Lactate threshold test at Upton Labs today

I finally made my appointment at Craig Upton Labs in Marin today to have my test done and know my proper lactate threshold and proper heat rate training zone.Smilie runs the program and is an ex-pro and continues to advise riders like George Hincappi and Andy Schleck. The special trainer and computer set up that he uses cost 14,000 dollars and is the only one in the United States. I feel humbled that a recreation athlete like me for 200 bucks can use a machine that months earlier Andy Schleck was tested on. I have a feeling my power output and data might be slightly lower than Tour de France winner Andy...He put my bike on the trainer, entered my data in the Mac that he used to interplay with the trainer, and had me pedal at a constant rate high cadence and every 3 minutes he got a blood sample from the small puncture he made at the start in my finger. He also raised the difficulty level by 20% each 3 minute period. Needless to say I rode to exhaustion in under 30 minutes all the while the machine measuring my heart rate, lactate levels and power output. After I finished ( in a pool of sweat) he compiled the data, went over it with me and discussed the conclusions and data. I gave out a little early as he said I still had fatigue from last sunday's difficult century and that showed a bit. I always thought my ideal heart rate training zone was 140, meaning my body is efficient and can pedal all day at that rate and do it day after day. Come to find out it's really 135 and I should never really get into over 150 or I go anaerobic and burn out the limited carb energy my body has. if I go lower than 130 or so, I m not maximizing my power out put and efficiency. So, I need to slow it down, keep it steady and stay out of a heart rate over 150. Remember this style of riding and training is mainly for endurance, long distance athletes, and it applies no matter the sport. If I ride in my ideal zone my body can convert fat to energy for use( which your body has much more than carb stores) and stay out of my "carb" energy, resulting in less stressful, efficient almost unlimited energy production. The 30 minute lecture Smilie gave on how this works and why heart rate training works is worth the money itself. Afterwards Greg and I did a tempo ride in Marin through Tiberon called the Paradise loop. Smilie told me to take a few days of the bike that I getting fatigued and need to let my body re-supply. Fascinating experience and now I really know where I should be riding, training, and have real data to work with. I recommend looking up the Craig Upton lab near you and getting this test done if you race, or are and endurance athlete. Well worth it. Hopefully this will help me stay steady "riding the divide" this June.