Performance at high pedaling cadences in well-trained cyclists.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to determine the effect of high pedaling cadences on maximal cycling power output (W(max)).


METHODS
Nine well-trained cyclists performed a continuous, incremental cycle-ergometer test to exhaustion (25 W increases every 3 min) either at 80, 100, or 120 rpm on three different occasions.


RESULTS
W(max) was approximately 9% lower during 120 rpm in comparison with 80 and 100 rpm (335 +/- 9, 363 +/- 7, and 370 +/- 12 W, respectively; P < 0.05). During 120 rpm, ventilation rate (V(E)) increased above the increases in expired CO(2), which reduced the power output (PO) at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VT(2)) by 11% (P < 0.05). Gross efficiency (GE) did not differ among trials. At 120 rpm, capillary blood lactate concentration ([Lac]) increased above the 80-rpm trial (5.3 +/- 1.2 vs 3.0 +/- 0.7 mM at 300 W; P < 0.05), although pH was not reduced. At 120 rpm, expired CO(2) increased and reduced blood bicarbonate concentration ([HCO(3)(-)]) was reduced, maintaining blood pH similar to the other trials.


CONCLUSIONS
A high pedaling cadence (i.e., 120 rpm) reduces performance (i.e., W(max)) and anaerobic threshold during an incremental test in well-trained cyclists. The data suggest that ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VT(2)) is a sensitive predictor of optimal pedaling cadence for performance, whereas blood pH or efficiency is not.
Mora-Rodriguez
Ricardo
R
Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Exercise Physiology Laboratory at Toledo, Spain. Ricardo.Mora@uclm.es
Aguado-Jimenez
Roberto
R