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Int J Sports Med 2002; 23(1): 22-27
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-19267
Training and Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Ramp Slope on Ventilation Thresholds and V˙O2peak in Male Cyclists

S.  B.  Weston1 , A.  B.  Gray1 , D.  A.  Schneider1 , G.  C.  Gass1
  • 1School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Publication History

April 30, 2001

Publication Date:
20 December 2001 (online)

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Abstract

This study investigated the effect of 10 W · min-1 (Slow ramp, SR), 30 W · min-1 (Medium ramp, MR) and 50 W · min-1 (Fast ramp, FR) exercise protocols on assessments of the first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilation thresholds and peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2peak) in 12 highly-trained male cyclists (mean ± SD age = 26 ± 6 yr). Expired gas sampled from a mixing chamber was analyzed on-line and VT1 and VT2 were defined as two break-points in 20-s-average plots of pulmonary ventilation (V˙E), ventilatory equivalents for O2 (V˙E/V˙O2) and CO2 (V˙E/V˙CO2), and fractions of expired O2 (FEO2) and CO2 (FECO2). Arterialized-venous blood samples were analyzed for blood-gas and acid-base status. V˙O2peak was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for SR (4.65 ± 0.53 l · min-1) compared to MR (4.89 ± 0.56 l · min-1) and FR (4.88 ± 0.57 l · min-1) protocols. CO2 output and blood PCO2 were lower (p < 0.05), and V˙E/V˙CO2 was higher (p < 0.05), above VT1 for SR compared to MR and FR protocols. No significant differences were observed among the protocols for V˙O2, % V˙O2peak, V˙E, plasma lactate ([La-]) and blood hydrogen ion concentration ([H+]), and heart rate (HR) values at VT1 or VT2. The work rate (WR) measured at VT1, VT2 and V˙O2peak increased (p < 0.05) with steeper ramp slopes. It was concluded that, in highly-trained cyclists, assessments of VT1 and VT2 are independent of ramp rate (10, 30, 50 W · min-1) when expressed as V˙O2, % V˙O2peak, V˙E, plasma [La-], blood [H+] and HR values, whereas V˙O2peak is lower during 10 W · min-1 compared to 30 and 50 W · min-1 ramp protocols. In addition, the WR measured at VT1, VT2 and V˙O2peak varies with the ramp slope and should be utilized cautiously when prescribing training or evaluating performance.

Key words

Endurance athletes · blood-gas and acid-base status · ramp exercise protocol · respiratory compensation threshold

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S. B. Weston

School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science · Griffith University

Gold Coast · PMB 50, Gold Coast Mail Centre · QLD 9726 · Australia ·

Phone: +61 (7 5594) 8531

Fax: +61 (7 5594) 8674

Email: s.weston@mailbox.gu.edu.au

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