Effect of a 15% increase in preferred pedal rate on time to exhaustion during heavy exercise.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 15% increase in preferred pedal rate (PPR) on both time to exhaustion and pulmonary O(2) uptake (VO(2)) response during heavy exercise. Seven competitive cyclists underwent two constant-power tests (CPT) at a power output that theoretically requires 50% of the difference in VO(2) between the second ventilatory threshold and VO(2)max (Pdelta50). Each cyclist cycled a CPT at PPR (CPTPPR) and a CPT at +15% of PPR (CPT+15%) in a randomized order. The average PPR value was 94 +/- 4 rpm, and time to exhaustion was significantly longer in CPTPPR compared with CPT+15% (465 +/- 139 vs. 303+/- 42 s, respectively; p = 0.01). A significant decrease in VO(2) values in the first minutes of exercise and a significant increase in VO(2) slow component was reported in CPT+15% compared with CPT(PPR). These data indicate that the increase of 15% PPR was associated with a decrease in exercise tolerance and a specific VO(2) response, presumably due to an increase of negative muscular work, internal work, and an altering of motor unit recruitment patterns.

[1]  A. Lucia,et al.  Heart rate response to professional road cycling: the Tour de France. , 2007, International journal of sports medicine.

[2]  J. Doust,et al.  Effect of pedal rate on primary and slow-component oxygen uptake responses during heavy-cycle exercise. , 2003, Journal of applied physiology.

[3]  A. Lucia,et al.  Preferred pedalling cadence in professional cycling. , 2001, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[4]  B E Ainsworth,et al.  Validation of the COSMED K4 b2 Portable Metabolic System , 2001, International journal of sports medicine.

[5]  D J Sanderson,et al.  Is a joint moment-based cost function associated with preferred cycling cadence? , 2000, Journal of biomechanics.

[6]  R R Neptune,et al.  The association between negative muscle work and pedaling rate. , 1999, Journal of biomechanics.

[7]  B Petit,et al.  The Role of Cadence on the V˙O2 Slow Component in Cycling and Running in Triathletes , 1999, International journal of sports medicine.

[8]  P. Haouzi,et al.  The V(O2) slow component for severe exercise depends on type of exercise and is not correlated with time to fatigue. , 1998, Journal of applied physiology.

[9]  T. Moritani,et al.  Neuromuscular, metabolic, and kinetic adaptations for skilled pedaling performance in cyclists. , 1998, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[10]  A. J. van den Bogert,et al.  Standard mechanical energy analyses do not correlate with muscle work in cycling. , 1997, Journal of biomechanics.

[11]  P. E. Martin,et al.  Effect of cycling experience, aerobic power, and power output on preferred and most economical cycling cadences. , 1997, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[12]  E. Howley,et al.  Applicability of VO2max criteria: discontinuous versus continuous protocols. , 1997, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[13]  T. Moritani,et al.  Optimal pedaling rate estimated from neuromuscular fatigue for cyclists. , 1996, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[14]  G. Brooks,et al.  No effect of cycling experience on leg cycle ergometer efficiency. , 1996, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[15]  R. Casaburi,et al.  Influence of muscle fiber type and pedal frequency on oxygen uptake kinetics of heavy exercise. , 1996, Journal of applied physiology.

[16]  L. Mcnaughton,et al.  Effects of Differing Pedalling Speeds on the Power-Duration Relationship of High Intensity Cycle Ergometry , 1996, International journal of sports medicine.

[17]  J. Smith,et al.  Effect of Pedal Cadence on Parameters of the Hyperbolic Power - Time Relationship , 1995, International journal of sports medicine.

[18]  W. Willis,et al.  Mitochondrial function during heavy exercise. , 1994, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[19]  A J Sargeant,et al.  Human Power Output and Muscle Fatigue , 1994, International journal of sports medicine.

[20]  A P Marsh,et al.  The association between cycling experience and preferred and most economical cadences. , 1993, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[21]  G. Gaesser,et al.  Effects of pedaling speed on the power-duration relationship for high-intensity exercise. , 1991, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[22]  R. Patterson,et al.  Bicycle pedalling forces as a function of pedalling rate and power output. , 1990, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[23]  F. Péronnet,et al.  Mathematical analysis of running performance and world running records. , 1989, Journal of applied physiology.

[24]  B. Whipp,et al.  A new method for detecting anaerobic threshold by gas exchange. , 1986, Journal of applied physiology.

[25]  N. Vøllestad,et al.  Effect of varying exercise intensity on glycogen depletion in human muscle fibres. , 1985, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[26]  J. Coast,et al.  Linear increase in optimal pedal rate with increased power output in cycle ergometry , 1985, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[27]  J. Hagberg,et al.  Effect of pedaling rate on submaximal exercise responses of competitive cyclists. , 1981, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[28]  G. Brooks,et al.  Muscular efficiency during steady-rate exercise: effects of speed and work rate. , 1975, Journal of applied physiology.

[29]  W L Beaver,et al.  Anaerobic threshold and respiratory gas exchange during exercise. , 1973, Journal of applied physiology.

[30]  R. Hughson,et al.  Internal work and physiological responses during concentric and eccentric cycle ergometry , 2006, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[31]  A. Beelen,et al.  Effect of prior exercise at different pedalling frequencies on maximal power in humans , 2005, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[32]  R. Margaria,et al.  Lactic acid production in supramaximal exercise , 2004, Pflügers Archiv.

[33]  Maria Pia Francescato,et al.  Oxygen cost of internal work during cycling , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.