VO2 Max Test

[Catrin]

...
Catrin, have "fun" - hope the information you get is as useful as you're going for. Are you doing it on the step-up box or on the stationary bike?

On the spin bike, one that I can clip into so I don't have to worry about my feet flying off

[Crankin]

I will be interested to see your results. I stopped using my HR monitor years ago, as it just told me what I already knew; like Catrin and Veronica, my HR goes really high when I am working hard, but it always has. At my age, I think my "working" zone is supposed to be some ridiculously low number around 140 or even 135. I know that is not accurate for me. I also have a low resting HR when I wake up. Not 45 (although when I practice yoga it does go down to that), but around 55. I know that if it's above 60 before I get out of bed, I am getting sick or over training, or not had enough sleep. I got tired people of telling me my HR was too high, so now I just use RPE. I rarely have had that "gonna puke" feeling when riding; once on the 10 mile climb in Spain (Cat 2 climb in the Vuelta) and once on Monterrey Rd. out in the Berkshires. And like Oak, my peak flow, even when healthy is ridiculously low.

[Wahine]

I've done VO2 max testing at least 4 different times and I'd have to say that it's always been enlightening. Though once I got used to using my HR zones from the VO2 max testing in conjunction with my HRM, I got a good sense of where my zones are by feel and now I rely on my perceived exertion more than an HRM. Getting the VO2 max done and using that data with the HRM was key for learning that skill.

[Catrin]

I had the Vo2 Max test this morning and it was certainly challenging to say the least! I am VERY glad that I went the spinning bike route rather than the treadmill. It wasn't until about 6 minutes into the test that I actually started feeling anything, but things certain changed! My "score" was 34.7, the high end of "excellent" for my age group. Very interesting, and I found that I cross the anaerobic threashold earlier than I thought.