Field-measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performance
Drag area (Ad) is a primary factor determining aerodynamic resistance during level cycling and is therefore a key determinant of level time trial performance. However, Ad has traditionally been difficult to measure. Our purpose was to determine the value of adding field-measured Ad as a correlate of...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2015-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/1144.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797420237056901120 |
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| author | James E. Peterman Allen C. Lim Ryan I. Ignatz Andrew G. Edwards William C. Byrnes |
| author_facet | James E. Peterman Allen C. Lim Ryan I. Ignatz Andrew G. Edwards William C. Byrnes |
| author_sort | James E. Peterman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drag area (Ad) is a primary factor determining aerodynamic resistance during level cycling and is therefore a key determinant of level time trial performance. However, Ad has traditionally been difficult to measure. Our purpose was to determine the value of adding field-measured Ad as a correlate of level cycling time trial performance. In the field, 19 male cyclists performed a level (22.1 km) time trial. Separately, field-determined Ad and rolling resistance were calculated for subjects along with projected frontal area assessed directly (AP) and indirectly (Est AP). Also, a graded exercise test was performed to determine $\dot {V}{O}_{2}$V̇O2 peak, lactate threshold (LT), and economy. $\dot {V}{O}_{2}$V̇O2 peak ($\mathrm{l}~\min ^{-1}$lmin−1) and power at LT were significantly correlated to power measured during the time trial (r = 0.83 and 0.69, respectively) but were not significantly correlated to performance time (r = − 0.42 and −0.45). The correlation with performance time improved significantly (p < 0.05) when these variables were normalized to Ad. Of note, Ad alone was better correlated to performance time (r = 0.85, p < 0.001) than any combination of non-normalized physiological measure. The best correlate with performance time was field-measured power output during the time trial normalized to Ad (r = − 0.92). AP only accounted for 54% of the variability in Ad. Accordingly, the correlation to performance time was significantly lower using power normalized to AP (r = − 0.75) or Est AP (r = − 0.71). In conclusion, unless normalized to Ad, level time trial performance in the field was not highly correlated to common laboratory measures. Furthermore, our field-measured Ad is easy to determine and was the single best predictor of level time trial performance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:58:43Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:58:43Z |
| publishDate | 2015-08-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-06e38f17035146689029bf995a3c49d82023-12-03T09:56:35ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592015-08-013e114410.7717/peerj.1144Field-measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performanceJames E. Peterman0Allen C. Lim1Ryan I. Ignatz2Andrew G. Edwards3William C. Byrnes4Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USADepartment of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USADepartment of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USADepartment of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USADepartment of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USADrag area (Ad) is a primary factor determining aerodynamic resistance during level cycling and is therefore a key determinant of level time trial performance. However, Ad has traditionally been difficult to measure. Our purpose was to determine the value of adding field-measured Ad as a correlate of level cycling time trial performance. In the field, 19 male cyclists performed a level (22.1 km) time trial. Separately, field-determined Ad and rolling resistance were calculated for subjects along with projected frontal area assessed directly (AP) and indirectly (Est AP). Also, a graded exercise test was performed to determine $\dot {V}{O}_{2}$V̇O2 peak, lactate threshold (LT), and economy. $\dot {V}{O}_{2}$V̇O2 peak ($\mathrm{l}~\min ^{-1}$lmin−1) and power at LT were significantly correlated to power measured during the time trial (r = 0.83 and 0.69, respectively) but were not significantly correlated to performance time (r = − 0.42 and −0.45). The correlation with performance time improved significantly (p < 0.05) when these variables were normalized to Ad. Of note, Ad alone was better correlated to performance time (r = 0.85, p < 0.001) than any combination of non-normalized physiological measure. The best correlate with performance time was field-measured power output during the time trial normalized to Ad (r = − 0.92). AP only accounted for 54% of the variability in Ad. Accordingly, the correlation to performance time was significantly lower using power normalized to AP (r = − 0.75) or Est AP (r = − 0.71). In conclusion, unless normalized to Ad, level time trial performance in the field was not highly correlated to common laboratory measures. Furthermore, our field-measured Ad is easy to determine and was the single best predictor of level time trial performance.https://peerj.com/articles/1144.pdfDrag coefficientPower meterField testingPower outputPredicting performanceExercise physiology |
| spellingShingle | James E. Peterman Allen C. Lim Ryan I. Ignatz Andrew G. Edwards William C. Byrnes Field-measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performance PeerJ Drag coefficient Power meter Field testing Power output Predicting performance Exercise physiology |
| title | Field-measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performance |
| title_full | Field-measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performance |
| title_fullStr | Field-measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Field-measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performance |
| title_short | Field-measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performance |
| title_sort | field measured drag area is a key correlate of level cycling time trial performance |
| topic | Drag coefficient Power meter Field testing Power output Predicting performance Exercise physiology |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/1144.pdf |
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