I’m wondering if I need to do anything special to do a v02 max test on the concept2 rowing machine… I’m doing a tri or two this year, but rowing is still my number one sport, so i want to do the vo2 max and lactate testing on the erg.
I know that watts are used, so can I simply use the same drag factor (120ish) and just go harder for each of the steps? should i keep the stroke rate constant?
Thanks for any tips. I’m asking as there is a guy at the local university doing Vo2 max and lactate threshold testing for $100 which all goes to cancer research. Seemed like a good deal for a good cause, so i’m just trying to figure out the logisitics as he has never tested someone on the rowing machine.
Thanks in advance for any info
G’day
When I did testing in Ottawa, they just had you increase the wattage in steps trying to keep your stroke rate as a Constant.
Hope this helps
Peace
Newt
You or your tester should contact Dr. “Fritz” Hagerman (Ohio University, I think). He created the VO2max testing protocol for the USRowing National Team. I’d follow that because then you can compare the numbers to the reams of National Team numbers (if you can handle the truth).
I did it once, and I don’t remember anything about keeping a constant stroke rate. In fact I remember going totally off the hook on the last step. But maybe I was doing it wrong. 
Fritz Hagermann’s (sp?) protocol as used with us National Team for many, many years:
Warm-up 20-30’
Row 2k flat out.
That’s it. What they’ve found is that the aerobic demands of a 2000m piece will generate a VO2 Max # as well as any other step test or protocol. You WILL hit your VO2 max during a 2k test. Interestingly, they’ve also found a very strong correlation between highly successful athletes (worlds/Olympic medals as well as seat racing results) and % of VO2 max held throughout the 2k. In other words, just having a very high max is not as important as the ability to work at ~95-98% of that # for the full duration of the 2000m piece. Guys with lower VO2 were able to regularly beat guys with higher #'s because they could work longer at a higher percentage of max.
Lactate test wise you’d want to do a step test. Typical protocol is 3-4’ intervals with 1’ rest. Start at ~150 watts, go up ~25 watts each interval. Hold as close as you can to that # through each piece, and at the end take HR and Lactate. Continue until you can’t hold the wattage anymore, then graph HR and Lactate and look for the break point.
From a professional college coach (ME): Both of these tests are going to be of dubious value at best. Interesting for sure, and it’s a good casue so they aren’t a bad thing to do, but one of the great things about rowing is that you’ve already got the “powermeter” (erg) to give you specific training #'s. Basically, do a 2k test and use the following formula:
2k minus 4-6": short interval (<2’)
2k to 2k +4: VO2 Max
2k +6-9: AT work (up to ~12-15’ intervals)
2k +12-15: Tempo work (up to ~20’ intervals)
2k +20-25: steady state (up to 30’ intervals or longer, but personally I think ‘shorter’ on the erg is better; I have my athlete do 4x15 or 5x12 rather then 60’)
Over time note HR for these efforts, and use that for Tempo or Steady State in the boat. Anything else (AT, VO2, Short) train by rate based on what you’re trying to prepare for.
Anyway, that’s a long answer grounded in 10+ years of coaching experinece. Feel free to PM me if you’ve got any more questions; it’s a slow week and it’s too damn cold to go work in the boathouse.
Sam
Be prepared for hell. 2K flat out is tough enough but with a mask on with sweat swishing around your chin…its almost murder. Enjoy!
Dave in VA
My experience is with similar tests as SamT described. LT: no warmup, then do 5min@20SR, 4min@22SR, 4min@24, 4min@26, 4min@28-max (goal is to decrease each interval split by 0.03, ie start 2.00, then 1.57 then 1.54 etc), 1min break inbetween, take HR during interval and after break, and lactate after interval. VO2max: short easy warmup, then do: 3mins at a 26SR, 3min@28SR, 2min@30SR, 1min@max no break, where the 26SR split is approximately your 4mmol value determined by LT, and then lower split by at least 0.03 as in the LT test.
As was said before- these tests are ok if you are looking to compare your training/fitness from years or months past by using a standardized test, and work well for some to define training zones, but a straight out 2k has just as much predictive value in setting up your training. For example, despite being extensively LT and VO2 tested multiple times per year, the LT test was ‘worthless’ for me as defined by the 4mmol break point value (ie there was no sense using the LT watts to set up my training), as both my flat out 2k and my usual training zones and the graphed curve of my lactate values were consistent with a threshold of 6-7mmol.