CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport

Sport Medicine in Edinburgh?

(11 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Smudge
  • Latest reply from CocoShepherd

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  1. Smudge
    Member

    Just wondering... During yesterdays audax I hit a max HR of 189 (which I reckon is close to my actual maximum if not there) and my average over the whole run was 163bpm.
    Now that seems a little high to me for a 5 or 6 hour session(?), my resting hr has come down since I started cycling to around 63ish (42yr old bloke) but whenever I hit a hill it seems to jump to 170 or higher?

    So I thought it might be worthwhile, if there is anywhere in Central Scotland who offer the service, to maybe get a proper fitness assessment, you know the sort of thing, where they sick you on a bike and work out your VO2 etc.

    Anyone had one? Know of such a place? Got opinions...?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. TwoWheels
    Member

    The 220-age calculation is a bit of a canard. Maximum heart rate can vary considerably. It is to a great degree genetically determined.

    You can measure your MHR fairly accurately. Warm up thoroughly (maybe 15 minutes on the flats). On a long, steady hill (doesn't have to be steep)increase effort every minute for at least 5 minutes until you can't go any faster (sitting, not standing). Then sprint for 15 seconds (it is OK to stand at this point). Stop, get off the bike (this is for safety reasons - not mandatory) and immediately check your heart rate, which should now be at its maximum. Count the number of beats for a full 30 seconds - then double that number (the doubled number should be the same as the maximum in the previous sentence). This will give you a practical maximum heart rate in beats per minute.

    MHR is a readily-available substitute for VO2max, the thing that made Lance Whatshisface famous (before Cheryl Crow, that is).

    As a general rule of thumb, as you get fitter, you will produce more power, or more power over time, at the same HR. All things being equal, which they rarely are.

    To assess whether you are overtraining, measure your resting HR every morning, first thing when you wake up, before anything else. If you see that resting HR pop up 10 points, you are overtraining or sick.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. Smudge
    Member

    Yup the 189 figure was the ma recorded by my computer, no doubt after the long near max effort gring up to Redstone Rigg then the effort at the bottom (before I got off and walked lol).
    I suspect I would get a very similar figure on the max effort test you describe (will have to get the turbo back out and give it a try sometime soon).

    I had a bit of a 'Doh moment last night, I realised I have access to (in no particualar order) a bike, an HRM, a turbo trainer, and a rebreather (which of course has O2 measurement), combine the two with a bit of sweat and pain (and a friend to observe & provide safety cover, never play with rebreathers alone kids!) and I can measure my peak VO2...

    Just leaves all the other measurements to get, oh and the knowledge to use the information! (Wonder if I can tap my paramedic friend for the loan of a proper ecg for an afternoon, hmmmmmmm)

    Heard of Lance, but Cheryl Crow? Didn't know she raced? Fortunately I know as much about celebrity gossip as I do soap operas... nuffink ;-)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. TwoWheels
    Member

    "Heard of Lance, but Cheryl Crow? Didn't know she raced?"

    American singer/songwriter. Great smile. Great gams. Former Whatshisface girlfriend.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. DaveC
    Member

    Sorry Smudge I can't help (I might have said Bupa once, but I think its another company now). Sorry we didn't meet up. What time did you set off? I was at 10.24hrs.

    Dave C

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. Smudge
    Member

    Hi Dave, I set off with the first group as I was unsure how long it would take me to get round, maybe see you at a future one (or at PY)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. DaveC
    Member

    I should have set off with the first group. It took me 6.30hours in all....

    Not sure I can make PY meetings as its no where on my route in and v early, if I get the train I get in at 9am.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. CycleAlex
    Member

    I’ve just come across this thread whilst looking to see if there’s anywhere local(ish) to get a VO2Max test. It looks like Napier used to offer them but don’t anymore.

    Does anyone know of anywhere else nearby? Plenty in London it seems (that can cost nearly £200!).

    Posted 6 months ago #

  9. acsimpson
    Member

    I think Edinburgh bike fitters might offer this.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  10. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Most sports watches these days measure VO2 max - if you are comfortable enough with such data being on said watch company servers.

    Enough testing on the watches now to determine they are close enough to measured tests to be considered accurate enough for trend analysis (point measure may be up or down a few points on an actual test).

    The watches do have a premium, but you can track over time which will probably be cheaper than being tested every 6 months. Cos once you've had your test, your going to want to know if any actions you have taken have made a difference over time, which will involve retests...

    Tha said, knowing what your VO2 max is all the time has it's disadvantages, my current level makes me sad - but also aware enough that I have to try to do something about it. 'try' as in lung problems which make increasing more difficult than for normal folk.

    Posted 6 months ago #

  11. CocoShepherd
    Member

    @CycleAlex

    School of Health and Life Science at University of West of Scotland do it

    Posted 6 months ago #

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