Prediction of Oxygen Uptake on a Bicycle Wind-Loaded Simulator

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of estimating oxygen uptake (V̇O₂) from the flywheel revolution rate of a bicycle wind-loaded simulator. V̇O₂at four different flywheel revolution rates was measured on a Findlay Road Machine (FRM). Ten male trained cyclists, 10 male untrained cyclists, 10 female trained cyclists and 10 female untrained cyclists served as subjects. Significant curvilinear relationships (P < 0.01) were found between road speed estimated from flywheel revolution rate and V̇O₂expressed as l · min^-1, ml · kg^-1· min^-1, l· min^-1· ^-2(r = 0.97, 0.96, 0.98, respectively). The absolute standard error of the mean V̇O₂ was 0.21 l · min ^-1 (9.6%), 3.71 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1 (11.5%) and 0.10 l · min^-1· m ^-2(7.9%), respectively. The relationship between V̇O₂and speed was similar to that reported during road cycling. To determine the magnitude of between-machine differences in V̇O₂, six subjects randomly performed cycling using two different FMR. Significant (P < 0.05) differences between machines were found at only the highest speed. The present study indicates that it is possible to accurately predict V̇O₂from flywheel revolution rate using a FRM. Since the FRM appears to approximate the resistance a cyclist experiences on the road and allows cyclists to use their own bicycle, it provides a good alternative to traditional laboratory ergometers.

Key words

Cycling - exertion - oxygen consumption - metabolism - cycle ergometer - body surface area