Relationship between physiological and biomechanical variables with aerobic power output in cycling
Journal Title: Journal of Science and Cycling - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
Performance in cycling may be determined by physiological and biomechanical parameters. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between biomechanical and physiological variables with aerobic power output in cycling. Twelve cyclists and twelve non-athletes performed an incremental cycling test to exhaustion during their first evaluation session and a constant load cycling test in a second evaluation session. Aerobic power output and oxygen uptake were measured during the first evaluation session, while muscle volume (determined using ultrasound measures in static conditions) and pedal forces were measured at the second session. Pedal forces were used to compute total force applied to the pedal and force effectiveness. Two multivariate stepwise regression analyses were conducted to measure the relationship between power output and oxygen uptake obtained at the second ventilatory threshold (VT2), muscle volume, total force applied to the pedal, force effectiveness and lower limb muscle activation for cyclists and non-athletes. Only oxygen uptake at the VT2 was significantly related to power output for non-athletes ( ) (r = 0.64, p = 0.03), whereas the resultant force was included in the regression model for cyclists (r = 0.66, p = 0.02). Muscle volume, pedal force effectiveness and muscle activation seem to have a minor effect in aerobic power output during cycling.
Authors and Affiliations
Fábio J Lanferdini| Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Rodrigo R Bini| Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Giovani dos Santos-Cunha| Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, André L Lopes| Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Flávio A de Souza Castro| Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Álvaro Reischak-Oliveira| Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Marco A Vaz| Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP2825
- DOI -
- Views 426
- Downloads 23
The effects of forward rotation of posture on heavy intensity cycling: Implications of UCI rule 1.3.013
UCI rule 1.3.013 limits the forward displacement of the nose of the saddle to 5cm rearward of the centre of the bottom-bracket. This study tests the effects of contravening this rule on 4km laboratory time trials and hig...
Caffeine supplementation improves simulated 16 km cycling time-trial performance without altering pacing strategy
Caffeine is a well-known ergogenic aid with a high prevalence of use by endurance athletes including cyclists and tri-athletes (Del Coso et al., 2011). Acute caffeine supplementation has been shown to improve cycling tim...
Differences in static and dynamic bike fit with 3d motion capture
Background: Bicycle fitting is the adjustment of bicycle configuration to suit rider requirements through appropriate placement of contact points; pedals, saddle and handlebars (Burke 1994: Clin Sports Med, 13(1), 1-14)....
Three ways of assessing the forces at the knee and ankle while cycling
The analysis of the biomechanics of the leg while cycling is based on assumptions that make the calculations easier or faster. Most of the models and optimisations based on the dynamic chains introduced by Gonzalez & Hul...
Analysis of performances at the ‘Ironman Hawaii triathlon’ and its qualifier events with respect to nationality
Ergometers and stationary bicycle trainers are commonly used in laboratories to simulate overground riding. Missing from such instrumentation, however, is any demand for balance and the fraction of the metabolic cost ass...