Vo2 Max

46 on my Garmin, but from what I read, it's probably not too accurate.

Mine says 50 but I don't pay much attention to it. Garmin uses it for the race predictor and I haven't found that to be very accurate either.

Have you done the lactate threshold test? That is more useful information if you are training for an endurance event.

Supposedly between 49 and 52. Based on race predictions, that's about right

54.6 ml/kg/min (cycling) estimated based on my 5 minute mean maximal power using equation developed by the American College of Sports Medicine. It's not really that useful since I'm in the dark as to my gross efficiency. It's probably pretty low (~22%) since my FTP (year best) is only 3.6 w/kg.

I was creeping up towards 50 on the longer DIY tests, but have probably dropped some due to training less lately.

I personally don't worry about it much, but think that even the longer tests without testing RER and lab type settings have more potential to be skewed. It seems there is controversy even in lab testing with methods, due to where to draw the line for determination of oxygen uptake being exceeded.

Is it just me or does the number of differing methods leave others wondering where to really draw the line between oxygen uptake and the possibility of anaerobic influence skewing the results? I've seen articles stating that on shorter tests, the anaerobic influence could easily be in the 10% + range, though IIRC this was based on the 1 or 2 minute output tests. It should obviously drop with test length, but I think for most even a 5 minute test has influence from the anaerobic system.


I sometimes think that the better way would be 10 minutes plus, and calculated from absolute oxygen requirement, regardless of equipment used.

Please know the anaerobic system helps a little no matter what we do....threshold does not exist in the body in a real way, researchers set a point based on lactate accumulation which is partially arbitrary. After ~45 second of all out sprinting anaerobic capacity is mostly gone, if you have a weak aerobic system your pace goes to hell...so a one minute test is not a good measure as it mostly measures anaerobic capacity (which is also a useful number) but 5/6 minutes is ~90% aerobic. You can get to VO2 max in 20 minutes if you want...Google VO2 max slow component...fascinating stuff

@jlklem

Completely understood that the anaerobic system will always come into the picture, but simple math tells me that the longer the test, the less it would have influence. And I've seen way too many peer reviewed studies questioning a number of the VO2max tests, and showing fairly large amounts of variation vs tests done in a lab setting.

I've never looked into the 5 minute tests, but find it interesting that your lab testing and field tests were so similar in results. Not that I have power meters or any watt cycle type device to do the 5 minute test on anyway, but it might be fun to do using Strava estimates to see how close it gets to other field tests.

As for the slow component stuff, it is interesting. I've done a bit of reading on it when looking into LT training and such.

I've seen that study and a number of others that question any non lab type VO2max testing, and that was the interest in @jlklem finding they almost matched with the 5 minute tests. Completely understood that virtual power is exactly that, but easy enough to toss out any weather advantages and see if it's close.

Overall though it still interests me, I've looked more at actual O2 tables vs pace, knowing that for endurance stuff that VO2max has to be at least equal to actual VO2. Nothing beats actual solid numbers.

Field test use equations to estimate VO2 max. These equations take into account for the amount the "W" added on the aerobic component (so actually measuring VO2 max). While the equations could over or under estimate W by a few percentage points as long as W is taken into account you are getting a pretty close estimate of VO2 max.

Strava power estimates would add huge error. I would not bother to field test without a power meter. A no wind hill with a steady grade would be ok....but still could be 40 watt off...

In longer tests other psychological factors come into play which is why 5-6 is good enough. We know that in general 5 minutes is 90% aerobic so most of power produced is aerobic. Take off 10% of results to account for W....you have a good estimate of VO2 max.

I have done, 5, 10, 20...all the way to 4 hour all out tests/TTs. As you increase the length other factors influence your ability to go at your max. 5 is a happy medium (and decrease misery!).

And finally, while lab tests are great, there are many factors that could influence those results.

In the end its all becomes a best guess.