So, in summary, whether I have shown any improvements in performance as a direct result of the Altium i10 is very difficult to say BUT what I will say is that I am sure SOMETHING changed. Due to the very sporadic and unscientific nature of my testing it is impossible to draw any real conclusions on the benefits of the device but I simply felt that it had helped me.
After using the device for a few weeks I felt like my longer aerobic workouts were more effortless - I felt like I had a more efficient engine. Did the Altium have a part to play in these improvements? It is difficult to be certain, but I suspect it did. I am pleased to say that I saw considerable improvements in my results taking around 6 seconds per 100m off my CSS/100m pace and an increase in FTP of around 10%. I conducted swim CSS tests and bike FTP tests shortly before using the Altium i10 and retested these after I had been using the device for the 4-5 weeks. As such, my training load was increasing and as a result I was getting fitter and stronger. As I mentioned above, I was deep in training for Ironman Frankfurt when I started to use the device. This in no-way followed the loading and maintenance protocol suggest by Altium BUT it was still placing physiological demands on my system – I was still 'altitude training'. I used the device on and off for around 4-5 weeks (around 20 sessions in total). I won't go into the results here because that is not the purpose of this blog, but suffice to say – Brett was right! Anyway, my point here is that I don't use or recommend any products unless I truly believe they work.
I then proceeded to run a series of hill (aka mountain) repeat tests at varying cadences using a heart rate monitor and power meter so I could later compare the results. Of course, the fact that he had multiple World and Olympic Champions in his stable that had been coached this way should have been enough proof, but I wanted to go out and run tests myself. Having been though the run-of-the-mill British Triathlon coaches courses where they preach the opposite (high cadence spinning), I wanted to get some kind of proof that what he was saying was true. During my time with Brett he explained to me his views on why riding 'big gear' (lower cadence) was beneficial to long-course triathletes. As an example, last summer I spent time in Switzerland being mentored by world famous Triathlon Coach Brett Sutton. I would never recommend any athlete use any device (or for that matter, training method) unless I truly believed that it worked and would benefit the individual in some way.