Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) – £65

VO2 Max Bike Test – £90

VO2 Max Run Test – £90

1 VO2 Max Test + 1 RMR Test – £120

VO2 Max Bike + VO2 Max Run + RMR Test – £170

In short, no, a test is the first step towards getting ‘fitter.’ Whether you are a lifetime athlete or sedentary the test can provide valuable insights into your fitness capabilities. You’ll find out your current fitness levels but more importantly highlight what types of exercise and what intensity will get you the best results. We recommend testing when starting a training program and then retesting every 10-16 weeks to track progress and update your training intensity targets.

• The test will be performed on a bike (wattbike or your own) or treadmill.
• You will be hooked up to our equipment via a mask and heart rate monitor.
• The intensity will increase at 1-2 minute intervals. The time on the bike is up to you, we want you to keep going until you have reached maximum effort. Tests usually last between 7-10 minutes. Times will vary depending on fitness levels.
• Once you cannot go any longer we will do a 2 min recovery while you stay hooked up to the equipment

To finish, we will go through your results.

It sounds hard, which it is, but only for a short period, you will feel fine within minutes of finishing test

With our test protocol we do not take bloods to test lactate threshold. The lactate threshold or anaerobic threshold is the same as the ventilatory threshold II which we can see clearly on your ventilation graph. This is also roughly the same as the functional threshold. Other terms, like the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) and maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) are essentially the same as the anaerobic threshold.

A large proportion of athletes are training inefficiently without any knowledge of which specific heart rate, intensity or duration is needed to reach their goals. A VO2 max test will produce specific heart rate zones (for running) and power zones (for cycling). These will enable training plans to be manipulated producing a much more efficient training plan for greater results

By finding out your accurate Aerobic Threshold (AeT) and Anaerobic Threshold (AT) we can create the perfect training intensity zones. We can tell you how ‘hard’ aerobic endurance, tempo, threshold and aerobic capacity training should be based on your physiology.

Our test protocol highlights where different training zone boundaries lie from changes in your oxygen uptake during the test. We’ll be able to pinpoint your aerobic and anaerobic threshold heart rates and build your unique training zones from these figures. We’ve proven time and time again that field tests and other more basic methods of creating training zones can be wildly inaccurate resulting in poor quality training. 

Yes, if you train at the correct mixture of intensities you can improve your VO2 Max score. Not only does a good VO2 Max score improve your performance but it is also a good indicator of overall cardiovascular health. You can also change your anaerobic threshold based on the type of training you are doing and perhaps where in your training cycle you might be.

Yes. In most cases a run test will yield a higher VO2 Max score. Running uses more muscles than cycling therefore more oxygen is required and delivered to these working muscles. The same athlete can usually reach a higher peak heart rate running than they can cycling. Anaerobic and aerobic threshold heart rate will also be different for cycling & running therefore creating two sets of training intensity zones to work with.

The anaerobic threshold is the exercise intensity at which lactic acid accumulates faster within the body than it can be removed. With the correct training, over time, you can raise the intensity at which this happens and also become able to maintain this intensity for longer. A highly desirable training outcome for performance in endurance sports.

Yes, some Garmins and other sports watches can estimate VO2 Max using wrist sensors or chest straps however, the accuracy of this data varies hugely. These tests also only provide you with a VO2 Max score which on its own is largely unusable.

Yes, VO2 Max is unique to each individual and is correlated to height and weight amongst other factors such as where in the world you live.