From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

A lot of the measurements on the Garmin App require a power meter. Now, I know that my power is very low but I would be interested in tracking things like my VO2Max because of my lung damage.
Has anyone here used power meter pedals or cranks and have anything to say about them?
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On 1/5/2026 1:11 PM, cyclintom wrote:

A lot of the measurements on the Garmin App require a power meter. Now, I know that my power is very low but I would be interested in tracking things like my VO2Max because of my lung damage.

Has anyone here used power meter pedals or cranks and have anything to say about them?

I have a power meter on my indoor set up Garmin Flux 2. It estimates the
Max VO2 but I really find that it is probably not accurate to much
extent. It tells me my MAX vo2 is 43 and has been as high as 45. I have
no idea because the gold stardard is really the 12 minute run test. This
is Cooper running test and it tells your fitness although not your max VO2.

I cannot do the test because I cannot run or walk just correctly for
accurate reading. Basically you see how are you can go in 12 minutes.
Then look it up tells you your rank. I guess I should be able to go
about 1.5 miles but I can't run do to balance issue dystonia. In my
prime marathon days at 31 years old I could do 2 miles. According to the
chart around 60. That seems high but I was in great shape. I never ran
the Boston Marathon but qualified to run in 3 times by running 3:10 or
less. I got to 3:06 my PR.
--
Deacon Mark
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On Mon Jan 5 13:46:15 2026 Mark J cleary wrote:

On 1/5/2026 1:11 PM, cyclintom wrote:

A lot of the measurements on the Garmin App require a power meter. Now, I know that my power is very low but I would be interested in tracking things like my VO2Max because of my lung damage.

Has anyone here used power meter pedals or cranks and have anything to say about them?

I have a power meter on my indoor set up Garmin Flux 2. It estimates the
Max VO2 but I really find that it is probably not accurate to much
extent. It tells me my MAX vo2 is 43 and has been as high as 45. I have
no idea because the gold stardard is really the 12 minute run test. This
is Cooper running test and it tells your fitness although not your max VO2.

I cannot do the test because I cannot run or walk just correctly for
accurate reading. Basically you see how are you can go in 12 minutes.
Then look it up tells you your rank. I guess I should be able to go
about 1.5 miles but I can't run do to balance issue dystonia. In my
prime marathon days at 31 years old I could do 2 miles. According to the chart around 60. That seems high but I was in great shape. I never ran
the Boston Marathon but qualified to run in 3 times by running 3:10 or
less. I got to 3:06 my PR.

I haven't been able to run correctly since I cut my left large toe off in an accident. But I walked 3 miles at a pretty good rate and was house bound with really sore leges for a week.
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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On 1/5/2026 2:46 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:

On 1/5/2026 1:11 PM, cyclintom wrote:

A lot of the measurements on the Garmin App require a power meter.
Now, I know that my power is very low but I would be interested in
tracking things like my VO2Max because of my lung damage.

RTFM - https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=lWqSVlq3w76z5WoihLy5f8

Has anyone here used power meter pedals or cranks and have anything to
say about them?

I have a power meter on my indoor set up Garmin Flux 2. It estimates the
Max VO2 but I really find that it is probably not accurate to much
extent. It tells me my MAX vo2 is 43 and has been as high as 45. I have
no idea because the gold stardard is really the 12 minute run test. This
is Cooper running test and it tells your fitness although not your max VO2.

VO2 Max will vary somewhat between different exercise modes. IOW - don't expect the same number if you use the Garmin cycling function to
calculate VO2 MAX then the Garmin running function to calculate it. _especially_ don't expect alignment if you try to compare to a indoor
running test connected to a spirometer - the absolute gold standard, as
it measures the actual oxygen content of your exhale compared to the
inhale.

