title: Variable power output during cycling improves subsequent treadmill run time to exhaustion.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of constant versus variable power output cycling exercise on subsequent high-intensity, running performance. Eight triathletes completed two testing sessions (in a random order), which required the subjects to perform 30 min of cycling at either, a constant power output (90% of the lactate threshold), or a variable power output with power output alternating every 5 min (+/-20% of the constant workload). Each cycling bout was immediately followed by a high-intensity treadmill run (16.7+/-0.7 km h(-1)) to exhaustion. No significant differences were found for mean metabolic values or power output between cycling conditions. However, a significant (P<0.05) improvement in run time to exhaustion was reported after 30 min of variable cycling (15:09+/-4:43 min) compared to constant cycling (10:51+/-3:32 min). The results of this study demonstrate that, despite similar average physiological responses during 30 min of cycling, variable-intensity cycling results in an improved running performance compared to constant-intensity cycling. It is hypothesised that the reduced power output in the final 5 min of variable cycling protocol may allow recovery before transition, however the mechanisms involved cannot be determined from the current study.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suriano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vercruyssen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brisswalter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors