Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-42012
Reproducibility of a Laboratory-Based 40-km Cycle Time-Trial on a Stationary Wind-Trainer in Highly Trained Cyclists
Publication History
Accepted after revision: February 3, 2003
Publication Date:
10 September 2003 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/sportsmed/200307/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-2003-42012-1.jpg)
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine the reproducibility of laboratory-based 40-km cycle time-trial performance on a stationary wind-trainer. Each week, for three consecutive weeks, and on different days, forty-three highly trained male cyclists (x¯ ± SD; age = 25 ± 6 y; mass = 75 ± 7 kg; peak oxygen uptake [V·O2peak] = 64.8 ± 5.2 ml × kg-1 × min-1) performed: 1) a V·O2peak test, and 2) a 40-km time-trial on their own racing bicycle mounted to a stationary wind-trainer (Cateye - Cyclosimulator). Data from all tests were compared using a one-way analysis of variance. Performance on the second and third 40-km time-trials were highly related (r = 0.96; p < 0.001), not significantly different (57 : 21 ± 2 : 57 vs. 57 : 12 ± 3 : 14 min:s), and displayed a low coefficient of variation (CV) = 0.9 ± 0.7 %. Although the first 40-km time-trial (58 : 43 ± 3 : 17 min:s) was not significantly different from the second and third tests (p = 0.06), inclusion of the first test in the assessment of reliability increased within-subject CV to 3.0 ± 2.9 %. 40-km time-trial speed (km × h-1) was significantly (p < 0.001) related to peak power output (W; r = 0.75), V·O2peak (l × min-1; r = 0.53), and the second ventilatory turnpoint (l × min-1; r = 0.68) measured during the progressive exercise tests. These data demonstrate that the assessment of 40-km cycle time-trial performance in well-trained endurance cyclists on a stationary wind-trainer is reproducible, provided the athletes perform a familiarization trial.
Key words
Peak oxygen uptake - reliability - ventilatory threshold
References
- 1 Hopkins W G, Schabort E J, Hawley J A. Reliability of power in physical performance tests. Sports Med. 2001; 31 211-234
- 2 Hopkins W G. Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science. Sports Med. 2000; 30 1-15
- 3 Hopkins W G, Hawley J A, Burke L M. Design and analysis of research on sport performance enhancement. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999; 31 472-485
- 4 Lindsay F H, Hawley J A, Myburgh K H, Schomer H H, Noakes T D, Dennis S C. Improved athletic performance in highly trained cyclists after interval training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996; 28 1427-1434
- 5 Stepto N K, Hawley J A, Dennis S C, Hopkins W G. Effects of different interval-training programs on cycling time-trial performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998; 31 736-741
- 6 Westgarth-Taylor C, Hawley J A, Rickard S, Myburgh K H, Noakes T D, Dennis S C. Metabolic and performance adaptations to interval training in endurance-trained cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997; 75 298-304
- 7 Weston A R, Myburgh K H, Lindsay F H, Dennis S C, Noakes T D, Hawley J A. Skeletal muscle buffering capacity and endurance performance after high-intensity training by well-trained cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997; 75 7-13
- 8 Balmer J, Davison R C, Bird S R. Peak power predicts performance power during an outdoor 16.1-km cycling time trial. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000; 32 1485-1490
- 9 Palmer G S, Dennis S C, Noakes T D, Hawley J A. Assessment of the reproducibility of performance testing on an air-braked cycle ergometer. Int J Sports Med. 1996; 17 293-298
- 10 Smith M F, Davison R C, Balmer J, Bird S R. Reliability of mean power recorded during indoor and outdoor self-paced 40 km cycling time-trials. Int J Sports Med. 2001; 22 270-4
- 11 Hickey M S, Costill D L, McConell G K, Widrick J J, Tanaka H. Day to day variation in time trial cycling performance. Int J Sports Med. 1992; 13 467-470
- 12 Jeukendrup A, Saris W H, Brouns F, Kester A D. A new validated endurance performance test. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996; 28 266-270
- 13 Bishop D. Reliability of a 1-h endurance performance test in trained female cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997; 29 554-559
- 14 Laursen P B, Shing C M, Peake J M, Coombes J S, Jenkins D G. High-intensity interval training program optimization in highly trained cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002; 34 1801-1807
- 15 Laursen P B, Shing C M, Tennant S C, Prentice C M, Jenkins D G. A comparison of cycling performance between cyclists and triathletes. J Sport Sci. 2003; 21 (in press)--
- 16 Hill D W, Leiferman J A, Lynch N A, Dangelmaier B S, Burt S E. Temporal specificity in adaptations to high-intensity exercise training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998; 30 450-455
- 17 Gore C J, Catcheside P G, French S N, Bennett J M, Laforgia J. Automated VO2max calibrator for open-circuit indirect calorimetry systems. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997; 29 1095-1103
- 18 Hawley J A, Noakes T D. Peak power output predicts maximal oxygen uptake and performance in trained cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992; 65 79-83
- 19 Lucia A, Hoyos J, Perez M, Chicharro J L. Heart rate and performance parameters in elite cyclists: a longitudinal study. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000; 32 1777-1782
- 20 Laursen P B, Blanchard M A, Jenkins D G. Acute high-intensity interval training improves Tvent and peak power output in highly-trained males. Can J Appl Physiol. 2002; 27 336-348
- 21 Bland J M, Altman D. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet. 1986; 8 307-310
- 22 Coyle E F. Integration of the physiological factors determining endurance performance ability. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1995; 23 25-63
- 23 Paton C D, Hopkins W G. Tests of cycling performance. Sports Med. 2001; 31 489-96
- 24 Palmer G S, Hawley J A, Dennis S C, Noakes T D. Heart rate responses during a 4-d cycle stage race. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994; 26 1278-1283
- 25 Jeukendrup A E, Martin J. Improving cycling performance: how should we spend our time and money. Sports Med. 2001; 31 559-569
P. B. Laursen
School of Human Movement of Sport Sciences · The University of Ballarat
Ballarat · Victoria · Australia ·
Phone: +61-3-5327-9658
Fax: +61-3-5327-9478
Email: p.laursen@ballarat.edu.au