LT Field Test??

[CR]

I'm using a coach this year for the upcoming race season. I've been riding for about 6 years now but just recently got a taste of racing (Road races and Crits)

I started winter base training back in November and have just now started to add some moderate intensity, tempo and strength stuff. I was curious to hear what some of you thought about this particular field test to determine LT. Here are the results of my first two field tests on my bike. If you have any observations or feedback, please feel free to chime in. My first one was just that, the first one ever. I thought the second was better because I knew what to expect. Just looking for some wisdom cause there's alot of it here!

The test consists of the following. 45 min warm-up (open up all systems) followed by a 30 min time trial (ie sufferfest). Start HR monitor 10 minutes into the TT then take the Average HR for last 20 minutes. Is this a pretty accurate test for Lactate Threshold and how does that translate to performance? Teach me please.

1st test Oct 07- Ave HR-172, Max HR 181
2nd test January 08-Ave HR-175, MaxHR 179

[wh8sox]

This may help--I used it recently in a class--

http://www.innercycling.com/f/showthread.php?t=6503&highlight=lactate+threshold

The protocol you describe is pretty common for field testing. I am by no means an expert but it looks like your threshold increased a bit, tho i would guess that the increase is within the error of the test.

[Todd S]

I'm using a coach this year for the upcoming race season. I've been riding for about 6 years now but just recently got a taste of racing (Road races and Crits)

I started winter base training back in November and have just now started to add some moderate intensity, tempo and strength stuff. I was curious to hear what some of you thought about this particular field test to determine LT. Here are the results of my first two field tests on my bike. If you have any observations or feedback, please feel free to chime in. My first one was just that, the first one ever. I thought the second was better because I knew what to expect. Just looking for some wisdom cause there's alot of it here!

The test consists of the following. 45 min warm-up (open up all systems) followed by a 30 min time trial (ie sufferfest). Start HR monitor 10 minutes into the TT then take the Average HR for last 20 minutes. Is this a pretty accurate test for Lactate Threshold and how does that translate to performance? Teach me please.

1st test Oct 07- Ave HR-172, Max HR 181
2nd test January 08-Ave HR-175, MaxHR 179

First off, if you're paying good money to a coach he/she should be the one explaining why this test was prescribed and how its results should be used.

Second, your test does not include any objective performance measure. Therefore, it says nothing about performance and can only be used to establish target training intensities.

Good luck with your training.