VO2Max: Cycle Ergometer (YMCA)

Quickly measure and calculate your VO2Max and cardiovascular capacity

VO2Max is a measurement of your body’s ability to process a volume of oxygen and is indexed to your body mass. Achieving and maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system is one of the most important aspects of fitness. Because it measures your body’s capacity to process oxygen, it serves as a good indicator of how much you can safely exert yourself during exercise.

Cycle Ergometer (YMCA) Protocol

Purpose

Estimate the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to determine cardiovascular fitness level.

Equipment

Cycle ergometer, heart rate monitor, and blood pressure monitor

Procedure

The goal of assessment is for the subject to achieve two consecutive workloads where the heart rate is between 110 bpm and 85% of age-predicted max heart rate. The minimum time for the test is 6 minutes and the maximum is 12 minutes.

Allow the subject to warm‐up on the cycle ergometer for 2 to 3 minutes with a resistance of 0 kg and an RPM of 50.

Start the first workload (3 min @ 150 kgm/min, 0.5 kg, 50 RPM):

  • Record HR at 2:00 min
  • Measure BP from 2:00 to 3:00 min
  • Record RPE at 2:45 min
  • Record HR at 3:00 min
  • If the 2:00 and 3:00 HR’s are not within 5 bpm, add a 4th minute to this stage and record HR at 4:00 min
  • Based on the HR at 3:00 min (or 4:00 min if you had to extend the stage), adjust the workload appropriately and follow these same instructions for the next stages.

YMCA Cycle Protocol

After the test is finished, record:

  • After the test is finished, record:
    • Record heart rate and blood pressure at the end of the 3 minutes
  • 2 to 3 minute seated Passive Recovery
    • Record heart rate and blood pressure at end of passive recovery

Cycle Ergometer (YMCA) Calculation

yrs
lbs
kg/min
bpm
kg/min
bpm

Calculation Result

DATE-
VO2Max (mL/kg · min)-
VO2Max Classification-

Cycle Ergometer (YMCA) Classification Chart

Male: 18-25 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior60> 60.0
Excellent5259.9
Above Average4751.9
Average4246.9
Below Average3741.9
Poor3036.9
Very Poor029.9

Male: 26-35 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior56> 56.0
Excellent4955.9
Above Average4348.9
Average4042.9
Below Average3539.9
Poor3034.9
Very Poor029.9

Male: 36-45 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior51> 51.0
Excellent4350.9
Above Average3942.9
Average3538.9
Below Average3134.9
Poor2630.9
Very Poor025.9

Male: 46-55 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior45> 45.0
Excellent3944.9
Above Average3638.9
Average3235.9
Below Average2931.9
Poor2528.9
Very Poor024.9

Male: 56-65 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior41> 41.0
Excellent3640.9
Above Average3235.9
Average3031.9
Below Average2629.9
Poor2225.9
Very Poor021.9

Male: 66-100 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior37> 37.0
Excellent3336.9
Above Average2932.9
Average2628.9
Below Average2225.9
Poor2021.9
Very Poor019.9

Female: 18-25 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior56> 56.0
Excellent4755.9
Above Average4246.9
Average3841.9
Below Average3337.9
Poor2832.9
Very Poor027.9

Female: 26-35 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior52> 52.0
Excellent4551.9
Above Average3944.9
Average3538.9
Below Average3134.9
Poor2630.9
Very Poor025.9

Female: 36-45 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior45> 45.0
Excellent3844.9
Above Average3437.9
Average3133.9
Below Average2730.9
Poor2226.9
Very Poor021.9

Female: 46-55 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior40> 40.0
Excellent3439.9
Above Average3133.9
Average2830.9
Below Average2527.9
Poor2024.9
Very Poor019.9

Female: 56-65 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior37> 37.0
Excellent3236.9
Above Average2831.9
Average2527.9
Below Average2224.9
Poor1821.9
Very Poor017.9

Female: 66-100 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (mL/(kg · min))TO (mL/(kg · min))
Superior32> 32.0
Excellent2831.9
Above Average2527.9
Average2224.9
Below Average1921.9
Poor1718.9
Very Poor016.9

The Modern Platform for Personal Training Operations