Dave Taillon
The Davis Bike Club Race Team is fortunate enough to have as one of its title sponsors the UC Davis Sports Medical Group. Within this group is a small program that focuses specifically on performance testing and biomechanical analysis. Leading the way in this program is Dr. Massimo Testa, a former team doctor for 7/11, Motorola, and most recently Mapei. Dr. Testa is a soft-spoken man in his mid 40’s who recently moved to Davis from Italy last year. Under his leadership, the performance-testing program is quickly becoming recognized as the place to go for local athletes, amateur and professionals alike. In fact current Giro d’Italia leader Stefano Garzelli tested at UCDMG this winter during his early season preparation.
In mid-March I made my way to the UC Davis Medical Group building on J Street in Sacramento for my first ever VO2 Max test. As I wheeled my trusty steed into the office and leaned it against a set of lockers, Jacob Baty, a UC Davis alum and assistant to Dr Testa, met me. After a short introduction, Jacob proceeded to input all my personal data into a computer program, which when all the testing was done, would spell out all the magical information I would need to reach my training and racing goals. My personal data would be used to help establish a set of predicted results compared to establish “norms” already programmed in the computer. The norms are derived from a group of people of similar age and fitness level that were tested. Their data was then summarized and averaged to establish a baseline for future testing.
After a 20-minute warm-up on the bike, I was fitted with head harness that holds a mouthpiece attached to a series of tubes that into and gas analysis machine attached to the computer. Then comes the obligatory nose clamp that ensures all air enters and exits through the mouth and testing machinery. The mouthpiece is like an oversized snorkel mouthpiece and the nose clip is like a glorified clothespin that squeezes your nose shut. The first 5 or so minutes of the test weren’t bad at all. The resistance on the rear wheel of my bike felt like an easy roll down Putah Creek road. I begin to think to myself, “When is this going to start to hurt, everyone says it hurts a lot?” The hurting began quickly, though, at the 8-minute mark. My mouth and throat began to get dry, and swallowing became difficult. 12 minutes into the test and, holy cow, is was really beginning to hurt! The fan blowing on me did no good at all. I was pouring sweat from my forehead, arms and legs. My heart felt like it was going to blow out of my chest, and what little saliva I have in my mouth was now running out of the mouthpiece, all the while, resistance on the rear wheel was quickly increasing. My starting cadence of 100 – 110 RPM was now down to a loping 70 - 80 RPM. My legs felt like they are going to explode! My mouth and throat were now officially designated as a desert region. They were so dry from the mouthpiece I was chewing on that a water bottle full of Cytomax was all I could think of. Oh, and that little thing called pain was still there too. Jacob said, “Come on, one more minute, you can do it”, and I completely blew up before that minute was done. I pushed my legs to the very end of their abilities.
The resistance was lowered on the rear wheel and I began spinning away, loosening my legs. Jacob was busy finalizing the test results on the computer. I think the test only lasted about 15 minutes but I was sure glad it was over. Dr Testa appears in the testing room from his office and now it was time to analyze the data. As we discussed the results I realized this was only a baseline for future tests and I now know where I stand physically. The results are mine, the numbers are mine, the percentages are mine, and the pain I felt is definitely mine. I now have specific training zones and targets based on my results, not some generic information found in a training book. With this personalized information, I can now adjust my training to hopefully allow myself the joy of reaching that next level I desire. Dr Testa and his staff have the ability to make you feel you are their most important client. The personalized attention you get is second to none. If you are like me and thought, “testing, what is it good for?” I highly encourage you to rethink your opinion and give testing a try. You won’t be disappointed.