Lactate Threshold, FTP tests etc.

[cadenceblur]

Hi all

For those into the numbers and their own performance monitoring, well aware that many can’t be bothered, but those who are :

I am keen to hear anyone’s thoughts that have done formal testing done at the Sports Science Institute or any other establishment 

What battery of tests did you complete ?

What was the cost?

Did the results differ from the zones you were already working with?

Did you find it greatly beneficial 

How k@k is it ?🙈

[DieselnDust]

Not sure of the cost as donated my body to science.

Vo2max,

Lactate threshold

FTP

 

were all tested.

VO2 was higher than what my Garmin tells me

FTP was slightly lower but this is likely due to the more rigorous testing protocol and probably more realistic in terms of what I can actually sustain for an hour.

its 💩, really 💩 but worth it if you're not into all the measuring devices, data analytics. You'll have all the data you need to get your training plan off to a good start based on realistic data.

 

Did I mention its 💩 and 90min feels like a whole day?

[cadenceblur]

4 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Not sure of the cost as donated my body to science.

Vo2max,

Lactate threshold

FTP

 

were all tested.

VO2 was higher than what my Garmin tells me

FTP was slightly lower but this is likely due to the more rigorous testing protocol and probably more realistic in terms of what I can actually sustain for an hour.

its 💩, really 💩 but worth it if you're not into all the measuring devices, data analytics. You'll have all the data you need to get your training plan off to a good start based on realistic data.

 

Did I mention its 💩 and 90min feels like a whole day?

I take it you meant but worth it if you're not into all the measuring devices, data analytics

[Titleist]

I've never done it. It won't help if you don't train with a powermeter. If you do have a pm, just do the tests outdoor by yourself. The garmin VO2 estimate is close enough. 

[MongooseMan]

51 minutes ago, cadenceblur said:

Hi all

For those into the numbers and their own performance monitoring, well aware that many can’t be bothered, but those who are :

I am keen to hear anyone’s thoughts that have done formal testing done at the Sports Science Institute or any other establishment 

What battery of tests did you complete ?

What was the cost?

Did the results differ from the zones you were already working with?

Did you find it greatly beneficial 

How k@k is it ?🙈

Have also had it done at Science to Sport in Cape Town. It's only useful if you're doing proper structured training.

Think it cost R1850, but that was 2 years ago.

Here's a decent overview of the suffering, this on done at the Girona lab: 

 

[cadenceblur]

I have a PM and am well versed in structured training, I have always had an itch around the formal testing I guess.

[cadenceblur]

There is just so much data around actual LT1 and LT 2 etc. 

My detailed mind is constantly curious.

[cadenceblur]

3 minutes ago, MongooseMan said:

Have also had it done at Science to Sport in Cape Town. It's only useful if you're doing proper structured training.

Think it cost R1850, but that was 2 years ago.

Here's a decent overview of the suffering, this on done at the Girona lab: 

 

I think I may have watched this - will have another look, thanks for sharing

[Jbr]

Ftp was spot on what I was training at, VO2 was higher than I thought it would be, but I think not far off what my garmin said at the time (not entirely sure I’ve been on wahoo for a long time since), and the lactate stuff I had no idea so can’t tell.

All in all for a guy that likes to geek about that sort of stuff I thought it was interesting and got some insights from it although it can also provide more ideas to be a little too much in your head instead of just stomping.

[DieselnDust]

2 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

There is just so much data around actual LT1 and LT 2 etc. 

My detailed mind is constantly curious.

Its worth it even if you only train on HR

[babse]

6 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

Its worth it even if you only train on HR

For sure! Trained for about 8 months on HR only after a ramp test some years back...

[Ryinc]

Ask yourself this - have you ever regretted spending money on something like this which is an experience you are curious about.

My guess from your posts above is this will probably be "no" so I think you should just do it. Its less about whether it is "useful" and more about whether you will enjoy going through it.

[SwissVan]

18 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

There is just so much data around actual LT1 and LT 2 etc. 

My detailed mind is constantly curious.

You have to try it at least once in life 🤣  and make sure you have someone on hand who will push you to your limits, when you think you have reached the limit you can still do another extra few % more and that’s were the someone else comes in handy…

[cadenceblur]

22 minutes ago, SwissVan said:

You have to try it at least once in life 🤣  and make sure you have someone on hand who will push you to your limits, when you think you have reached the limit you can still do another extra few % more and that’s were the someone else comes in handy…

Yeah. I believe they are on hand to push you as opposed to usual FTP tests where it’s just you and the pain !

[betaboy]

Just a heads up, Pogi leads the stats. Save your bucks and surrender while you can…😝

[Gerlach]

I did mine years, and like @DieselnDust mentioned,  just keep the drum close by if you want to 🤮🤢 because you will see some flashing star lights. 

We got a saying, "data is king". There was actually a post of a video where they did a test between your hand hold devices testing like a garmin and a real lab test with Vo2 and the Garmin was a bit out., and that bit that is out, can be a big difference in the correct patton of your training and performance.  

I will go do mine again when I'm back in my top performance because i did mine in 2014