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Coaching: Finding Your Lactate Threshold

Quarq Cinqo Installed[dc]Y[dc]ou've all heard about anaerobic threshold, lactate threshold, threshold, red line, Zone 4, “the burn” and plenty of other terms that relate to the upper limits of your aerobic engine.  But what a lot of people don't seem to understand is how to find that magical number, and what to do with it.

In this article, we'll examine the physiology behind anaerobic threshold and then you'll learn how to figure out what it is.  I'll also discuss (very briefly) how you can use it to train towards becoming a stronger cyclist.

So without further ado….

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Beginner’s Guide to Training With Power (part 2)

If you missed the first part of the Beginner's Guide to Training With Power series of articles, it would be a good idea to go back and read it.  Go ahead, I'll wait…

Done reading?  Good.  You should have a good idea about FTP, W/Kg, Training Levels/zones and more.  Now, let's take a look at some more power-based metrics, specifically power training zones.  You may recall the definition from my last article:

Power Training Levels/Zones: Along with FTP, these dictate (roughly) the energy systems used at certain power levels and allow a rider to train specific systems to get specific gains.  These may be described as “zones” or “levels” interchangeably.

We'll discuss what each zone is, what energy systems it uses and how long it is sustainable below:

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Beginner’s Guide to Training With Power (part 1)

Training with power is consistently hailed as the next step for any cyclist who is looking to improve their fitness.  While that's true, most cyclists who are in the market for a power meter are hesitant to purchase one.  The biggest reason I've run into is hesitation on how to actually utilize such an instrument.

But why?

A power meter is wonderful and spits out bucket loads of data, but the one thing that it won't do is make you faster.  It will, with some practice and some simple analysis allow you to train to become faster.  In this series of articles, we'll look at a few of the basics that beginning power meter users need in order to train smarter.

Click through for some definitions you'll need to know when you start training with power:

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Garmin Vector: 2013???

Garmin Vaporware finally condensing?

Vector System

From Garmin's German website, it appears like the Vector pedal based power meter, which had been grossly delayed several times, may finally see the light of day.  While the price has yet to be released, it will likely stay at the $1500 mark as had been reported earlier.

The biggest problem with the Vector is that it has been delayed on numerous occasions.  Looking at the screen grab from the German version of Garmin's website, you'll see in bright red print, January 2013.

German Garmin SiteThis is probably good news for those who are still interested, but I can't help thinking the release of the new Red Quarq (and subsequent dropping of the Cinqo Saturn prices) along with the lighter, smaller Powertap G3 have severely cut into the market for the Vector.  On top of those releases, the Polar Power Pedals and Power2Max crank based units are starting to become more widely available, further shrinking Garmin's market share before they even have a product on the shelves.

Honestly, if you're in the market for a power meter, don't waste your time on the Vector.  It's already been delayed several times for what has been described as “significant problems.”  First adopters will have to deal with those bugs and issues, and the last thing anyone wants is a buggy power meter.

Get yourself a Quarq, SRM or Powertap and enjoy it.  You'll be glad you did.

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