Bicycling

The Importance of Physiological Testing

by Bruce Hendler - AthletiCamps

To improve your fitness, testing is important, but it's only the first step.

We all want to improve on the bike. We want to climb hills faster, possess more explosive power, and have cunning tactical sense. We want our training programs to show results and get some type of confirmation that all our hard work has paid off. Physiological testing establishes the benchmark to improve these aspects of your cycling, but it's important to remember that it is only the beginning.

When you think about it, testing is just now becoming popular and readily available to all levels of riders. It used to be reserved for only the elite, but now, testing labs and coaches alike are performing some type of test on their athletes. So why is it so important?

First and foremost, testing gives you a benchmark or current "picture" of your fitness level in a controlled lab environment. In the lab there are no wind conditions, there is no heat or cold to deal with, and it is much easier to control the environment in order to produce results that can be consistently (that's the important word) compared. Of course, the athlete may differ from test to test, as in lack of sleep, sickness, over-training etc, but again, being in a controlled environment takes away a lot of the other variables.

The old training formulas from the 70's like determining max heart rate as "220 minus age" and then using that as a basis for training zones (70%, 80%, etc) are just not accurate. They don't take into account the most important aspect of any training program - YOU! Everyone is different, everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and the most accurate way to determine what's best for you is do testing.

What are the important benchmarks? There are literally hundreds of parameters that can be derived from a variety of tests, but we really don't want to be bombarded with a bunch of numbers that confuse us more than help us. We want simple, easy to use data without feeling the need to be a "Doctor of Sports Physiology" to understand the results. The important tests:

-Training zones by heart rate, representing specific area of fitness to work on.
-Power measured in watts at your anaerobic threshold (AT)
- This is a key indicator of what a cyclist wants to improve.
-Power measured in watts at your maximum power.
-Power per kilo of body weight measured both at your AT and maximum

Knowing these numbers and owning a heart rate monitor or some type of power-measuring device will give you the ability to set goals for improvement and monitor progress.

This is only the beginning of a successful training program. Most people leave the tests with these numbers, but don't know how to apply them. That is where a good training program comes into play that takes into account your strengths, weaknesses, and goals. A good training program also discusses the mental approach of the sport where you determine what motivates you as well as good tactical sense. Having all the strength in the world, with out knowing how and when to apply it can be quite frustrating. Or more common to most athletes is not being the strongest rider and needing good tactical sense and a strong mental attitude to achieve your goals.

So in summary, getting testing done is an important first step to any successful training program, no matter what your goals are. Then taking the results, receiving good sound coaching advise based on the results and combining that with all the other "little" things, like nutrition, tactics and mental preparation will be the basis for realizing your goals in the great sport of cycling.

Excerpt from the AthletiCamps newsletter.

Featured Ride - Amador County, La Tuscana Della California

With endless back roads that lead all the way to Lake Tahoe, Amador County offers some of the most spectacular riding in Northern California. Add to that, incredible scenery and a California wine region few know about, it is no coincidence that Amador County is known as the "La Tuscana della California" - The Tuscany of California. There are so many great rides to challenge every level of cyclist. My favorite begins in the old mining town of Ione (http://www.ione- ca.com/history/index.html).

The great thing about starting in Ione is that the terrain is dead flat and gives you amble time to warm up before the rolling hills lead to more impressive climbs deep within the region. Heading west out of town, you immediately get a taste of how great the area is for group rides, as there is little traffic and perfectly smooth roads. Turn onto Irish Hill road and you begin the slow accent to the ultimate prize - riding through the vineyards. The first "major" town you pass thru after about 20 miles is Plymouth; also know as "Pokerville". I call Plymouth major; I think there are 300 residents :-) . After leaving Plymouth, the climbing begins and you get your first glimpse of the vineyards and background of the Sierras. The climbs are not long and sustained, but take on the character of the Sierra foothills, which are shorter climbs, one right after each other. The next town is Fiddletown and you have to see this place to believe it! It's one road, so don't blink. With old structures and a huge wooden "fiddle" on top of the local bar, this is Amador County at its best. During Transition camp, this is where we stopped for pictures (see link in next story)! Leaving Fiddletown, you now head deep into the vineyards. As just a side note, if you continue on Fiddletown road, you go to a place called Daffodil hill and the town of Volcano, which hosts a Shakespeare festival in the summer months. Volcano is surrounded by steep wooded hills, has a historic hotel, coffee shops and has a population of 101. The next 15- 20 miles of the ride after leaving Fiddletown is spent riding thru the vineyards, and if you are in the right mood, a stop or two at the wineries, where they are always glad to serve you! You arrive back into Plymouth, by way of Shenandoah Valley road and make your way back to Ione, choosing from a variety of traffic free routes!

What a ride! 50 - 60 miles, perfect distances. Tuscany in California. It's become a tradition to take the camps to Amador on the last full day, as it is worth the short drive. It also allows us to practice group riding skills, demonstrate specific workouts and for those traveling from a long distance, provide another glimpse of this incredible area to ride a bike and train. A trip to Amador is already scheduled for the next camps! See you there!

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