Three Amigos and the Test Conconi

Most of the information about the Test Conconi and AT are taken from Peter Janssen's book Training Lactate Pulse Rate

Professor Conconi developed a method which makes it possible to establish the anaerobic threshold without measuring lactate levels. This means a blood sample does not need to be taken.

The anaerobic threshold (AT) may be described as follows: the AT is the highest intensity, e.g. cycling speed, which can be maintained for a long period of time. The exertion takes place at a certain percentage of the VO2 max. When this percentage is surpassed, an accumulation of lactic acid takes place. As the acid level rises continued exertion at a high level is not possible ( I think we all know what that feels like)

How is the Test Performed?

Conconi established the correlation between running pace and pulse. For his test he used well-trained athletes. An ample warm-up of 15-20 minutes is followed by an uninterrupted endurance run. Speed is accelerated every 200 - 1000 meters depending on the protocol. After each acceleration the pace is held and the pulse rate is taken before the next acceleration. This test can be used for cyclist as well and the protocol is basically the same.

The relationship between running or cycling pace and pulse rate is partly linear and partly non-linear. Note the deflection point on the figure above.

Enter the Three Amigos

Brian Lawyer , Len Ridgely, and myself performed the test on January 2 1996 in Len's garage. The equipment we needed was: a bike, wind trainer, heart rate monitor, watch, and cyclecomputer mounted on the rear wheel. We also had a fan, towels, and a laptop computer to plot the data in real time. Len was the first to go and after a warm-up of 10-15 he let us know he was ready. Len began at 10 mph and a pulse rate of 98 beats per minutes. He rode for 23 minutes increasing the pace one mile per hour each minute until he could no longer hold the desired pace. Brian Lawyer went next and since Len almost spun out his 53x12 at the end of the test, Brian increased the resistance on the wind trainer before he started. So when looking at the results you should keep in mind that 20 mph (8000 mph3) for Brain was harder than is was for Len and myself. But that doesn't matter. What is important is spotting the deflection and the related heart rate. The speed is not important. Our results are displayed in the following graphs.