[Closed] VO2max on Garmin

For cycling it definately uses power since I don't get it on my edge 520. For running it is based on your pace and heart rate. It gives an estimate based your max hr.

As for accuracy I've no idea. My running vo2max is currently 51, which predicts race times that seem optimistic.

Yes, the only thing I can find on the Garmin site is with reference to running devices and needing to have your HR max set correctly.

It is normally just a zone based on your FTP and which ever zone system you are using (Cogan etc)

So FTP and HR zone then mapping table? If it’s all static data why does it pop up with a new value every now and then.

My garmins (500 & 800) will not change it, it has to be done manually. Training Peaks will update its zones if I have improved FTP (compared to previous data). I then have to manually update my garmin(s) if I want to use new values

Bit confused by that, it’s not a value I can change manually, it’s one that the Garmin calculates and just presents.

My garmins (500 & 800) will not change it, it has to be done manually. Training Peaks will update its zones if I have improved FTP (compared to previous data). I then have to manually update my garmin(s) if I want to use new values

It's not the VO2 max zone that Blobby is asking about - it's the VO2 max calculation - gives a number in milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight.

Oops, sorry, got wrong end of stick there!

No problem.

Thanks beej. So would assume it uses weight from your profile. Just wondered what else it used as it’d be interesting to know specifically what values in a session triggered the new VO2max notification.

For example, I got a new one today. Wasn’t a particularly maxed out session though my HR was a bit high for the effort due to a cold. So was curious as to why it thinks the value has increased.

Not maxed out? I saw those PRs...

I think it would have to use weight/age/sex and have a guess at lean muscle mass maybe, then calculate how much O2 you'd need to generate certain power for a certain HR maybe... lots of guessing.

Is yours in the 70s?

I'm about 60 at best from the Garmin algorithm, my much faster mate gets low 70s.

Zone 3 with a favourable wind 😉

Comes out high 70’s. Never been tested so who knows how accurate that is. Always been quite good at endurance sports so maybe it’s in the right sort of range. Just curious really as to what triggers it to pop up a new notification.

Dunno about the garmin but if you are interested your local uni could do the test for you for not a huge amount. I was tested pre kids when I was getting serious about training. Would have to dig the test results out but it was surprisingly good. Think it cost me an afternoon and £100...

Thanks DT though I doubt I'd know what to do with the info! Besides, knowing I had a low VO2max would likely be demoralising as I'd think is this as fast as I can get, and knowing I had a big VO2max would likely be demoralising as I'd think surely with all this work I should be quicker 😉

Don't know how it works it out, but the VO2max and race predictions seem rather optimistic for me. Like, a good minute faster than my actual 5k PB. All these things are just some curve that someone found to give a reasonable fit to a specific data set, I wouldn't expect great accuracy. (like the 220-age thing for max HR which is way off for many people).

Yes, quite likely. What was puzzling me is why it popped up after today's ride with a new value, given I've done harder longer efforts. Only unusual thing was that my HR was high for the effort due to chesty cold. So curious to know how it works it out.

Anyone know how it's calculated on the Garmin? What constants and data it uses? Does it use power or just HR? And how reliable is it compared to real VO2max for anyone who's had it lab tested?

As far as I understand what they use are some fairly well known formulas but these formulas are based on running/cycling at a constant pace and workload which is unlikely for us. The 'secret sauce' is an algorithm that filters the standard HR (and power data for cycling) so only the appropriate parts are fed into the formula

more here: https://www.firstbeat.com/en/consumer-feature/vo2max-fitness-level/

I would guess that the best way to use these numbers is to tell you if you are getting better, ie. your training is actually doing something or if you are getting worse for some reason

edit: forgot to add, it needs your weight and age as well as they figure in the calculations so you will also need to keep those up to date

My old polar HRM used weight and an hr based algorithm. I don't know how the Garmin system works. Both the old polar system and my 520 got pretty close to my lab numbers.

Thanks leffeboy, interesting stuff. Looks like Garmin get the performance condition from them too, I was wondering about that, had assumed incorrectly that it was mostly likely some HR variability based calculation.

What was puzzling me is why it popped up after today's ride with a new value, given I've done harder longer efforts

Had something similar when I accidentally started a workout sat at home playing with the settings.

I never paid it much attention anyway, ignored it ever since.