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 How do you train for VO2 without a power meter?  Do I just try to push as hard as I can keeping cadence and gearing constant?

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  • Posted By John Kitchen on 17 Feb 2012 10:14 AM

     How do you train for VO2 without a power meter?  Do I just try to push as hard as I can keeping cadence and gearing constant?

     

    Our Zone 5 heart rate is the HR you use during VO2 intervals. These will be in your training plan at the appropriate time.

  • It's a bit trickier without a PM, but totally doable. When I used to do VO2 without a PM on my trainer, I would first establish a baseline VO2 effort by pegging my HR to RPE and seeing how those two match up. Since HR has a lag, this works best with intervals of say, 1-2 min. To ensure consistency, I would then peg the intervals to a specific gearing/cadence/speed on my trainer.

    The important thing is not to overcook yourself on the intervals. Pushing as hard as you can will inevitably lead to burning out before your set of intervals are done (i.e. lower wattages for each interval), and you'll end up digging yourself in a hole of fatigue for downstream workouts. I find it's easy to accidentally overachieve on the first one or two intervals, so I try to err a hair of the conservative side when pounding through those.
  • Agree w/ Anson. My HR lags a good bit and 30/30's or even 1' on/off isn't enough to get hy HR to Z5. I'd suggest longer intervals like 2' or 2.5' or else be conservative enough not to crack on the last few if you chose shorter. May take some trial and error on your part.

  • Because of the HR lag mentioned below, another good way to work Vo2 intervals without the Power meter is to note your gear/cadence for Zone 4 and drop that gear two togs down for V02.  Turn the same cadence and you should be close to 120% given the same tension...............

    Hope that helps.  Welcome to bike hell and getting faster.....

    SS

  • Thanks guys appreciate the advice
  • And of course, check out trainerroad.com....
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