Shesha

Find "Fitness Test" on your menu, and then after lying stil for a while and you are feeling realxed and quiet, press start test and stay still until it beeps and then it's over. You then get a reading on the monitor

From the site (but i agree, if you aren't testing power not sure how correct it is) But see below, they seem to have done some research The Polar Fitness Test is based on Resting heart rate Heart rate variability Gender Age Height Body weight Self-assessment of the level of long-term physical activity (last 6 months) Validity of a test means that the test measures what it is supposed to measure and not something else. The Polar Fitness Test was originally developed on 305 healthy Finnish men and women in a study, where VO2max prediction was developed using artificial neural network analysis. The correlation coefficient between the laboratory measured VO2max and the neural network prediction value was 0.97 and the mean error in the VO2max prediction was 6.5 % which is good compared to any other predictive tests of VO2max. In further development of the test, 119 fitness measurements of healthy American men and women were included in the final development of the neural network, making a total of 424 subjects. Based on these results the artificial neural network was modified into Polar Fitness Test. The test was validated in a study on 52 healthy men, who didn't belong to the group on whom the test was developed. The mean deviation in the Polar Fitness Test prediction was less than 12 %. The validity of the Polar Fitness Test is considered to be good. The reliability of a test is a measure of how consistent and reproducible the test results are on consecutive trials. The reliability of the Polar Fitness Test is good. When 11 subjects repeated the test in the morning, in the middle of the day and in the evening during eight days, in both sitting and laying positions, the average individual standard deviation of consecutive test results was less than 8 % from the individual mean value. The standard deviations calculated separately for each time of the day were all smaller than the standard deviation of all results. This indicates that the test can be conducted at any time of the day but it should always be repeated at about the same time.

Have any of you done the Polar Own Index fitness test, where it gives you a fitness number between 29 and 90? It looks like it's quite closely correlated to VO2Max? What do you all think? Mine was 61, which is apparently elite level of fitness (with 90 being the pros) hmmmmmm, very happy if this is the case. Check this out vs population stats...interested to klnow your thoughts: http://support.polar.fi/PKBSupport.nsf/42256c2b001e0f6ac22567dc00542fc4/42256c2b001e0f6a4225681f005e304d?OpenDocument Shesha2007-04-18 03:52:28

Thanks Gumpole... m not really that concerned about the resale value...more a matter of my personal satisfaction. Thanks

Hi - more deliberations on my new acquisition. I have pretty much decided on a Giant composite frame - I can get the TCR C1 composite with a full Ultegra group set; FSA carbon cranks; Ksyrium Elite(?) wheels all for a good price. My issue is that I really don't like the colour combo of the TCR1 frame - must prefer the TCR C2 frame. The bike shop is happy to put the TCR C1 parts on the TCR C2 frame. The primary difference between the frames other than the colour is the carbon steerer - TCR C2 has aluminium shaft. Am I being overly fussy about colour in slightly downgrading my frame and will this diminsh future resale value due to the C1/C2 frame/parts combo? Shesha38922.4985185185

Thanks N.O.K....i completely agree, but thought i was being stupid.... Can you still get hold of the black one with the carbon weave....apparently there aren't any in Mediums in CT.

I'm in the throes of purchasing a new bike...the choice at the mo is between the Giant TCR 1 (carbon w Ultegra) or the Scott CR1 pro. I'm leaning towards the Giant....but then i have a really stupid girly reason for hessitating...i don't like the colour. This is the one i can get...am i being really stupid here? Does colour ever make a difference.... uploads/Shesha/images/2006-07-20_170801_Giant_TCR_1_blue.JPG

Thanks Swiss Van...i have been hunting high and low for reviews...and they're all in German! Anyway, apparently they are only distributing in the greater Cape initially and then broader SA...so we will see. Perhaps i'll be one of the first

Has anyone riden/reviewed/ heard of the Stevens road bikes. I know the mtn bikes are apparently quite good, but I'm interested in finding out about the SCF2 carbon Road bike.....how do they rate vs the Giant TCR carbon? Full carbon, Ultegra 10spd. I saw them retailing at Bowmans http://www.stevensbikes.de/2006/index.php?bik_id=10&lang =en_US&sect=equipment#info uploads/Shesha/images/2006-07-13_143454_Stevens.jpg

http://images.google.co.za/imagesq=tbn:PTb9-KaAc6sW5M:www.bromleybike.co.uk/ishop/images/399/saddle_jet_wmn_lg.jpg I used the specialized Jet Gel!!!!! It's awesome!

Very true Bertus...but the idea of sitting in traffic after work to get to the forrest...4 days a week is not fun. Wil leave the outdoors for clear days and think I'll do the indoor thing when it's dark outside

Hi all, With winter steadily looming, i have been convinced to invest in an indoor trainer. I am looking at the Tacx roller T1025 (80ml diametre rollers/adjustable and fold-up) 2 Questions though: 1) Are the rollers the best for indoor training? I hear they don't give enough resistance and are thus just good for warming up and not training. whats the verdict? 2) Is the Tacx T1025 a good choice? Any advice appreciated

Mycota...that's really interesting. Think i may give it a shot...but man, the stench may get to me smileys/smiley9.gif And the hunt for Dr Bloom continues smileys/smiley2.gif

I've heard they happen to the best of us...saddle sores that is...so what's the magic formula. Someone once told me about a nasty sounding vaseline adn bnetadine mixture to prevent/heal them...what do you use?