Train smarter to go farther & faster.
Metabolic Breath Analysis
Whether cycling or running, our metabolic testing measures the air you breathe as your muscles work. By analyzing oxygen and carbon dioxide gases, you’ll get a clear view of your engine—VO₂max, ventilatory thresholds (fat/carb efficiency), and personalized heart rate (energy) zones—so every training session is based on your objective physiology, not guesswork.
Learn more about our protocols or the science of metabolic breath analysis below.
Breath Analysis Protocols
Cycling or Walk/Run
Low Intensity (Zone 2)
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The amount of energy (physical output) a person can sustain while in Zone 2 is often referred to as the “aerobic base.” This ability to oxidize fat is foundational for all endurance activities and strongly predicts performance in events lasting longer than 1-2 hours.
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The concepts of “aerobic” vs. “anaerobic” exercise are somewhat archaic and oversimplified. We prefer to use metabolic zones, looking at what fuel(s) are being used and what physiologic adaptations occur.
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While a person can push themselves to higher levels of metabolic demands—burning more glucose— the physiologic limitations to doing so are inherent. This is why an average recreational cyclist cannot just gut their way to victory at the Tour De France. Additionally, doing so too frequently in training can lead to prolonged recovery times, injuries, and stalled progress.
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We use oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to gauge when the body is burning fat vs. glucose. The first point at which breathing rate increases disproportionately to oxygen consumption, signaling the body's effort to buffer the increased CO2 from lactate, is when a person has reached Ventatory Threshold, or VT1. This is where peak fat-burning capacity occurs and higher intensity crosses over to more glucose utilization.
We track heart rate to find this Zone 2 threshold (aka VT1) to give the athletes their individualized ideal heart rate training zone.
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Using an indoor bike or treadmill (incline walk or run), we will start with a 5-10 minute very easy warm-up. While monitoring heart rate, we will increase the resistance, speed, and/or incline every 3-7 minutes. We will continue this for approximately 35-45 minutes until your heart rate reaches 75-80% of its maximum rate.
If cycling, we provide:
Power (wattage) at FatMax or VT1
Ideal Zone 2 Heart Rate training
If walking/running, we provide:
METS (metabolic equivalent) at FatMax or VT1
Ideal Zone 2 Heart Rate training
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$219
Testing (45-60 minutes) + brief discussion of results & training advice. Total time approximately 1.5 hours.
Optional add-on:
High Intensity (VO2 Max)
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VO2 max is the body’s maximum oxygen uptake during intense exercise. It correlates with sustainable power and strongly predicts race outcomes in every endurance sport. Unlike any other physiological measurement, it integrates all organ systems, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and mitochondrial functions.
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Most high-intensity training advice relies on perceived exertion or predicted heart rate. While these are reasonable approaches, they may not be precise or optimal for various reasons. For starters, physiologic variations are wide and common.
The maximum heart rate (HR-Max) a person can achieve is dependent on age, genetics, and conditioning. We can provide a better approach to Zone 4-5 training based on metabolic gas analysis.
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You can choose an indoor cycle or treadmill (with an inclined walk or run) to push yourself to the limit! We begin with a 5-to 10-minute warm-up before increasing the intensity. Depending on your training history, we will use 1-3 minutes of work followed by 1-3 minutes of rest, gradually working up to your maximum heart rate and lactate levels—total testing time is 20-30 minutes.
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$189
Testing (20-40 minutes) + brief discussion of results + training advice. Total time approximately 60-75 minutes.
Optional add-on:
Comprehensive
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We first perform the low-intensity (Zone 2) protocol to determine your threshold for FatMax (VT1). Then, we ramp up the intensity to find your VO2 max. This is a comprehensive assessment of all your energy zones.
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By identifying your Zone 1-5, we can prescribe a more thorough training plan that includes “base” aerobic work and higher-intensity intervals based on your goals.
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Item description
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$349
Testing time (1.0 - 1.5 hours) + brief discussion of results & training advice. Total time approximately 1.5 - 2.0 hours.
Optional add-on:
Looking for something else, or interested in testing real-world conditions?
Contact us to discuss arranging a custom protocol and testing to suit your goals!
