FWIW I find standard kitchen paper towel, like bounty, is great for wiping the first drop as it has a useful draw/ wicking effect to get a fat and juicy 2nd drop. It may be the same as dental gauze, but more easily found 😎
Thanks for this Gordo. Do any UK subscribers have a recommendation for a lactate tester that is available this side of the pond? The Edge doesn’t seem to be available here.
Thanks Gordo - this is my reminder to test more often! I tell myself it's more complicated than it is.
Remembering that - you're (me ;-) likely training too hard
An issue that is often overlooked, in many people's experience, different fingers produce different amounts of blood. For me, index finger is no good, ring finger is best and it's not even close.
Just completed by first self tested full ramp test on the bike a few days ago and it went great. A big thank you for your substack/book and youtube which is comprehensive and clear. I pretty much stuck to what you (and Alan C on his substack), have prescribed and had no issues. My only question is related to caffeine. For the ramp test test, I had no food or caffeine beforehand and was done first thing in the morning. However I normally have a coffee before every early morning training session. Would you suggest doing some shorter submax tests in the future with and without caffeine to see what the impact is, similar to your section 'fed or fasted', which is referring to testing with and without food prior? Or is caffeine more likely to impact the test than food?
Thank you for the comprehensive coverage of how to do testing. I don't do lactate testing but am very interested in growing my Zone 1 base and identifying upper zones. I've started using an HRV app called Morpheus after listening to a Dr. Attia's interview with its developer who maintains it can help parse out training zone information. Does anyone else have experience with this app and is there any independent validation of it, other than Attia's assurance it maps with his lactate zones.
Do you think that laying out the strips can impact the readings? In the Olav Bu podcast you refer to they also discuss the importance of closing the container asap after sampling for this reason
I close the container after laying out and haven’t experienced any issues with laying out the strips. As you can see in the clip, I lay them on to a clean hand towel.
I’d be more concerned with sweat getting into the container if a heavy sweater was trying to remove strips. That could contaminate multiple strips.
The strips come with the testing end facing up in the container. Be careful to avoid touching that end. I flip all the strips in the container after I open it.
After testing, I return any unused strips to the container.
Hey G,
Great stuff! 🙏
FWIW I find standard kitchen paper towel, like bounty, is great for wiping the first drop as it has a useful draw/ wicking effect to get a fat and juicy 2nd drop. It may be the same as dental gauze, but more easily found 😎
John prefers towels, too. A good reminder, thanks.
Thanks for this Gordo. Do any UK subscribers have a recommendation for a lactate tester that is available this side of the pond? The Edge doesn’t seem to be available here.
My sensor manufacturer has an office in the UK:
United Kingdom
Nova Biomedical U.K., Innovation House
Aston Lane South
Runcorn, Cheshire
WA7 3FY, UK
Tel: +44 1928 704040
Fax: +44 1928 796792
Email: info@novabiomedical.co.uk
It’s a better product than the Edge.
G
Thanks Gordo much appreciated
Thanks Gordo - this is my reminder to test more often! I tell myself it's more complicated than it is.
Remembering that - you're (me ;-) likely training too hard
An issue that is often overlooked, in many people's experience, different fingers produce different amounts of blood. For me, index finger is no good, ring finger is best and it's not even close.
I like Alan’s advice to make sure we test in all fitness conditions. Provides me reassurance, when I need it.
Just completed by first self tested full ramp test on the bike a few days ago and it went great. A big thank you for your substack/book and youtube which is comprehensive and clear. I pretty much stuck to what you (and Alan C on his substack), have prescribed and had no issues. My only question is related to caffeine. For the ramp test test, I had no food or caffeine beforehand and was done first thing in the morning. However I normally have a coffee before every early morning training session. Would you suggest doing some shorter submax tests in the future with and without caffeine to see what the impact is, similar to your section 'fed or fasted', which is referring to testing with and without food prior? Or is caffeine more likely to impact the test than food?
A good question. Have your normal coffee/caffeine - you want the test to pick up your normal profile.
Resist the urge to “supercharge” yourself. We have had some folks arrive pretty jittery in the lab.
Thank you for the comprehensive coverage of how to do testing. I don't do lactate testing but am very interested in growing my Zone 1 base and identifying upper zones. I've started using an HRV app called Morpheus after listening to a Dr. Attia's interview with its developer who maintains it can help parse out training zone information. Does anyone else have experience with this app and is there any independent validation of it, other than Attia's assurance it maps with his lactate zones.
I don’t have any experience with that app.
I set zones differently than Doc Attia. I explain the differences here: https://feelthebyrn.substack.com/p/training-the-hybrid-athlete
Do you think that laying out the strips can impact the readings? In the Olav Bu podcast you refer to they also discuss the importance of closing the container asap after sampling for this reason
I close the container after laying out and haven’t experienced any issues with laying out the strips. As you can see in the clip, I lay them on to a clean hand towel.
I’d be more concerned with sweat getting into the container if a heavy sweater was trying to remove strips. That could contaminate multiple strips.
The strips come with the testing end facing up in the container. Be careful to avoid touching that end. I flip all the strips in the container after I open it.
After testing, I return any unused strips to the container.
G