Hey. Looking to get a mask to use while exercising on the trainer with hypoxic air from my altitude simulator. Not sure of what all is out there, but with the higher flow rates involved with exercise it seems more critical. What’s the best setup? CAT makes an exercise mask kit, but I can’t get any details from them, other than the cost. There are some other kits out there, that include Douglas bags, for hypoxic air reserve I assume, but don’t know much about those either.
Anybody with experience care to share some insight?
Hey. Looking to get a mask to use while exercising on the trainer with hypoxic air from my altitude simulator. Not sure of what all is out there, but with the higher flow rates involved with exercise it seems more critical. What’s the best setup? CAT makes an exercise mask kit, but I can’t get any details from them, other than the cost. There are some other kits out there, that include Douglas bags, for hypoxic air reserve I assume, but don’t know much about those either.
Anybody with experience care to share some insight?
Why are you training at simulated altitude? Will you be competing at altitude?
Yeah, I will be doing some competitions at altitude and am also just doing personal research. I don’t see any exercise mask systems on the website you linked. Were you just recommending their passive system or is there a link I’m missing?
Crappy website, but you can get the following for about $250 USD plus shipping.
The mask circuit consists of the following parts:
Wye adapter
30l reserve bag
bag stand
Vortex Humidifier
Tubing
Xercise mask
30 mm valves
x strap
Do you know the folks that run this site, or have you gotten this kit before? I saw a very small picture with the link you sent, but no details on what comes with it. Obviously, you’ve written a list, but it’d be nice to get more info on that stuff…
However, I did order the kit. If you have any questions about the kit, feel free to ask.
Also, I’ll PM you the email of the guy who owns the Co. He’s very helpful.
It’s Kayu Law. We know him. Great guy. http://www.altitudetech.ca/ It is a crappy site.
Why are you training at simulated altitude? Will you be competing at altitude?
There is evidence to suggest that riding easy once or twice per week at “altitude” provides benifits you don’t see from just sleeping at altitude.
I haven’t seen much evidence of that from the literature. Unless you’re competing at altitude, training at altitude with a mask essentially ruins your training enough so that any effects from altitude exposure are negated. I think there’s more evidence for sleep high-train low. I’d like to see what studies you’re reading.
Yeah, I will be doing some competitions at altitude and am also just doing personal research. I don’t see any exercise mask systems on the website you linked. Were you just recommending their passive system or is there a link I’m missing?
Here is a mask:
But it may only fit their stuff, I don’t know. Why can’t you get a mask for the system you already have?
I use a personal hypoxicator to train at very high altitude intermittently. I do 90 minutes a day, and it’s great since I can’t drag a tent around when I travel. It’s great for athletes who can’t sleep in a tent for one reason or another, and it’s also great because it’s portable.
In the words of the great Thomas Callahan lll, “I can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking my head up a bull’s ass, but I’d rather take a butcher’s word for it.”
If you know Ka-Yu, then I’d suggest you ask him for the material. Some of what I’ve read came from him. He’s an expert, I just ride a bike.
Seriously though, I don’t understand where you’re coming from. In one post you say training at altitude with a mask negates altitude exposure and in the next you say you train at very high altitude intermittently for 90 mins per day. Which is it? If you don’t mind sharing, what are you doing exactly?
What I’ve been told to do is sleep high/train low, but supplement that with once or twice per week hypoxic training on the bike. The hypoxic sessions are to last for 40 mins to 1 hr. The hypoxic sessions are to be easy so as not to interfere with my other training.
From the way I read it he says it is better to train at sea level and sleep at altitude UNLESS you are going to race at altitude.
Which I think cappieroad is going to do.
This is the same as what I have read. I too was wondering where you had heard the opposite because I too am trying to learn if you don’t want to take the time to post a link that is fine.
In the words of the great Thomas Callahan lll, “I can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking my head up a bull’s ass, but I’d rather take a butcher’s word for it.”
If you know Ka-Yu, then I’d suggest you ask him for the material. Some of what I’ve read came from him. He’s an expert, I just ride a bike.
Seriously though, I don’t understand where you’re coming from. In one post you say training at altitude with a mask negates altitude exposure and in the next you say you train at very high altitude intermittently for 90 mins per day. Which is it? If you don’t mind sharing, what are you doing exactly?
What I’ve been told to do is sleep high/train low, but supplement that with once or twice per week hypoxic training on the bike. The hypoxic sessions are to last for 40 mins to 1 hr. The hypoxic sessions are to be easy so as not to interfere with my other training.
I’ve read almost all of the literature. Most of the studies are with too small a cohort, are confounded in various ways, have competing interests and some other issues. It appears that the sleep high-train low method works best unless you are preparing for altitude, then training high may help. I do IHT 90 minutes a day (leading up to a sea level race). I don’t exercise when I’m doing it, though. It is a form of “training”. Sorry if that was confusing. It can’t really be called passive either, since IHT is an active breathing exercise.
If Ka-Yu said do it easy twice a week, I’d keep doing what you’re doing. But my guess is that much of the advice is flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants logic, since the studies don’t really tell us too much.
Let me ask you: where can I get a used altitude tent and generator (a quiet one or one with a long enough cord to put it FAR away from my head) on the cheap? I saw a diagram and plans on the internet for a do-it-yourself cardboard box around your head that actually works. I’d just hate to think of dying inside a cardboard box around my head.
From what I understand I’d say your take on the literature and our hypoxic training is spot on. Guys like my coach and Ka-Yu do the research, I just follow their advice. My bloodwork over the course of the season proves we’re doing something right.
I figured that’s what you meant by “training at altitude”, but wanted to make sure.
You don’t need a long cord, you need a long hose.
The altitudetech generator is quiet though. I don’t mind sleeping in the same room with it.
I have been using Altitude Tech mask and tent for about 6 months. The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable. I am training for Sebring 12 hour race and train under the mask for 6-8 hour per week on my Lemond Trainer. I have seen measurable gains on heart rate, endurance, and speed. It is quite incredible.
