Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 1999; 20(7): 429-437
DOI: 10.1055/s-1999-8825
Physiology and Biochemistry
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

The Role of Cadence on the V˙O2 Slow Component in Cycling and Running in Triathletes

V. L. Billat,  L. Mille-Hamard,  B. Petit,  J. P. Koralsztein
  • Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université Lille 2, Centre de Médecine du Sport CCAS, Paris, France
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 1999 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of two different types of cyclic severe exercise (running and cycling) on the V˙O2 slow component. Moreover we examined the influence of cadence of exercise (freely chosen [FF] vs. low frequency [LF]) on the hypothesis that: 1) a stride frequency lower than optimal and 2) a pedalling frequency lower than FF one could induce a larger and/or lower V˙O2 slow component. Eight triathletes ran and cycled to exhaustion at a work-rate corresponding to the lactate threshold + 50 % of the difference between the work-rate associated with V˙O2max and the lactate threshold (Δ 50) at a freely chosen (FF) and low frequency (LF:- 10 % of FF). The time to exhaustion was not significantly different for both types of exercises and both cadences (13 min 39 s, 15 min 43 s, 13 min 32 s, 15 min 05 s for running at FF and LF and cycling at FF and LF, respectively). The amplitude of the V˙O2 slow component (i.e. difference between V˙O2 at the last and the 3rd min of the exercise) was significantly smaller during running compared with cycling, but there was no effect of cadence. Consequently, there was no relationship between the magnitude of the V˙O2 slow component and the time to fatigue for a severe exercise (r = 0.20, p = 0.27). However, time to fatigue was inversely correlated with the blood lactate concentration for both modes of exercise and both cadences (r = - 0.42, p = 0.01). In summary, these data demonstrate that: 1) in subjects well trained for both cycling and running, the amplitude of the V˙O2 slow component at fatigue was larger in cycling and that it was not significantly influenced by cadence; 2) the V˙O2 slow component was not correlated with the time to fatigue. If the nature of the linkage between the V˙O2 slow component and the fatigue process remains unclear, the type of contraction regimen depending on exercise biomechanic characteristics seems to be determinant in the V˙O2 slow component phenomenon for a same level of training.

Key words:

