Noninvasive estimation of the maximal lactate steady state in trained cyclists

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to estimate noninvasively the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) in trained cyclists on a windload simulator with a velocity based technique and to determine whether the HR at MLSS (HR(MLSS) elicited a similar blood/actate concentration (BLC) during field testing. Methods: To determine and verify MLSS, 10 male cyclists performed five to seven laboratory trials on separate days, including a V̇O(2max) test; a 5-kin time trial (TT); and two or more: 30-min trials at specific percentages of each subject\u27s average 5-km TT speed (AVS(5km)). Mean ± SD for the following variables were obtained at MLSS: velocity was 90.3 ± 2.7% of the AVS(5km), BLC was 5.4 ± 1.6 mM, RPE was 15 ± 2.1, V̇O was 80 ± 6.3% of V̇O(2max), and HR was 167 ± 9.5 beats min , which was 88 ± 3.8% of the mean maximum HR. Field tests included three laps of an 8-km road circuit at HR(MLSS) ± 3 beats · min and one lap at maximum sustainable velocity (a road TT). Results: There were no significant differences in BLC, HR, and RPE between the three steady-state road laps and the lab MLSS trial. There was also good agreement between the road and lab MLSS velocity/TT velocity ratios. Conclusions: Our data suggest that 5-km TT cycling velocity, as measured on a windload simulator, may be used to estimate MLSS and the HR at MLSS for training purposes. 2 -1 -