers too:
http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/VO2max.html

-- gnat!

[Eden]

It's just one piece of the puzzle tho.

To use myself as an example, I have a freakishly high VO2 max (52 ml/kg/min). The chart they gave me said that was an "OLYMPIC" level. Well, Olympiad I ain't.

Mine is 72 ml/kg/min...... but I'm still a lowly cat 3 and not going upwards all that quickly..... (sheesh this year I feel like I'm sliding back). It is a *small* part of the puzzle - honestly I wonder if being little and having a small lung capacity has pushed my body to more efficiently use the air I take in because I need to make the best use of every drop and its not a particular advantage at all........In any case, I don't have even a fraction of the power to back the vo2 with to be a top caliber rider.

[Miranda]

Thx for those additional replies. And link. I'll check it out.

This is interesting discussion from you gals who have a high vo2 max. Hmmm...