Hey everyone,
I’m at a bit of a crossroads and would love your input. This winter I’m looking for a way to make my indoor training more engaging while also gathering data that could help me structure my 2026 training season more intelligently.
I see three main options:
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Lactate measurement device – The classic portable handheld meters where you prick your finger/ear and measure blood lactate.
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Pros: direct measurement of metabolic response, well validated, useful for tracking thresholds. Allows for multiple test protocols and playing around on your own.
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Cons: invasive blood sampling, consumables cost money, requires some planning during training and a second person to help me. Measurements can be messy and error-prone — e.g. contaminated samples from sweat or poor technique easily lead to bad data.
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Portable breath analysis device (e.g. Calibre Biometrics’ “Mask” system) – essentially a wearable metabolic cart that estimates VO₂,Max, FatMax etc. via exhaled air.
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Pros: non-invasive, continuous during workouts, gives insight into FatMax, carb vs fat oxidation, VO₂ trends.
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Cons: newer tech (validation still limited compared to lab systems), requires wearing a mask which may affect training comfort. Does not give any insights about Lactate levels.
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Lab testing (VO₂max, lactate step tests, etc.) – gold standard in controlled environments.
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Pros: very reliable, standardized protocols, expert interpretation.
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Cons: costly per session, not easily repeatable on a weekly basis, less “real world.”
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A bit of context: I’m a data scientist, so the analytical side of this really appeals to me. I’m also fully aware I’m not a pro athlete, with an eleven months old baby at home — for me it’s probably more about the fun of playing with data as it is about performance gains. I already own a Powermeter and ride with an HRM.
With at max 8-12h per week of training, mostly split between CX racing in winter and time trialling in spring and summer, I want the feedback to help me set power targets for my training sessions, so I can shape my training blocks better.
So the question is: if you were in my position, would you invest in a lactate meter, a portable breath analysis device, or just budget for a proper lab sessions per year?
I tend towards a device, since I do not train for a specific main event and like the idea set a new benchmark whenever I want, without additional costs. Great if anyone also could share his or her experiences with the Calibre Device. So far I just found this paper but not much reliable first hand feedback.
Would love to hear your experiences and reasoning!