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Int J Sports Med 2014; 35(13): 1084-1089
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1375694
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anthropometric Characteristics Account for Time to Exhaustion in Cycling

F. A. Basset
1   Memorial University, School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, St. John’s, Canada
,
F. Billaut
2   Institut National du Sport de Quebec, Physiology, Montreal, Canada
,
D. R. Joanisse
3   Universite Laval, Kinesiology, Quebec, Canada
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 08 April 2014

Publication Date:
30 June 2014 (online)

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Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the phenotypic and anthropometric characteristics and the cycling time to exhaustion (Tlim) at the maximal aerobic power output (Pmax). 12 (7 men, 5 women) physically-active participants performed a square-wave test at Pmax to determine the maximal time limit. Muscle histochemistry, enzymatic activities and buffer capacity were determined from a vastus lateralis muscle biopsy, lean body mass (LBM) by hydrostatic weighing, and total (TV) and lean (LV) volumes of the thigh by anthropometric measurements. The mean (±SD) Tlim was 235±84 s (score range: 108–425 s). No relationship was found between Tlim and any muscle phenotypes. However, we observed a strong, linear relationship between Tlim and LBM (r=0.84, P<0.05). Thigh TV and LV displayed weaker correlation coefficients with Tlim (r=0.66 and r=0.73, respectively; P<0.05). We further estimated the femur length and found this measure to correlate with Tlim (r=0.81, P<0.05). This study suggests that muscle phenotypes may not be representative of Tlim. Rather, anthropometric characteristics account for such performance by conferring a biomechanical advantage in cycling. We conclude that, in addition to metabolic factors, anthropometric characteristics with reasonable accuracy predict Tlim in cycling, and may account for the large inter-subject variability observed in previous studies.

Key words

time limit - lean body mass - muscle phenotypes - biomechanics - cycling
 

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