Power output and affective load change during time trial according to environmental conditions
Journal Title: Journal of Science and Cycling - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: During cycling events, riders have to face to different environmental conditions like wind or road gradient, which leads to variable resistive forces. Those resistances involve a specific pedaling cadence (PC) – crank inertial load (CIL) association and modify the level of power output (PO) (Hansen et al., 2002). The different environmental conditions also could influence the affective load (AL), defined like the difference between perception of exertion rate and pleasure (Baron et al., 2011). The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of different environmental conditions on PO and AL. Method: Eight amateur competitive cyclists performed five 25 ± 5min TT sessions at their maximal capacity in different environmental conditions: 1) in level ground with 3 different wind conditions: no wind (NW), headwind (HW), tailwind (TW). The wind velocity was 40 ± 5 km/h, 2) in uphill (UP) with a mean slope of 8% and 3) on Home Trainer (HT). PO was recorded from a Power Tap® power meter. Every 4 minutes, riders had to rate their exercise perceived exertion from a CR10 Borg scale and their pleasure on a “pleasure scale” to evaluate their AL. An ANOVA statistical test was used to analyze the evolution of PO and AL over the time between the different conditions. Results: PO is significantly different between all conditions and varies over the time. Different pacing strategies are observed with a fast start and a final spurt. PO is higher in NW and TW (+ 3.5%) compared with HW and UP. There are correlations between PC and cycling speed (v) (r = 0.84, p<0.001) and between CIL and v (r = 0.92, p<0.001). AL increases over the time (p<0.05) for all the conditions and is significantly different between all conditions (p<0.05). AL is higher (+56%) in HW compared with the others conditions. Discussion / Conclusion: PO varies significantly according to wind and road gradient conditions. For each condition, riders select a specific PC – CIL combination which modifies PO and AL. The higher AL observed in HW was not associated with the higher PO. The changes in the PC – CIL combinations determined different whole body sensations that could play a role on AL. The changes in resistive forces involve different crank torque profiles which modify the force-length relationship, the muscular contraction velocity and muscular strains. So, to decrease AL it seems necessary to adopt an optimal gear according to the field and learn to tame the environmental conditions. This requires specific and regular training.
Authors and Affiliations
HA Ferguson| Auckland Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, CD Paton| Eastern Institute of Technology, Napier, New Zealand, WG Hopkins| Auckland Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP2832
- DOI -
- Views 435
- Downloads 25
Modelling the energy metabolism of best performances in professional cycling
It is widely accepted that the muscular energy metabolism is of primary importance for best performances in professional cycling. However the dynamics of the muscular energy metabolism can neither get accessed directly n...
An online survey using social media investigating the use of kinesiology type tape and McConnell type tape with clinicians who treat cycling related knee pain
Background: The Tour de France will undoubtedly showcase various cycling related injuries in its Yorkshire opening stages in 2014. Patello-Femoral Pain (PFP) is responsible for over 25% of all road cycling injuries and o...
The effect of wheel diameter on vertical and horizontal mountain bike position
Background: Mountain bike wheel dimensions have evolved to larger diameters in recent years. While numerous claims can be found for performance advantages of larger diameter wheels, systematic comparisons of mechanical c...
Internal Mechanical Power During Cycling Using Non-Circular Versus Circular Chainrings
Introduction: Non-circular Rotor Q-Rings have been shown to increase tangential force during the pedalling downstroke compared to conventional circular chainrings1, and due to this advantage, have been proposed as a pote...
Increased physical effort overrides the potentially deleterious effects of resource depletion following self-control
Background: Long duration cycling events require riders to maintain concentration and self-control over lengthy periods, for example, listening to race plans and/or eve-dropping on conversations of other riders whilst...