acoggan said:The distinction that needs to be drawn here is between a valid measurement of VO2max (classically defined by a absolute or relative plateau in VO2 with respect to demand) and measurement of VO2peak.
In the case of my tests described above, only the cycle ergometer test elicted my true VO2max...the speed of the treadmill test was far too high for me, such that my legs fatigued prematurely, preventing me from achieving VO2max. However, I have done numerous (i.e., dozens) treadmill tests using a much lower speed (and hence a higher grade), and consistent with conventional understanding/knowledge in the field of exercise physiology* the highest VO2 I can achieve under such conditions is the same as when cycling.
*Then there is Tim Noakes' widely-discredited central governor theory, which is completely inconsistent with the results of numerous studies...but I won't go there.
Doesn't it depend on "your chosen method of sport"? I'm sure that a runner would experience the same issues on a bike. I wonder what the hell they do for swimmers.
In the series of tests that I did, my maximum HR was also limited by the fact that my arms were not moving.
I also notice that indoor training elevates my HR significantly as compared to similar efforts outside in the wind and cool air. Cardiac "Drift". Not sure if that led to my tests ending prematurely or not. Doesn't that skew the data?