title: In professional road cyclists, low pedaling cadences are less efficient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of changes in pedaling frequency on the gross efficiency (GE) and other physiological variables (oxygen uptake (VO2), HR, lactate, pH, ventilation, motor unit recruitment estimated by EMG) of professional cyclists while generating high power outputs (PO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Following a counterbalanced, cross-over design, eight professional cyclists (age (mean +/- SD): 26 +/- 2 yr, VO2max: 74.0 +/- 5.7 mL x kg x min) performed three 6-min bouts at a fixed PO (mean of 366 +/- 37 W) and at a cadence of 60, 80, and 100 rpm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Values of GE averaged 22.4 +/- 1.7, 23.6 +/- 1.8 and 24.2 +/- 2.0% at 60, 80, and 100 rpm, respectively. Mean GE at 100 rpm was significantly higher than at 60 rpm (P < 0.05). Similarly, mean values of VO2, HR, rates of perceived exertion (RPE), lactate and normalized root-mean square EMG (rms-EMG) in both vastus lateralis and gluteus maximum muscles decreased at increasing cadences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In professional road cyclists riding at high PO, GE/economy improves at increasing pedaling cadences.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. alejandro.lucia@mrfs.cisa.uem.es
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucia
authors.forename: Alejandro F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: San Juan
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montilla
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: CaNete
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santalla
authors.forename: Conrad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Earnest
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000032:analysis; D010101:Oxygen Consumption
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates