title: Rating of perceived exertion during cycling is associated with subsequent running economy in triathletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine which commonly measured variables of cycling intensity are related to subsequent running economy in triathletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Running economy was compared between a control run (no preceding cycle) and a run performed after a 45 min high-intensity cycle in eighteen triathletes. Power output, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and blood lactate concentration were monitored throughout the cycle. The relationship between measures of cycle intensity and the change in running economy was evaluated using Pearson's product moment correlation. Changes in running economy were also interpreted using the smallest worthwhile change (>2.4%) and grouped accordingly (i.e. impaired, no change, or improved running economy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Triathletes' RPE at the end of the cycling bout was significantly associated with the change in running economy after cycling (r=0.57, p=0.01). Average RPE of the cycle bout and RPE at the end of the cycling bout were significantly different between groups, with higher RPE scores being related to impairments in running economy (p=0.04 and p=0.02 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RPE during cycling is associated with subsequent running economy in triathletes. RPE is a simple, cost-effective measure that triathletes and their coaches can use in competition and training to control cycling intensity without the need for specialist equipment such as crank systems or blood analysers.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Centre for Exercise and Sports Science, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. jason.bonacci@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonacci
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vleck
authors.forename: Philo U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vicenzino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004526:Efficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid