Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of estimating oxygen uptake (VO2) from the flywheel revolution rate of a bicycle wind-loaded simulator. VO2 at four different flywheel revolution rates was measured on a Findlay Road Machine (FRM). Ten male trained cyclists, 10 male untrained cyclists, 10 female trained cyclists and 10 female untrained cyclists served as subjects. Significant curvilinear relationships (P < 0.01) were found between road speed estimated from flywheel revolution rate and VO2 expressed as l/min, ml/kg/min, l/min/square meter (r = 0.97, 0.96, 0.98, respectively). The absolute standard error of the mean VO2 was 0.21 l/min (9.6), 3.71 ml/kg/min (11.5) and 0.10 l/min/square meter (7.9), respectively. The relationship between VO2 and speed was similar to that reported during road cycling. To determine the magnitude of between-machine differences in VO2, six subjects randomly performed cycling using two different FRM. Significant (P < 0.05) differences between machines were found at only the highest speed. The present study indicates that it is possible to accurately predict VO2 from flywheel revolution rate using a FRM. Since the FRM appears to approximate the resistance a cyclist experiences on the road and allows cyclists to use their own bicycle, it provides a good alternative to traditional laboratory ergometers. Verf.-Referat