Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(9): 743-748
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-964969
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Laboratory 20-km Cycle Time Trial Reproducibility

G. S. Zavorsky1 , J. M. Murias1 , J. Gow1 , D. J. Kim1 , C. Poulin-Harnois1 , S. Kubow2 , L. C. Lands3
  • 1Department of Anesthesia, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • 2School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • 3Division of Respiratory Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision July 19, 2006

Publication Date:
23 April 2007 (online)

Abstract

This study evaluated the reproducibility of laboratory based 20-km time trials in well trained versus recreational cyclists. Eighteen cyclists (age = 34 ± 8 yrs; body mass index = 23.1 ± 2.2 kg/m2; V·O2max = 4.19 ± 0.65 L/min) completed three 20-km time trials over a month on a Velotron cycle ergometer. Average power output (PO) (W), speed, and heart rate (HR) were significantly lower in the first time trial compared to the second and third time trial. The coefficients of variation (CV) between the second and third trial of the top eight performers for average PO, time to completion, and speed were 1.2 %, 0.6 %, 0.5 %, respectively, compared to 4.8 %, 2.0 %, and 2.3 % for the bottom ten. In addition, the average HR, V·O2, and percentage of V·O2max were similar between trials. This study demonstrated that (1) a familiarization session improves the reliability of the measurements (i.e., average PO, time to completion and speed), and (2) the CV was much smaller for the best performers.

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Dr. PhD Gerald Stanley Zavorsky

Department of Anesthesia
McGill University

Rm. D10 - 144, 1650 Cedar Ave

H3G1A4 Montreal

Canada

Phone: + 1 51 49 34 19 34 ext.441 87

Fax: + 1 51 49 34 82 49

Email: gerald.zavorsky@mcgill.ca