What to expect in a VO2 Max Test

VO2 max, or maximal oxygen consumption, refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. This measurement is generally considered the best indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. The more oxygen a person can breath in and pump to the muscles during high level exercise, the more energy a person can produce. This test is the gold standard for determining cardio-respiratory fitness because the muscles need oxygen for prolonged aerobic exercise, and the heart and lungs must supply that by pumping adequate amounts of blood through the circulation to meet the demands of aerobic exercise at the working muscle.

The test will start with you filling out a form to let us know a little more about you, this information includes DOB Height and Weight information as well as your basic details. Once you have completed a waiver you will then proceed into the testing. We have changing facilities in our studio so please take cycling kit or sports short and T-shirt, cycling shoes are preferred but trainers are also great, contact lenses are also preferred if you wear glasses as glasses don’t work with the mask that we use to complete the testing. Before you go on the bike we take a resting Hr, SpO2 measurement along with some baseline Spirometry to make sure you are fit to begin the process. The test can be taken part on your own bike or our Stages SB20 smart bike. During a test with us you will start with a 10 to 15 minute warm up which serves as a way for us to get you used to the bike, set up a good position for you to complete the test in and to allow your body to prepare for more intense exercise. The warm up also acts as a means of us determining your fitness level so we can make the ramp test more specific to you.

After the ramp we will take you through the results of your test and show you what they mean along with coming up with suggestions of what you can do to improve your fitness.