VO2 is a measure of the efficiency of your lungs. It's largely a genetic thing. My heart rate monitor does a test that estimates it. Mine has only gone up four points in 2.5 years. I know my heart rate monitor uses it to calculate the calories it believes I'm expending.

In spin classes I tend to keep my heart rate very high (85 - 90%) during intervals and I only let it drop to about 75% during the soft pedals. My heart rate drops very quickly so I keep an eye on it. It's really funny to look at my workouts on the tandem. On the downhills my heart rate drops way down because all I have to do is tuck down behind Thom and not move.

Anyway the monitor somehow uses the VO2 measure and the heart beat to calculate calories. I want to get it to be more accurate. And I just like to know the numbers.


Veronica