tomandzoe.com - live from the northside

In 2006, Timtim had some ‘work done’ on his nose to increase his VO2max. Last week I had mine tested (my max, not my nose) by the researchers at UNSW sports physiology. They’re studying the effect of a dietary supplement on sports performance.

The ramp test basically involves riding on an Ergo trainer, harder and harder, until you nearly pass out. The task is made more difficult (if that was necessary) by having to breath through a tube, with a clamp on your nose. I thought it might be interesting to get some data on my fitness and some tips on how to make climbs like this more bearable (and get some free juice in the process).

My VO2max was around 51 ml/kg/min. This is ‘good’, but according to one chart places me in the non-athlete category. According to wikipedia:

The average young untrained male will have a VO2 max of approximately 3.5 litres/minute and 45 ml/kg/min. Conditioning may double VO2max in some individuals, and will never improve it at all in others. Three time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond is reported to have had a VO2 max of 92.5 at his peak - one of the highest ever recorded, while cross-country skier Bjørn Dæhlie measured at an astounding 96 ml/kg/min. It should also be noted that Dæhlie’s result was achieved out of season and that physiologist Erlend Hem who was responsible for the testing stated that he would not discount the possibility of the skier passing 100 ml/kg/min at his absolute peak. By comparison a competitive club athlete might achieve a VO2 max of around 70 ml/kg/min.

Today I completed my second test - lactate threshold. The lactate threshold (LT) is the exercise intensity at which lactic acid starts to accumulate in the blood stream. In theory, an individual could exercise at any intensity up to their VO2 max indefinitely. However, this is not the case even amongst elite athletes. As the exercise intensity draws closer to that at VO2 max, a sharp increase in blood lactate accumulation and subsequent fatigue occurs – the lactate threshold is broken.

The test for this is basically like a VO2 max test, but the doctors take full blood samples before and after the event, plus fingertip bloods at various intervals. I lasted 7 minutes at 90% of my max (about 319 watts). My max heart rate during the test was 180 bpm, which put me in my special place.

I’ll have to wait for the blood results, but typically, in world-class athletes, lactate threshold typically occurs at 70-80% VO2 max. In untrained individual’s it occurs much sooner, at 50-60% VO2 max.

The township of Bright is nestled in the foothills of the Victorian alps, between Mt Buffalo, Tawonga Gap, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek. In winter, the region is a skier’s playground, with the high peaks providing plenty of room for fun. But, after the snow melts, cyclists and foodies come out to play.

We’re heading there for an encore summer holiday. Last year was full of scrumping, fishing and riding up huge hills - suffering all the way. This year, we’re a lot better prepared. We’ve got: another year of riding under our collective bibs; new bikes are newly bought, cleaned and freshly lubed (or unpainted and unbuilt); and confidence from last years achievements.

As is asked daily, ‘How good is Bright gonna be?”.

Anyone will tell you, I’m bad at saving money. You see, I don’t want to miss out on any fun things and realise that you could die at any moment. I think, why bother saving when you could be having fun. Mum is the same and I have a feeling that this trait may be hereditry.

However, when push comes to shove, and you have a new bike to pay for, something has to be done. So, a few months ago, I bought a money tin (with a single slot on top and no other opening) and started a bike fund, wishfully writing, “Donate to Tom’s new bike fund” on the top.

Today I opened the tin with a can opener and banked it. The total was $1760.

Now I wish I’d used more tins. Surely 3 or 4 all in a row would mean you saved heaps more, right?

Please welcome the newest member of our family - a custom Jim Bundy road frame. Currently, it’s at Star Enamellers getting some T.L.C.

Read the rest of this entry »

In September 2005, I visited Hawaii on the way home from Alaska. I gave a lecture at the University of Hawaii, hired a vespa and rode it up to the North Shore , met some awesome locals and generally had a great time.

In June this year I applied for funding to visit Hawaii again in 2009, with the aim of further developing the links that I made with the researchers in 2005 and beginning to tackle the potential impacts of climate change on freshwater fish in the Pacific. Today I found out I was successful - thanks to the Australian Academy of Science!

Zoe and I are thinking we might be able to pay a little extra and do an around-the-world mission, including a stop-over in France for le Tour and Germany et al. to visit our brothers and sisters.