title: Effect of pedal cadence on the accumulated oxygen deficit, maximal aerobic power and blood lactate transition thresholds of high-performance junior endurance cyclists.
abstract: In this study we investigated the effect of pedal cadence on the cycling economy, accumulated oxygen deficit (AOD), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and blood lactate transition thresholds of ten high-performance junior endurance cyclists [mean (SD): 17.4 (0.4) years; 183.8 (3.5) cm, 71.56 (3.75) kg]. Cycling economy was measured on three ergometers with the specific cadence requirements of: 90-100 rpm for the road dual chain ring (RDCR90-100 rpm) ergometer, 120-130 rpm for the track dual chain ring (TDCR120-130 rpm) ergometer, and 90-130 rpm for the track single chain ring (TSCR90-130 rpm) ergometer. AODs were then estimated using the regression of oxygen consumption (VO2) on power output for each of these ergometers, in conjunction with the data from a 2-min supramaximal paced effort on the TSCR90-130 rpm ergometer. A regression of VO2 on power output for each ergometer resulted in significant differences (P<0.001) between the slopes and intercepts that produced a lower AOD for the RDCR90-100 rpm [2.79 (0.43) l] compared with those for the TDCR120-130 rpm [4.11 (0.78) l] and TSCR90-130 rpm [4.06 (0.84) l]. While there were no statistically significant VO2max differences (P = 0.153) between the three treatments [RDCR90-100 rpm: 5.31 (0.24) l x min(-1); TDCR120-130 rpm; 5.33 (0.25) 1 x min(-1); TSCR90-130 rpm: 5.44 (0.27) l x min(-1)], all pairwise comparisons of the power output at which VO2max occurred were significantly different (P<0.001). Statistically significant differences were identified between the RDCR90-100 rpm and TDCR120-130 rpm tests for power output (P = 0.003) and blood lactate (P = 0.003) at the lactate threshold (Thla-), and for power output (P = 0.005) at the individual anaerobic threshold (Thiat). Our findings emphasise that pedal cadence specificity is essential when assessing the cycling economy, AOD and blood lactate transition thresholds of high-performance junior endurance cyclists.
authors.affiliation: South Australian Sports Institute, Australia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Woolford
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Bourdon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stanef
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McKenzie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D000693:Anaerobiosis / Q000502:physiology; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid