Altitude Training

[MacAttack]

Wondering if anyone knew anything about the alto2 lab training system. It's supposed to be a cost friendly alternative to altitude tents but it's still 500 bucks and I'm undecided on wheather or not to purchase one. Any feedback would be great, thanks:)

Ryan

[Graydon]

Short answer (as this is a very long issue): don't waste your money. To have any measurable effect, you need to do altitude properly (live high, train low) naturally in the mountains or in a hypoxic tent at night (it takes hours, days, weeks of exposure to have an even tiny measurable effect). I could also make a long case why it will never work for you because you don't train enough. I say that, without knowing anything about who you are, just based on the presumption that if you are like the rest of us on this forum you don't earn a living riding your bike (ok, Coach Chris the exception).

Also, $500 is the startup cost, but have you considered the consumable cost of those soda filter cartridges.

Remember, there is no magic secret. Beware anything that appears to be a $substitute for old fashioned hard work.

Your best money is spent on things that make you ride harder, ride more.

[MacAttack]

So you'd have to be training at a domestic pro level AND exposing yourself to altitude for long periods of time in order to see a measurable effect from it, beyond training nutrition and recovery. That about it?

[Graydon]

So you'd have to be training at a domestic pro level AND exposing yourself to altitude for long periods of time in order to see a measurable effect from it, beyond training nutrition and recovery. That about it?

Short answer, yes. Altitude benefits (in the best instance where you live-high-train-low) are on the order of 3% or so. The typical variation in a 1-hr time trial under the best laboratory controlled conditions for a trained cyclist is greater than that (about 4-5%). Anyone who is not already training full-time can make far greater gains by training harder and smarter by investing in a computrainer and/or a power meter.

[MacAttack]

I agree with you there, I've had a power tap and have seen a gain of roughly 5-10% from last year, and I'm not even peaking yet. Although to be honest last year I didn't have Chris as a coach and that has made a big difference too. Still I agree that a power meter would be a better investment if it came down to one or the other. Thanks for you feedback Graydon,

Ryan MacDonald

[Graydon]

You are well on the right track. Save your $500 and use it to pay your travel to Green Mtn Stage Race, Quebec-Montreal, Nationals.... that will pay off far greater dividends than the alto unit ever will.

As for me, I'm giving my $500 to my wife to go shopping this weekend so I can ride.

[Wheels]

[QUOTE=As for me, I'm giving my $500 to my wife to go shopping this weekend so I can ride.[/QUOTE]

You have only just begun my friend.;):eek: