Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The energetically optimal cadence decreases after prolonged cycling exercise

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the change in the energetically optimal cadence after prolonged cycling. The energetically optimal cadence (EOC) was determined in 14 experienced cyclists by pulmonary gas exchange at six different cadences (100–50 rpm at 10 rpm intervals). The determination of the EOC was repeated after a prolonged cycling exercise of 55 min duration, where cadence was fixed either at high (>95 rpm) or low (<55 rpm) pedalling rates. The EOC decreased after prolonged cycling exercise at a high as well as at a low fixed cadence (P < 0.01). According to the generalized muscle equations of Hill, this indicates that most likely more type I muscle fibres contribute to muscular power output after fatiguing cycling exercise compared to cycling in the beginning of an exercise bout. We suggest that the determination of EOC might be a potential non-invasive method to detect the qualitative changes in activated muscle fibres, which needs further investigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aaron EA, Seow KC, Johnson JA, Dempsey BD (1992) Oxygen cost of exercise hyperpnea: implications for performance. J Appl Physiol 72:1818–1825

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ahlquist LE, Bassett DR, Sufit R, Nagle DP, Thomas FJ (1992) The effect of pedaling frequency on glycogen depletion rates in type I and type II quadriceps muscle fibers during submaximal cycling exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 65:360–364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Altenburg TM, Degens H, van Mechelen W, Sargeant A, de Haan AJ (2007) Recruitment of single muscle fibers during submaximal cycling exercise. J Appl Physiol 103:1752–1756

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Argentin S, Hausswirth C, Bernard T, Bieuzen F, Leveque JM, Couturier A, Lepers R (2006) Relation between preferred and optimal cadences during two hours of cycling in triathletes. Br J Sports Med 40:293–298

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borg G (1982) Ratings of perceived exertion and heart rates during short-term cycle exercise and their use in a new cycling strength test. Int J Sports Med 3:153–158

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bottinelli R, Reggiani C (2000) Human skeletal muscle fibres: molecular and functional diversity. Prog Biophys Mol Biol 73:195–262

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brisswalter J, Hausswirth C, Smith D, Vercruyssen F, Vallier JM (2000) Energetically optimal cadence vs. freely-chosen cadence during cycling: effect of exercise duration. Int J Sports Med 21:60–64

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chavarren J, Calbet JAL (1999) Cycling efficiency and pedaling frequency in road cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 80:555–563

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coast JR, Welch HG (1985) Linear increase in optimal pedal rate with increased power output in cycle ergometry. Eur J Appl Physiol 53:339–342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di Prampero PE (2000) Cycling on earth, in space, on the moon. Eur J Appl Physiol 82:345–360

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farina D, Macaluso A, Ferguson RA, de Vito G (2004) Effect of power, pedal rate, and force on average muscle fiber conduction velocity during cycling. J Appl Physiol 97:2035–2041

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Foss O, Hallén J (2004) The most economical cadence increases with increasing workload. Eur J Appl Physiol 92:443–451

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Francescato MP, Girardis M, di Prampero PE (1995) Oxygen cost of internal work during cycling. Eur J Appl Physiol 72:51–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Alonso J, Calbet JAL, Nielsen B (1998) Muscle blood flow is reduced with dehydration during prolonged exercise in humans. J Physiol 513:895–905

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg JM, Mullin JP, Nagle FJ (1978) Oxygen consumption during constant-load exercise. J Appl Physiol 45:381–384

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen EA, Andersen JL, Nielsen JS, Sjogaard G (2002) Muscle fibre type, efficiency, and mechanical optima affect freely chosen pedal rate during cycling. Acta Physiol Scand 176:185–194

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henneman E, Somjen G, Carpenter DO (1965) Functional significance of cell size in spinal motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 28:560–580

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hill AV (1938) The heat of shortening and the dynamic constants of muscle. Proc Royal Soc Lond 126:136–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill AV (1964) The effect of load on the heat of shortening of muscle. Proc Royal Soc Lond 159:297–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler G, Boutellier U (2004) Glycogen reduction in non exercising muscle depends on blood lactate concentration. Eur J Appl Physiol 92:548–554

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler G, Boutellier U (2005) The generalized force–velocity relationship explains why the preferred pedaling rate of cyclists exceeds the most efficient one. Eur J Appl Physiol 94:188–195

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin JC, Brown NA, Anderson FC, Spirduso WW (2000) A governing relationship for repetitive muscular contraction. J Biomech 33:969–974

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Passfield L, Doust JH (2000) Changes in cycling efficiency and performance after endurance exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32:1935–1941

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson RP, Moreno MI (1990) Bicycle pedalling forces as a function of pedalling rate and power output. Med Sci Sports Exerc 22:512–516

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poole DC, Gaesser GA, Hogan MC, Knight DR, Wagner PD (1992) Pulmonary and leg \( \dot{V}{\text{O2}}\max \) during submaximal exercise: implications for muscular efficiency. J Appl Physiol 72:805–810

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarre G, Lepers R (2005) Neuromuscular function during prolonged pedalling exercise at different cadences. Acta Physiol Scand 185:321–328

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vercruyssen F, Hausswirth C, Smith D, Brisswalter J (2001) Effect of exercise duration on optimal pedaling rate choice in triathletes. Can J Appl Physiol 26:44–54

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wakeling JM (2009) Patterns of motor recruitment can be determined using surface EMG. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 19:199–207

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widrick JJ, Freedson PS, Hamill J (1992) Effect of internal work on the calculation of optimal pedaling rates. Med Sci Sports Exerc 24:376–382

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuntz N (1901) Ueber die Bedeutung der verschiedenen Nährstoffe als Erzeuger der Muskelkraft. Pflügers Arch Physiol 83:557

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Ruth Briggs for commenting and revising the manuscript. The experiments comply with the current laws of Switzerland.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Physiology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences, ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Simon Annaheim & Urs Boutellier

  2. Institute of Physiology, Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Urs Boutellier

  3. Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Basel, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Götz Kohler

  4. Biophysical Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Götz Kohler

Authors
  1. Simon Annaheim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Urs Boutellier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Götz Kohler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simon Annaheim.

Additional information

Communicated by Susan Ward.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Annaheim, S., Boutellier, U. & Kohler, G. The energetically optimal cadence decreases after prolonged cycling exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 1103–1110 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1431-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1431-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation