One of the most common questions before a lab test is simple: should I test on the bike or on the treadmill? The answer matters, because your results belong to the mode you test in.
Why the mode matters
Heart rate, power and pace at a given intensity are not the same on the bike and the run. Running uses more muscle mass and is weight-bearing, so heart rate at the same effort is usually different from cycling. Zones from a bike test are not a reliable guide for your running, and the other way around.
Cyclists
Test on the bike. You get power and heart-rate zones you can use directly in your rides and on platforms such as TrainingPeaks. See cycling performance testing.
Runners
Test on the treadmill. You get pace and heart-rate zones that match how you train. Many runners pair a test with running analysis to look at technique as well as physiology. See running performance testing.
Triathletes
Ideally, test both — on separate days so the first test does not affect the second. If you can only do one, start with the discipline where you spend the most training time, or the one that limits your racing. See triathlon performance testing.
What about retesting?
Retest in the same mode, under similar conditions, at a similar point in your training week. That way any change reflects your fitness rather than the setup.
Every endurance test we offer can be booked on the bike or the treadmill.
Further reading: American College of Sports Medicine.
