Xert Breakthrough With Physiological Metrics
Xert Is On Board With Some Serious Physiological Observations
My Client, Dusty, achieved an Xert Breakthrough while I observed his Physiological Metrics. This is Part 2 of what will now be a 3-part series of videos. In Part 1, I described the physiological phenomena behind a good warmup. Today, we’re going to show how Xert MPA metrics correlate with physiological phenomena.
The protocol are my favorite Billat 30-30’s. This means a cyclist pedals for 30 seconds of intensity, followed by 30 seconds of recovery. After five to ten intervals above Threshold Power, the cyclist then begins to pedal at intensities above the 3 Minute Mean Max Power.
THE CLIENT
Dusty came into the office with an Xert Fitness Signature of 306 Watts at Threshold, 21.4 KiloJoules of High Intensity Energy (HIE) available, and a Peak Power of 854 Watts. The goal was to attempt an Xert breakthrough, while using a Moxy Monitor and a Vo2 Master, to observe his physiological markers under intensity. I’ll explain what these numbers mean in Part 3.
Dusty is 44 years old, has been back on the bike for about a year, but has no long-term history of fitness or exercise. The bike was borrowed – he did not have a power meter for a road bike at that time. He has been training via Peloton bike and classes, roughly 5 hours per week. His goal is to be a competent coach to his son and friends in their High School Mountain Bike League. He has a power meter for a mountain bike, and a modern Garmin. At the time of the test, he had been using Xert for about 6 weeks. We had some data, but we needed to get a proper assessment.
XERT BREAKTHROUGH WITH BILLAT 30-30’s
Dr. Veronique Billat remains one of my favorite Exercise Scientists. She is the author of vVo2max exercise studies, and I translated those values over to wattage at Vo2max efforts, beginning in 2001. They are the cornerstone of any Alpine Mountain Bike athlete. While Dr. Billat uses 6MMP values, Xert uses 3MMP values to get cyclists to work harder. This is my own interpretation of “Polarized” training. Work done above 3MMP to 5MMP is highly effective for anaerobic intensity and success, just as work performed BELOW Lower Threshold Power, is also highly effective for aerobic economy.
In Part 3, I’ll perform a review and assessment of the activity, and will reveal Dusty’s new Xert Fitness Signature.
Thanks for reading, thanks for watching, and ENJOY THE RIDE!
Xert Breakthrough With Physiological Metrics Part One – Warmup
We Use a Moxy Monitor, a Vo2 Master, PerfPro Studio, and Xert To Show a PROPER Warmup
I continue to learn something almost daily when it comes to mixing Physics and Physiology. The data that we get and use for wattage training, is almost always complemented by the information I collect from physiology. We have to look at EXTRINICS and INTRINSICS. Extrinsic information revolves around information that the bike provides; Wattage, Cadence, Speed, etc. INTRINSIC information comes from Heart Rate, Saturated Muscle Oxygen, Total Hemoglobin, Gas Exchange Analysis, and even Lacate, when I can get it.
This video is part one of a two-part program where I helped a friend determine just what his fitness signature really was. This Intro explains the metrics on the video, and the proper way to warm up the body for work. Part Two is the Billat 30-30’s that we used to actually achieve a fitness breakthrough, and set Dusty’s Fitness Signature in Xert.
Since accomplishing this test in mid-February, Dusty has improved his fitness signature even more, and he is implementing the concepts of Polarized training, for himself and his entire family.
Thanks for watching, and ENJOY THE RIDE!
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Xert FTP Tested
Xert Claims my FTP (Functional Threshold Power) Sits At 265 Watts. Is It Accurate?
I've always wondered if calculated Functional Threshold Power Values are accurate. Since 2017, however, I have relied on the Xert FTP value. For years, we relied on the "20-Minute" Test. Riders would perform a 20-Minute effort, all out, and then subtract 5% from that value. The new number was considered "Threshold". Later, physiologists looked at 90% of a 3-Minute Maximal Effort. There's the 5-1-5 test.... Step Tests (25w steps every 3 minutes)... Ramp tests (15-20w every minute)... The latest 'Testing' asks for a 20-minute, 5-minute, 1-minute, and 5-second effort.NO MORE TESTING???.
Billat 30-30’s with Xert, Vo2Master, and PerfPro
Billat 30-30’s Are a Great Way to Improve Your Ability to Suffer Under Load!
Xert has zones that flex with time spent above Threshold. When you bite into HIE, the Xert Dial responds by reducing the band of yellow or orange, and expanding the Purple arc, which is theoretically not possible to surpass. When you do, it’s a BREAKTHROUGH!
But the fascinating thing about this video is that the Vo2 values, during the effort and even into recovery, show how effective this type of workout really is; my Vo2 values stayed ABOVE 80% of Vo2max, for several minutes, and THAT is what improves HIE and “Suffer” ability. Xert properly displays this on the video in the colored arcs. Therefore, you’re looking at the PHYSICS of PHYSIOLOGY!
I use PerfPro on this type of protocol because the graph is easier to read, and it shows me values which I had turned off at the time of recording. The Xert Dial is moved over from the Xert Remote Player, which is a VERY useful tool.
Thanks for watching. Don’t forget to register for the webinar on January 30th at 1200, gmt-8, and we’ll review the 9 weeks of progression, as well as the 5MMP breakthrough effort!
ENJOY THE RIDE!!!