Smith, T. B., & Sleivert, G. (1999). Relationship between thirty minute maximal rowing ergometer performance and blood lactate measures. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 31(5), Supplement abstract 379.

This study determined if the pace of an ergometer task performed at close to a competitive oarsman's anaerobic threshold could be predicted by different threshold measures determined from an incremental blood lactate test. Elite oarsmen (N = 8) completed a 30-minute maximal test followed one week later by an incremental blood lactate test to maximum. Average power output from the 30-minute test was compared to the power outputs determined from five different blood lactate threshold measures (deflection point, 4 mM/l, maximal perpendicular distance from both end points of the lactate curve, and lactate threshold).

Threshold measures, except the lactate threshold, correlated significantly with the 30-minute task time. However, paired-T tests were significantly different. This meant that while the measures were associated, the amount of residual difference was significant.

Implication. No threshold measures accurately predict the workload for a maximal 30-minute rowing ergometer test in competitive oarsmen. Threshold measures are not good work predictors for rowing.

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