European Journal of Applied Physiology

, Volume 102, Issue 5, pp 615–621 | Cite as

Evaluation of a cycling pre-load time trial protocol in recreationally active humans

Short Communication
First Online:
Accepted:

Abstract

The need for greater sensitivity in exercise performance measures is of particular importance in nutritional intervention studies and such measures have been investigated in trained cyclists, but not in those who have no experience of laboratory testing and/or the need to pace their effort. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a mixed design approach (constant load then time-trial) endurance type cycle ergometer protocol using recreationally active participants not well accustomed to cycling. Seven participants including one female (age 25 ± 5 years; body mass 74.4 ± 9.3 kg; peak VO2 3.91 ± 0.96 l) completed four repeat cycle tests. The test consisted of a “pre-load” (60 min at 65% of peak VO2) followed by a 20 min time trial (performance measure). Reliability for the performance measure was assessed by calculating the individual participant coefficient of variation (CV) and a mean CV for the group. Excluding a familiarisation trial, mean CV for the group was 3.4% (95% confidence interval between 2.0 and 10.1%). It is concluded that the performance test described can be used in recreationally active young adults with lower variation after one familiarisation trial. The protocol might be used to evaluate an intervention if changes in performance are expected to be greater than 3.4%, or greater than around 7% if a signal to noise ratio of 2: 1 was to be considered appropriate.

Keywords

Exercise performance Nutrition Metabolism 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Scottish Executive and Extreme Nutrition under the SME Collaborative Research Programme (SCORE). The authors wish to thank John Fox for his technical assistance, and School of Life Sciences colleagues for commenting on the manuscript.

References

  1. Atkinson G, Nevill AM (1998) Statistical methods for assessing measurement error (reliability) in variables relevant to sports medicine. Sports Med 26:217–238PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Bergstrom J, Hermansen L, Hultman E, Saltin B (1967) Diet, muscle glycogen and physical performance. Acta Physiol Scand 71:140–150PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Bland JM, Altman DG (1986) Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet 1:307–310PubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Currell K, Jentjens RLPG, Jeukendrup AE (2006) Reliability of a cycling time trial in a glycogen depleted state. Eur J Appl Physiol 98:583–589PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Halson SL, Lancaster GI, Achten J, Gleeson M, Jeukendrup AE (2004) Effects of carbohydrate supplementation on performance and carbohydrate oxidation after intensified cycling training. J Appl Physiol 97:1245–1253PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Hopkins WG (2000) Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science. Sports Med 30:1–15PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Hopkins WG (2007) A new view of statistics. http://www.sportsci.org/resource/stats/
  8. Jeukendrup A, Saris WHM, Brouns F, Kester ADM (1996) A new validated endurance performance test. Med Sci Sports Exerc 28:266–270PubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. Krebs PS, Powers SK (1989) Reliability of laboratory endurance tests. Med Sci Sports Exerc 21:S10Google Scholar
  10. Laursen PB, Shing CM, Jenkins DG (2003) Reproducibility of a laboratory-based 40-km cycle time-trial on a stationary wind-trainer in highly trained cyclists. Int J Sports Med 24:481–485PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. MacLellan TM, Cheung SS, Jacobs I (1995) Variability of time to exhaustion during submaximal exercise. Can J Appl Physiol 20:39–51Google Scholar
  12. Montfort-Steiger V, Williams CA, Armstrong N (2005) The reproducibility of an endurance performance test in adolescent cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 94:618–625PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Palmer GS, Dennis SC, Noakes TD, Hawley JA (1996) Assessment of the reproducibility of performance testing on an air-braked cycle ergometer. Int J Sports Med 17:293–298PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Reardon TF, Ruell PA, Fiatarone Singh MA, Thompson CH, Rooney KB (2006) Creatine supplementation does not enhance submaximal aerobic training adaptations in healthy young men and women. Eur J Appl Physiol 98:234–241PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Robinson TM, Sewell DA, Hultman E, Greenhaff PL (1999) Role of submaximal exercise in promoting creatine and glycogen accumulation in human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol 87:598–604PubMedGoogle Scholar
  16. Saris WHM, Antoine JM, Brouns F, Fogelholm M, Gleeson M, Hespel P, Jeukendrup AE, Maughan RJ, Pannemans D, Stich V (2003) PASSCLAIM—physical performance and fitness. Eur J Nutr 42(Suppl 1):I50–I95PubMedGoogle Scholar
  17. Schabort EJ, Hawley JA, Hopkins WG, Mujika I, Noakes TD (1998) A new reliable laboratory test of endurance performance for road cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc 30:1744–1750PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Smith MF, Davison RC, Balmer J, Bird SR (2001) Reliabilty of mean power recorded during indoor and outdoor self-paced 40 km cycling time-trials. Int J Sports Med 22:270–274PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. van Loon LJC, Oosterlaar AM, Hartgens F, Hesselink MKC, Snow RJ, Wagenmakers AJM (2003) Effects of creatine loading and prolonged creatine supplementation on body composition, fuel selection, sprint and endurance performance in humans. Clin Sci 104:153–162PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Romijn JA, Coyle EF, Sidossis LS, Gastaldelli A, Horowitz JF, Endert E, Wolfe RR (1993) Regulation of endogenous fat and carbohydrate metabolism in relation to exercise intensity and duration. Am J Physiol 265:E380–E391PubMedGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.School of Life SciencesHeriot-Watt UniversityEdinburghUK

Personalised recommendations