Int J Sports Med 2001; 22(4): 270-274
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-13813
Training and Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Reliability of Mean Power Recorded During Indoor and Outdoor Self-Paced 40 km Cycling Time-Trials

M. F. Smith, R. C. R. Davison, J. Balmer, S. R. Bird
  • Department of Sport Science, Canterbury Christ Church University College, Canterbury, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

The purpose of this study was to assess reliability of both indoor and outdoor 40 km time-trial cycling performance. Eight trained cyclists completed three indoor 40 km time-trials on an air-braked ergometer (KingcycleTM) and three outdoor 40 km time-trials on a local course. Power output was measured for all trials using the SRM™ powermeter. Mean performance time across three indoor trials was 54.21 ± 2.59 (min : sec) and was significantly different (P < 0.05) to mean time across three outdoor trials (57.29 ± 3.22 min : sec). However, there was no significant difference (P = 0.34) for mean power across three indoor trials (303 ± 35 W) when compared to outdoor performances (312 ± 23 W). Within-subject variation for mean power output expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV) improved in both indoors and outdoors for trials 2 and 3 (CV = 1.9 %, 95 % CI 1.0 - 3.4 and CV = 2.1 %, 95 % CI 1.1 - 3.8) when compared to trials 1 and 2 (CV = 2.1 %, 95 % CI 1.2 - 3.8 and CV = 2.4 %, 95 % CI 1.3 - 4.3). These findings indicate that power output measured using the SRM powermeter is highly reproducible for both laboratory-based and actual 40 km time-trial cycling performance.

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Mark Smith

Department of Sport Science,
Canterbury Christ Church University College,

Canterbury, CT1 1QU
United Kingdom


Phone: Phone:+ 44 (1227) 767700

Fax: Fax:+ 44 (1227) 470442

Email: E-mail:m.f.smith@cant.ac.uk

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