Scrap the FTP, next generation performance testing is here.
INSCYD TESTING
Your performance is composed of a variety of components and metrics, but if you only focus on FTP, heart rate zones, or keep training only according to your Rate of Perceived Exertion, you’ll miss out accuracy and efficiency.
For example, with INSCYD you can finally understand the interactions between your aerobic system and your fuelling needs. Do you wonder, “How much should I consume per hour in order to maintain my performance?” With INSCYD, you'll know precisely - tailored to your own metrics. No more guessing.
INSCYD takes into account the most important metrics for training purposes, combining them together to tailor your training zones:
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VO2max
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Anaerobic threshold
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Lactate accumulation and recovery
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Fat and carbohydrates combustion
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Recovery
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VLamax (or glycolytic capacity)
Each of the above metrics measured by INSCYD is critical to performance. Each sport performance is predictable and can be broken down to these fundamental elements.
Take VLamax, for example. Although you might have never heard of it, VLamax is the single most important measurement to enhance your performance.
VLamax is the maximum production of lactic acid in your blood and gives you a complete understanding of your anaerobic metabolism (which yes, is crucial in endurance events, too!).
VO2max is aerobic, now we know the anaerobic piece, which turns out to be at least as important.
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Sounds sciency doesn't it?! Don't panic! We do all of the calculations, so you can just swim, bike and run!
VO2 Max
How BIG is your engine?
From swimming sprints to ironman racing, maximum aerobic capacity (VO2max) is the single most important performance metric that needs to be looked at.
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Often misunderstood, VO2max is not restricted by only raw physical talent, but it can be trained to unknown maximums.
VO2max is also a metric that responds quickly to training, so it needs to be monitored regularly.
When you start a training program with BLOC, we will test your VO2max and create a coaching plan tailored to increase it, but not in isolation.
Through our performance software we also be able to:
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Compare the effect of high-intensity trainings and endurance workouts on your VO2max.
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Evaluate the impact of specialized nutrition regimes to further increase VO2max.
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Understand the impact of VO2max on fat oxidation and carbohydrate combustion.
VLa Max
Our Secret Weapon
VLAmax can be looked at from two different sides.
1. A low VLamax would increase your anaerobic threshold, your fat combustion and it would shorten your recovery time from hard efforts.
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2. A high VLamax increases the power available for attacks, sprints and short efforts. The anaerobic capacity can actually make the difference between winning and losing a race: the final lap, the final sprint, the final push – they are all decided by your glycolytic power.
Vlamax is the most important metric you should focus on and train according to. You may have never heard of it because up until last year it was used only by pro teams and national federations. But now its benefits are opened to everyone and you can finally start connecting all the dots that compose your performances: metrics, training adaptations, race predictions and more!
Stop wasting your time with FTP guesstimates and test for your VLamax and tailor your training according to it.
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Anaerobic Threshold
The Steady State
It is commonly known and accepted that there is a critical intensity (or power) as the highest intensity that allows for a “steady state” in your metabolism. People call this the anaerobic threshold, critical power or velocity. Everybody knows it exists and everybody wants to increase it.
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The commonly used methods to determine the anaerobic threshold are based on empirical findings within a certain population (often young, fit men!). But this has led to a lot of misunderstanding around anaerobic threshold and has restricted its assessment to some non-specific protocols.
The most significant shortfall on the empirical determination of anaerobic threshold is that it doesn't provide any insight on the reasons why the anaerobic threshold is what it is.
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By testing your AT with BLOC, you’ll be tested according to Anaerobic Threshold's true definition: the maximum intensity at which lactate combustion equals lactate production.
These tests will benefit you with an improved understanding of your own performances and how they’re composed. More precisely, you’ll then get to:
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Know the influence of physiological metrics on your anaerobic threshold.
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Reduce the standard error of determination of the anaerobic threshold to < 3%.
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Calculate the enhancement of anaerobic threshold by improving a single performance metric.
Lactate Accumulation
& Recovery
In disciplines with a random interval-type work demand, such as cycling or football, repeated high-intensity efforts are unavoidable.
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Every bout of sprinting and attacking may result in lactate accumulation. The duration and intensity that an athlete can recover from these efforts are absolutely crucial.
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The ability to use lactate as a fuel and to actually use it to optimize your performance is absolutely crucial in high intensity sports.
These kind of abilities are highly trainable and with BLOC you can start training them specifically and see the real benefits in a very short time.
Economy
The Speed Hack
We’re sure you have heard of economy. Running economy, cycling economy, swimming economy…
The word is used across all disciplines. But very few actually understand it and forget about measuring it.
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So, what is economy?
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Economy relates to the conversion of energy into speed or power (depending on what you measure).
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Understanding economy means understanding how much energy is needed to move at a certain speed or produce a certain power.
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The amount of energy available is a matter of physical ability, but how fast an athlete moves with that energy is a whole different story.
Decrypt the key to go fast
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Economy is the single most important parameter in free motion sports such as running and swimming. Obtaining insight on your economy will become a competitive advantage.
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Assess the impact of a prescribed training regime on changes in economy.
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Monitor economy on a regular basis and tune it to your training programs.
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The software we use to evaluate your is a high-precision tool that allows you to capture the effect of different equipment such as running shoes or wetsuits and their energy cost at various speeds.
Fat Combustion
The Endurance Bottleneck
Fat combustion is the bottleneck of endurance performance in sports like running and triathlon.
BLOC can measure and track this metric through our performance software – so you can create strategies to increase your energy expenditure from fat and thereby enhance your performance.
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Why?
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Fat combustion rates are highly individual metrics.
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Accurately understanding fat combustion in is crucial in endurance sports.
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Significant differences are observed both between different athletes, and between different states of training in the same athletes at different times.
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Knowing the FatMax Zone allows you to train fat combustion most efficiently.
Carbohydrate Combustion
It is crucial to understand precisely how much carbohydrates you burn during exercise.
With this understanding, you can find the perfect level of fuelling for your training and races, and which level (zone) will actually fatigue or enhance your performance.
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Fuel to perform
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Focus on carbohydrate combustion and get tailored nutrition plans.
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Perfecting intake of carbohydrates is trainable, but needs to be practiced.
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Adjust pacing and plan a fuelling strategy to avoid running out of fuel.
Conventional assessment of carbohydrate combustion based on gas analyses hold significant limitations. Not only they are lab-based test only, but they also get affected by nutrition status.
Scientific research has shown that neglecting lactate measurements when assessing carbohydrate combustion from gas exchange is misleading.
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Through the use of our performance software you can finally compare your lactate production and compare it to carbohydrate combustion.
The only way to produce lactate is by breaking down carbohydrates, thus lactate production is directly linked to carbohydrate combustion.
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