EFFECTS OF SURFACE ON OXYGEN UPTAKE, POWER OUTPUT, AND HEART RATE DURING UPHILL CYCLING

Abstract

An alternative to stationary cycling is to use an actual bicycle on a treadmill. While eliminating differences between bicycles, this method may limit inferential conclusions to overground cycling. The current study examined physiological and biomechanical responses while cycling uphill overground versus over treadmill. Thirteen subjects rode uphill at 6.4 km ⋅ hr-1 on a 2.5 X 3.0 m treadmill and an asphalt paved road nine min at 8-12% grade. Power output (PO), cadence (CAD), VO2, and HR, were obtained via telemetry. Mean data from minutes 3 to 6 were analyzed via Two-way (surface by time) Repeated Measures ANOVA. Mean VO2, HR, and PO were higher for treadmill riding than overground (p<0.05). However, no significant difference in CAD was found between the surfaces (p>0.05). No interactions were found. Results of the current study indicate that cycling on a treadmill impose different demands than overground cycling even when the equipment is the same.