[TheNathanJ]

I know aet test is generally done on flat ground for a variety of reason. But I’m curious if there is any data or experience in performing the aet test on a consistent steep vertical slope.

Based on the principle that performance scales linearly when aerobic.
I have calculated the test output as ascent rate per bpm which I figure allows some reasonable adjustment between slightly varying grades.
According to this study https://journals.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/japplphysiol.00546.2015 The difference in aerobic work required to climb between 20 an 32 degrees as in the segments below differs by less than 1% (table 1).

The data I used is from a recent training hike at what I believe to be near my zone 2 threshold.
30 mins warmup were on a road and then ~1hr to a peak up fairly consistent steep terrain.
I use two 25minute segments of roughly equal elevation gain, excluding data from a small (1:30m) downhill section in the uphill.

I find:
First 25min: 879 ft in 25.3 minutes @ 154 BPM avg = .227 ft / min / bpm 32% grade
Second 25min: 883 ft in 26 minutes @ 152 BPM avg = .223 ft / min / bpm 20% grade

The split between these is around the 1hr mark in the file.

Based on that calculation, I would indicate my true aet is near 153 due to the basic equivalence of these values.

How BS is this? Is there any use to doing this kind of test on a more consistent slope? Is there something which makes this especially unrepresentative? I am much more adapted to uphill walking rather than flat running. While I realize the best results are certainly in a controlled environment on flat ground or a treadmill… this is still an interesting experiment to make.

Raw data is attached (analyzed in training peaks) HR data from Polar H10
Edit: was not allowed to upload .fit so file is renamed as .pdf but is .fit data

Thanks!

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Topic

[pedro]

pedro on July 20, 2023 at 1:28 pm #79833

Hi,

To calculate the aerobic threshold ,the correct way, is to do it in a place that is controlled and where you are able to compare with future or previous efforts .
If you want to use incline , use a treadmill ( the best option )
To calculate the drift , you need to warm up and make it stabilise at a target heart rate,
the data you put on the description, doesn’t have a reference to that, interpretation of the data , you should mention that.
The reason why it’s done on a track or treadmill , controlled environment, it’s to take as many variables that can affect the test result, to do a better test , the incline should be the same , the path should be the same , the speed should be constant, etc .

I hope I could be helpful with my answer

Cheers,

Pedro Carvalho

[pedro]

pedro on July 20, 2023 at 1:28 pm #79835

Hi,

To calculate the aerobic threshold ,the correct way, is to do it in a place that is controlled and where you are able to compare with future or previous efforts .
If you want to use incline , use a treadmill ( the best option )
To calculate the drift , you need to warm up and make it stabilise at a target heart rate,
the data you put on the description, doesn’t have a reference to that, interpretation of the data , you should mention that.
The reason why it’s done on a track or treadmill , controlled environment, it’s to take as many variables that can affect the test result, to do a better test , the incline should be the same , the path should be the same , the speed should be constant, etc .

I hope I could be helpful with my answer

Cheers,

Pedro Carvalho