I cannot do the test because I cannot run or walk just correctly for accurate reading. Basically you see how are you can go in 12 minutes.
Then look it up tells you your rank. I guess I should be able to go
about 1.5 miles but I can't run do to balance issue dystonia. In my
prime marathon days at 31 years old I could do 2 miles. According to the chart around 60. That seems high but I was in great shape. I never ran
the Boston Marathon but qualified to run in 3 times by running 3:10 or
less. I got to 3:06 my PR.

As with any of these fitness metrics, consistent measurement is the most important. Always try to measure using the same test under the same
conditions with the same equipment (NIST traceable calibration is recommended).

For an amateur, the Garmin running test (cooper variant) is reasonably accurate. From my reading, a cycling version (for which Garmin does in
fact require a power meter) isn't any more or less accurate in
comparison to a lab test, but the numbers will likely be different, so
to reiterate, consistency is the key.

If your a cyclist who seldom runs, a running VO2 max test will likely
show an appreciable lower VO2 max than a cycling test would. This is
because the muscle groups used for running are underdeveloped in
relation to the cycling muscle groups and leads to quicker exhaustion. However, if you always use the running test, the results will at least
be consistent and comparable as your fitness level changes from cycling.
you can use it therefore as a test of your fitness, but don't expect
that the numbers would be the same as they would be if you were tested
in lab.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/fitness/tips-for-improving-faster/




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From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech

On Tue Jan 6 05:40:50 2026 zen cycle wrote:

On 1/5/2026 2:46 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:

On 1/5/2026 1:11 PM, cyclintom wrote:

A lot of the measurements on the Garmin App require a power meter.
Now, I know that my power is very low but I would be interested in
tracking things like my VO2Max because of my lung damage.

RTFM - https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=3dlWqSVlq3w76z5WoihLy5f8

Has anyone here used power meter pedals or cranks and have anything to
say about them?

I have a power meter on my indoor set up Garmin Flux 2. It estimates the Max VO2 but I really find that it is probably not accurate to much
extent. It tells me my MAX vo2 is 43 and has been as high as 45. I have
no idea because the gold stardard is really the 12 minute run test. This
is Cooper running test and it tells your fitness although not your max VO2.

VO2 Max will vary somewhat between different exercise modes. IOW - don't expect the same number if you use the Garmin cycling function to
calculate VO2 MAX then the Garmin running function to calculate it. _especially_ don't expect alignment if you try to compare to a indoor
running test connected to a spirometer - the absolute gold standard, as
it measures the actual oxygen content of your exhale compared to the
inhale.

I cannot do the test because I cannot run or walk just correctly for accurate reading. Basically you see how are you can go in 12 minutes.
Then look it up tells you your rank. I guess I should be able to go
about 1.5 miles but I can't run do to balance issue dystonia. In my
prime marathon days at 31 years old I could do 2 miles. According to the chart around 60. That seems high but I was in great shape. I never ran
the Boston Marathon but qualified to run in 3 times by running 3:10 or less. I got to 3:06 my PR.

As with any of these fitness metrics, consistent measurement is the most important. Always try to measure using the same test under the same conditions with the same equipment (NIST traceable calibration is recommended).

For an amateur, the Garmin running test (cooper variant) is reasonably accurate. From my reading, a cycling version (for which Garmin does in
fact require a power meter) isn't any more or less accurate in
comparison to a lab test, but the numbers will likely be different, so
to reiterate, consistency is the key.

If your a cyclist who seldom runs, a running VO2 max test will likely
show an appreciable lower VO2 max than a cycling test would. This is
because the muscle groups used for running are underdeveloped in
relation to the cycling muscle groups and leads to quicker exhaustion. However, if you always use the running test, the results will at least
be consistent and comparable as your fitness level changes from cycling.
you can use it therefore as a test of your fitness, but don't expect
that the numbers would be the same as they would be if you were tested
in lab.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/fitness/tips-for-improving-faster/

Imagine that, a $20,000 rige is going to be more accurate and reliable than a $500 setup that guesses at VO2MAX
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