In professional road cyclists, low pedaling cadences are less efficient

A Lucia; A F San Juan; M Montilla; S CaNete; A Santalla; Conrad P Earnest; M Perez

In professional road cyclists, low pedaling cadences are less efficient

A Lucia, A F San Juan, M Montilla, S CaNete, A Santalla, Conrad P Earnest, M Perez

Department for Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

96 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of changes in pedaling frequency on the gross efficiency (GE) and other physiological variables (oxygen uptake (VO2), HR, lactate, pH, ventilation, motor unit recruitment estimated by EMG) of professional cyclists while generating high power outputs (PO).

METHODS: Following a counterbalanced, cross-over design, eight professional cyclists (age (mean +/- SD): 26 +/- 2 yr, VO2max: 74.0 +/- 5.7 mL x kg x min) performed three 6-min bouts at a fixed PO (mean of 366 +/- 37 W) and at a cadence of 60, 80, and 100 rpm.

RESULTS: Values of GE averaged 22.4 +/- 1.7, 23.6 +/- 1.8 and 24.2 +/- 2.0% at 60, 80, and 100 rpm, respectively. Mean GE at 100 rpm was significantly higher than at 60 rpm (P < 0.05). Similarly, mean values of VO2, HR, rates of perceived exertion (RPE), lactate and normalized root-mean square EMG (rms-EMG) in both vastus lateralis and gluteus maximum muscles decreased at increasing cadences.

CONCLUSIONS: In professional road cyclists riding at high PO, GE/economy improves at increasing pedaling cadences.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1048-1054
Number of pages	7
Journal	Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Volume	36
Issue number	6
Publication status	Published - 2004

Cite this

@article{cdf7611d24774661a05fc123bd4df9e3,

title = "In professional road cyclists, low pedaling cadences are less efficient",

abstract = "PURPOSE: To determine the effects of changes in pedaling frequency on the gross efficiency (GE) and other physiological variables (oxygen uptake (VO2), HR, lactate, pH, ventilation, motor unit recruitment estimated by EMG) of professional cyclists while generating high power outputs (PO). METHODS: Following a counterbalanced, cross-over design, eight professional cyclists (age (mean +/- SD): 26 +/- 2 yr, VO2max: 74.0 +/- 5.7 mL x kg x min) performed three 6-min bouts at a fixed PO (mean of 366 +/- 37 W) and at a cadence of 60, 80, and 100 rpm. RESULTS: Values of GE averaged 22.4 +/- 1.7, 23.6 +/- 1.8 and 24.2 +/- 2.0% at 60, 80, and 100 rpm, respectively. Mean GE at 100 rpm was significantly higher than at 60 rpm (P < 0.05). Similarly, mean values of VO2, HR, rates of perceived exertion (RPE), lactate and normalized root-mean square EMG (rms-EMG) in both vastus lateralis and gluteus maximum muscles decreased at increasing cadences. CONCLUSIONS: In professional road cyclists riding at high PO, GE/economy improves at increasing pedaling cadences.",

author = "A Lucia and {San Juan}, {A F} and M Montilla and S CaNete and A Santalla and Earnest, {Conrad P} and M Perez",

year = "2004",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

pages = "1048--1054",

journal = "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise",

issn = "0195-9131",

publisher = "Lippincott Williams and Wilkins",

number = "6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - In professional road cyclists, low pedaling cadences are less efficient

AU - Lucia, A

AU - San Juan, A F

AU - Montilla, M

AU - CaNete, S

AU - Santalla, A

AU - Earnest, Conrad P

AU - Perez, M

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - PURPOSE: To determine the effects of changes in pedaling frequency on the gross efficiency (GE) and other physiological variables (oxygen uptake (VO2), HR, lactate, pH, ventilation, motor unit recruitment estimated by EMG) of professional cyclists while generating high power outputs (PO). METHODS: Following a counterbalanced, cross-over design, eight professional cyclists (age (mean +/- SD): 26 +/- 2 yr, VO2max: 74.0 +/- 5.7 mL x kg x min) performed three 6-min bouts at a fixed PO (mean of 366 +/- 37 W) and at a cadence of 60, 80, and 100 rpm. RESULTS: Values of GE averaged 22.4 +/- 1.7, 23.6 +/- 1.8 and 24.2 +/- 2.0% at 60, 80, and 100 rpm, respectively. Mean GE at 100 rpm was significantly higher than at 60 rpm (P < 0.05). Similarly, mean values of VO2, HR, rates of perceived exertion (RPE), lactate and normalized root-mean square EMG (rms-EMG) in both vastus lateralis and gluteus maximum muscles decreased at increasing cadences. CONCLUSIONS: In professional road cyclists riding at high PO, GE/economy improves at increasing pedaling cadences.

AB - PURPOSE: To determine the effects of changes in pedaling frequency on the gross efficiency (GE) and other physiological variables (oxygen uptake (VO2), HR, lactate, pH, ventilation, motor unit recruitment estimated by EMG) of professional cyclists while generating high power outputs (PO). METHODS: Following a counterbalanced, cross-over design, eight professional cyclists (age (mean +/- SD): 26 +/- 2 yr, VO2max: 74.0 +/- 5.7 mL x kg x min) performed three 6-min bouts at a fixed PO (mean of 366 +/- 37 W) and at a cadence of 60, 80, and 100 rpm. RESULTS: Values of GE averaged 22.4 +/- 1.7, 23.6 +/- 1.8 and 24.2 +/- 2.0% at 60, 80, and 100 rpm, respectively. Mean GE at 100 rpm was significantly higher than at 60 rpm (P < 0.05). Similarly, mean values of VO2, HR, rates of perceived exertion (RPE), lactate and normalized root-mean square EMG (rms-EMG) in both vastus lateralis and gluteus maximum muscles decreased at increasing cadences. CONCLUSIONS: In professional road cyclists riding at high PO, GE/economy improves at increasing pedaling cadences.

UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15179176/

M3 - Article

SN - 0195-9131

VL - 36

SP - 1048

EP - 1054

JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

IS - 6

ER -

In professional road cyclists, low pedaling cadences are less efficient

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