[fitzlcsaba]

Hi,

Due to an injury (heel spur) I can’t run now, but can ride a bike (which I normally don’t do). How can I do an AeT/AnT test on bike (indoor)? The same HR drift test can be used for AeT?

Thanks,

Csaba

[Bjorn]

There might be different opinions on this, but as I understand the top coaches in the cycling world, the HR should be stable in cycling zone 2, ie no drift, or very little drift. Partly because rides are usually longer than runs, but there are also different loading of the muscles in cycling. If you are not a trained cyclist it is easy do overdo it and end up toasted.

I have a bad experience of all this when trying to get back to running and skimo after an ancle fracture. Had a coach who used those drift tests for setting the zones for bike training since I could not run at the moment, and I ended up severely overtrained (it was not a coach here at Evoke). Almost two years after this I have still not been able to get back to my sports, so be careful and listen to your body.

[Scott Johnston]

I’m sorry to hear of Bjorn’s experience. Overtraining is something you don’t want to wish on anyone but your worst enemy.  But I have seen some very high level cycling coaches recommend a drift test for determining AeT.

Bjorn makes a very good point in that the muscle loading in cycling is VERY different from running.  If you try to cycle at your running AeT your legs are going to be the limiter very quickly unless you are well trained as a cyclist too.  That’s because cycling isolates a much smaller muscle mass than running does.  Many runners who end up using cycling for recovery or to get them through an injury will feel like cycling at their running AeT HR is like an ME workout for their quads.  This may have been what happened to Bjorn. I’ve seen it happen before to others.

At the very least do a 1 hour HR drift test on the bike and see what you get for a AeT.  Then be sure that in your easy riding you do not feel like your legs are blowing up.

Scott

[fitzlcsaba]

Hi Bjorn, Scott,

Thanks! Yeah, even below AeT it feels like my quads are exploding 😀

Csaba

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