Cycling · 3 min read
Cycling VO₂ Max and Lactate Testing in London: Choosing an Assessment
The right cycling assessment depends on the question you want answered. VO₂ max testing describes aerobic capacity and breathing responses. Adding blood lactate provides another view of the thresholds used to organise training. Here is how to choose between the two at DVOTION Labs in London.
By DVOTION Team ·
Assessment options at DVOTION
VO₂ Max Test
£160
1 hour
Expired gas analysis, ventilatory thresholds and aerobic capacity. No blood sample.
View assessment and bookingEndurance Performance Profiling
£240
About 90 minutes
A blood lactate profile with LT1 and LT2, followed by a separate maximal aerobic test after recovery.
View assessment and bookingStart with the training question
If you want to measure aerobic capacity and review ventilatory thresholds, the VO₂ Max Test provides expired gas analysis without blood sampling. If you also want a blood lactate profile with LT1 and LT2, choose Endurance Performance Profiling.
Both can contribute to a training discussion. Neither provides a guaranteed race result, and a higher VO₂ max alone does not tell you how well you will pace a long ride.
What happens during the combined assessment
Endurance Performance Profiling uses progressive stages for blood lactate sampling. After recovery, a separate maximal test records oxygen uptake and ventilatory responses. The appointment is about 90 minutes, including the work around the exercise.
The lactate and breathing measurements are interpreted together, but their thresholds are not assumed to be identical. Tell the team about your cycling background, recent training and the decision you want to make from the results.
Arrange the right mode and location
DVOTION operates at UNTIL Liverpool Street, 280 Bishops Square, London EC2M 4RB, and UNTIL Marylebone, 1 Orchard Street, London W1H 6HJ. When arranging a cycling assessment, confirm the mode and location with the team before attending.
Bring details of your usual bike setup, training device and recent sessions to the discussion. Follow the preparation guidance supplied for the assessment. If your plans involve both running and cycling, discuss separate assessments rather than expecting one appointment to establish both sets of zones.
What to compare before booking
Compare the measurements included, the exercise mode, appointment duration and how the results will be explained. Ask whether a quoted price includes blood lactate sampling or only gas analysis. The assessment options below use DVOTION’s current catalogue prices.
A useful report connects the findings to a training decision you can review. It should also make the limits clear: thresholds depend on the method used, and lab measurements still need context from outdoor riding, fatigue and perceived effort.
Frequently asked questions
Which cycling assessment at DVOTION includes blood lactate?
The standalone VO₂ Max Test uses expired gas analysis and does not include blood lactate sampling. Endurance Performance Profiling includes a blood lactate profile and a separate maximal aerobic test.
Can one DVOTION appointment set both cycling and running zones?
Discuss separate assessments for cycling and running with the team. The response measured in one exercise mode should not automatically be used to prescribe training in the other.
What should I ask before booking cycling testing in London?
Confirm the exercise mode, location, measurements included, current price and preparation instructions. Explain the training decision you want the assessment to support.
References
- Jamnick NA, Pettitt RW, Granata C, Pyne DB, Bishop DJ (2020). An examination and critique of current methods to determine exercise intensity. Sports Medicine 50(10): 1729–1756. doi:10.1007/s40279-020-01322-8
Supports: The distinction between physiological thresholds and the methods used to prescribe exercise intensity.
Related assessment
Endurance Performance Profiling