Should Mountain Bikers Care About Fitness Metrics Like VO2 Max?

Ben Turits runs a coaching business and sports therapy practice called The Endurance Collective. He’s a former professional mountain bike racer and current USA Cycling coach working with both pro and amateur athletes alike.

In this episode we ask:

• How did your first enduro race go? What type of training did you do to prepare?
• What does VO2 max measure?How is it measured? Is using heart rate data to estimate VO2 max fairly accurate?
• Are there specific types of training that are effective in raising VO2 max?
• How important is VO2 max for predicting performance?
• What is lactate threshold?What does it measure?
• How is it measured?
• Is lactate threshold directly related to power?
• Are there other similar fitness metrics that riders can or should pay attention to?
• Is there a difference between mountain bikers and road bikers when it comes to the importance of certain metrics?
• Is it possible to get the same quality workout on the trail vs. on the trainer?Is gravel riding a good substitute for road riding in terms of the training benefits?
• How do you know if you’re under- or over-fueled on longer rides?

Learn more or connect with Ben and the Endurance Collective on their website (theendurancecollective.com) and YouTube channel.

✏️ A written transcript of this conversation is available to Singletracks Pro supporters: singletracks.com/support

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