V˙O2 slow component - fatigue - running - cycling - cadence - triathletes

References

  • 1 Ahlquist L E, Bassett D R, Sufit R, Nagle F J, Thomas D P. The effect of pedalling frequency on glycogen depletion rates in type I and II quadriceps muscle fibers during submaximal cycling exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  65 360-4
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Astrand P O, Saltin B. Oxygen uptake during the first minutes of heavy muscular exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1961;  16 971-6
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Astrand P O, Rodahl K. Textbook of work physiology. Physiological bases of exercise.  New York:; McGraw-Hill publisher, 1986: 336
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Aunola S, Rusko H. Reproducibility of aerobic and anaerobic thresholds in 20 - 50 year old men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1984;  53 260-6
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Barstow T J, Mole P A. Linear and nonlinear characteristics of oxygen uptake kinetics during heavy exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1991;  71 2099-106
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Barstow T J, Jones A M, Nguyen P H, Casaburi R. Influence of muscle fiber type and pedal frequency on oxygen uptake kinetics of heavy exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1996;  81 1642-50
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Billat V L, Binsse V, Haouzi P, Koralsztein J P. High level runners are able to maintain a V˙O2 steady-state below V˙O2max in an all-out run over their critical velocity.  Arch Physiol Bioch. 1998;  107 1-8
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Billat V L, Richard R, Binsse V M, Koralsztein J P, Haouzi P. V˙O2 slow component for a severe exercise depends on type of exercise and is not correlated with time to fatigue.  J Appl Physiol. 1998;  85 2118-2124
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Capelli C, Antonutto G, Zamparo P, Girardis M, di Prampero P E. Effects of prolonged cycle ergometer exercise on maximal muscle power and oxygen uptake in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1993;  66 189-95
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Cavagna G A, Saibene F P, Margaria R. Mechanical work in running.  J Appl Physiol. 1964;  19 249-56
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Cavagna G A, Kaneko M. Mechanical work and efficiency in level walking and running.  J Physiol. 1977;  268 467-81
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Cavanagh P R, Williams K R. The effect of stride length variation on oxygen uptake during distance running.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;  14 30-5
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Cavagna G A, Willems P A, Franzetti P, Detrembleur C. The two power limits conditioning step frequency in human running.  J Physiol. 1991;  437 95-108
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Cerretelli P, Veicsteinas A, Fumagalli M, Dell'orto L. Energetics of isometric exercise in man.  J Appl Physiol. 1976;  41 136-41
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Costill D L. Metabolic responses during distance running.  J Appl Physiol. 1970;  28 251-5
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Coyle E F, Labros S, Sidossis S, Horowitz J F, Beltz J D. Cycling efficiency is related to the percentage of type I muscle fibers.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;  25 1269-74
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Farrel P E, Wilmore J H, Coyle E F, Billing J E, Costill D L. Plasma lactate accumulation and distance running performance.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1979;  11 338-44
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Gaesser G A. O2 uptake during high intensity cycling at slow and fast cadences (abstract).  Physiologist. 1992;  35 210
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Gaesser G A. Influence of training and catecholamines on exercise V˙O2 response.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 782-8
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Gaesser G A, Poole D. The slow component of oxygen uptake kinetics in humans.  Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1996;  24 35-70
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Harris R C, Sahlin K, Hultman E. Phosphagen and lactate contents of m. quadriceps of man after exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1977;  43 852-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Horowitz J F, Sidossis L S, Coyle E F. High efficiency of type I muscle fibers improves performance.  Int J Sports Med. 1991;  15 152-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Jones L A. The senses of effort and force during fatiguing contractions. In: Gandevia SC et al. (eds). Fatigue. Neural and Muscular Mechanisms.  New York:; Plenum Press, 1995: 305-13
    Google Scholar
  • 24 Mahler M. Kinetics and control of oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle. In: Cerretelli P, Whipp BJ (eds). Exercise Bioenergetics and Gas Exchange.  Elsevier/North-Holland:; Biomedical Press publishers, 1980: 53-66
    Google Scholar
  • 25 Marsh A P, Martin P E. The association between cycling experience and preferred and most economical cadences.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;  24 782-8
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Morgan D, Martin P, Craib M, Caruso C, Clifton R, Hopewell R. Effect of step length optimization on the aerobic demand of running.  J Appl Physiol. 1994;  77 245-51
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Moritani T, Nagata A, De Vries H A, Muro M. Critical power as a measure of physical working capacity and anaerobic threshold.  Ergonomics. 1981;  24 339-50
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Nagle F J, Robinhold D, Howley E, Daniels J, Baptista G, Stoedefalke K. Lactic acid accumulation during running at submaximal aerobic demands.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1970;  2 182-6
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Newsholme E A, Blomstrand E, Ekblom B. Physical and mental fatigue: metabolic mechanisms and importance of plasma amino acids.  Br Med Bull. 1992;  48 477-95
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Okita K, Nishijima H, Yonezawa K, Ohtsubo M, Hanada A, Kohya T, Murakami T, Kitabatake A. Skeletal muscle metabolism in maximal bicycle and treadmill exercise distinguished by using in vivo metabolic freeze method and phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy in normal men.  Am J Cardiol. 1998;  81 106-9
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Patterson R P, Moreno M I. Bicycle pedalling forces as a function of pedalling rate and power output.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 512-6
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Poole D C, Ward S A, Gardner G W, Whipp B J. Metabolic and respiratory profile of the upper limit for prolonged exercise in man.  Ergonomics. 1988;  31 1265-79
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Poole D C, Schaffartzik W, Knight D R, Derion T, Kennedy B, Guy H J, Prediletto R, Wagner P D. Contribution of exercising legs to the slow component of oxygen uptake kinetics in humans.  J Appl Physiol. 1991;  71 1245-53
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Poole D C, Barstow T J, Gaesser G A, Willis W T, Whipp B J. V˙O2 slow component: physiological and functional significance.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 1354-8
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Roston W L, Whipp B J, Davis J A, Cunningham D A, Effros R M, Wasserman K. Oxygen uptake kinetics and lactate concentration during exercise in humans.  Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987;  135 1080-4
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Sjödin B, Jacobs I. Onset of blood lactate accumulation and marathon running performance.  Int J Sports Med. 1981;  2 23-6
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Stringer W S, Wasserman K, Casaburi R, Porszasz J, Maehara K, French W. Lactic acidosis as facilitator of oxyhemoglobin dissociation during exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1994;  76 1462-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Takaishi T, Yasuda Y, Ono T, Moritani T. Optimal pedalling rate estimated from neuromuscular fatigue for cyclists.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996;  28 1492-7
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Takaishi T, Yamamoto T, Ono T, Ito T, Moritani T. Neuromuscular, metabolic, and kinetic adaptations for skilled pedalling performance in cyclists.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;  30 442-9
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Vollestad N K, Bolm P CS. Effect of varying exercise intensity on glycogen depletion in human muscle fibers.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1985;  125 395-405
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Wasserman K, Hansen J E, Sue D Y. Facilitation of oxygen consumption by lactic acidosis during exercise.  News Physiol Sci. 1991;  6 29-34
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Whipp B J. The slow component of O2 uptake kinetics during heavy exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 1319-26
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Whipp B J, Wasserman K. The efficiency of muscular work.  J Appl Physiol. 1969;  26 644-8
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Wilkie D R. The relation between force and velocity in human muscle.  J Physiol. 1950;  110 249-80
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Willis W T, Jackman M R. Mitochondrial function during heavy exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 1347-54
    PubMedGoogle Scholar

Ph.D. Véronique Billat,

Centre de Médecine du Sport CCAS

2, avenue Richerand

F-75010 Paris

France

Phone: +33 (1) 42020818

Fax: +33 (1) 42392083

Email: Veronique.Billat@Wanadoo.fr

      >