Muscle fibre type, efficiency, and mechanical optima affect freely chosen pedal rate during cycling
- 23 October 2002
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Acta Physiologica Scandinavica
- Vol. 176 (3), 185-194
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-201x.2002.01032.x
Abstract
This study investigated the variation in freely chosen pedal rate between subjects and its possible dependence on percentage myosin heavy chain I (%MHC I) in m. vastus lateralis, maximum leg strength and power, as well as efficiency. Additionally, the hypothesis was tested that a positive correlation exists between percentage MHC I and efficiency at pre-set pedal rates but not at freely chosen pedal rate. Twenty males performed cycling at low and high submaximal power output ( approximately 40 and 70% of the power output at which maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) was attained at 80 r.p.m.) with freely chosen and pre-set pedal rates (61, 88, and 115 r.p.m.). Percentage MHC I as well as leg strength and power were determined. Freely chosen pedal rate varied considerably between subjects: 56-88 r.p.m. at low and 61-102 r.p.m. at high submaximal power output. This variation was only partly explained by percentage MHC I (21-97%) as well as by leg strength and power. Interestingly, %MHC I correlated significantly with the pedal rate at which maximum peak crank power occurred (r = -0.81). As hypothesized, %MHC I and efficiency were unrelated at freely chosen pedal rate, which was in contrast to a significant correlation found at pre-set pedal rates (r = 0.61 and r = 0.57 at low and high power output, respectively). Subjects with high percentage MHC I chose high pedal rates close to the pedal rates at which maximum peak crank power occurred, while subjects with low percentage MHC I tended to choose lower pedal rates, favouring high efficiency. Nevertheless, the considerable variation in freely chosen pedal rate between subjects was neither fully accounted for by percentage MHC I nor by leg strength and power. Previously recognized relationships between percentage Type I ( approximately %MHC I) and efficiency as well as between pedal rate and efficiency were confirmed for pre-set pedal rates, but for freely chosen pedal rate, these variables were unrelated.Keywords
This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- Erratum to: Crank inertial load affects freely chosen pedal rate during cycling: [Journal of Biomechanics 35(2) (2002) 277–285]Journal of Biomechanics, 2002
- Is a joint moment-based cost function associated with preferred cycling cadence?Journal of Biomechanics, 2000
- Human muscle power generating capability during cycling at different pedalling ratesExperimental Physiology, 2000
- Human Muscle Power Generating Capability During Cycling at Different Pedalling RatesExperimental Physiology, 2000
- Intramuscular pressure, EMG and blood flow during low‐level prolonged static contraction in manActa Physiologica Scandinavica, 1986
- STATISTICAL METHODS FOR ASSESSING AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO METHODS OF CLINICAL MEASUREMENTThe Lancet, 1986
- Relationship Between Work Load, Pedal Frequency, and Physical Fitness*International Journal of Sports Medicine, 1984
- The needle biopsy technique for fibre type determination in human skeletal muscle–a methodological studyActa Physiologica Scandinavica, 1982
- Muscle Fiber Types: How Many and What Kind?Archives of Neurology, 1970
- A STRAIN-GAUGE DYNAMOMETER FOR MEASURING THE STRENGTH OF MUSCLE CONTRACTION AND FOR RE-EDUCATING MUSCLESRheumatology, 1953