Cycling Performance Club: Should we be blood lactate testing cyclists?- Part 1 - a podcast by Damian Ruse

Lactate and its association with exercise has been known for more than 200 years after Jöns Jakob first observed it in the muscles of hunted stags. Consequently, knowledge of its relationship with exercise is deeply rooted in both popular culture and among endurance athletes. However, more recent research has demonstrated lactate’s presence during exercise has largely been misunderstood for much of this time.

During this two part series, we do a deep dive into all things lactate to assess whether or not we should still be blood lactate testing cyclists, and whether there are better alternatives. So, before you decide to participate in a blood lactate test or recommend one for an athlete, you should definitely give these episodes a listen to make sure you are considering all the pros and cons. Or, listen for the myth-busting and rabbit holes this conversation necessarily gets into.

3:30 The hosts’ experience with blood lactate testing

9:25 Who is blood lactate testing?

12:10 Blood lactate quiz

22:45 Why did we start looking at lactate during exercise?

28:40 Some biochemistry of lactate metabolism

35:35 Why do we blood lactate test cyclists?

43:00 Types of lactate thresholds?

46:55 Blood lactate testing methods

53:45 Practical considerations

For a limited time, Semi-Pro Cycling podcast listeners can get a free Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor with the purchase of a Karoo 2. Visit hammerhead.io right now and use promo code SEMIPRO at checkout to get yours today.

This episode’s panel:

Jason Boynton, Ph.D.

boyntoncoaching.com

Damian Ruse

semiprocycling.com

Cyrus Monk

cyclistscientist.com

Instagram: @cyclingperformanceclub

Facebook: @cyclingperformanceclub

Twitter: @cyclingclubpod

References:

Lactate in contemporary biology: a phoenix risen

https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP280955

The maximal metabolic steady state: redefining the ‘gold standard’
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.14814/phy2.14098

Further episodes of Semi-Pro Cycling

Further podcasts by Damian Ruse

Website of Damian Ruse