The purposes of this study were (I) to assess the reproducibility of endurance performance testing on an air-braked cycle ergometer, and (II) to compare laboratory performances to performances in road races. Ten well-trained, competitive cyclists (peak power output [PPO] 443 +/- 37 W, [values are mean +/- SD]) undertook either: (I) three 20 km and three 40 km time trials (TT) on an air braked ergometry system (Kingcycle) (n = 6), and/or (II) three 40 km laboratory TT and two 40 km road TT competitions (n = 8). The time taken for the laboratory simulated 20 km and 40 km TT rides were highly reproducible (coefficient of variation 1.1 +/- 0.9% and 1.0 +/- 0.5%, respectively). However, the mean power output and heart rate were significantly different (p < 0.0001) between the 20 km and 40 km TT (327.5 +/- 16.9 vs 303.9 +/- 14.9 W and 171.4 +/- 5.1 vs 168.3 +/- 4.4 beats/min, respectively). A strong relationship (r = 0.99, p < 0.001) was observed between the mean cycling time and the average sustained power output. A significant correlation (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) was also observed between laboratory and road race times, although road race times were, on average, some 8% slower. These findings indicate that the Kingcycle ergometry system can be used as a reliable method of assessing short term endurance cycling performance.

Eight endurance-trained cyclists rode as far as possible in 1 h on a stationary cycle simulator in a moderate environment (20 degrees C, 60% relative humidity, 3 m.s-1 wind speed) while randomly receiving either no fluid (NF) or attempting to replace their approximate 1.71 sweat loss measured in a previous 1-h familiarisation performance ride at approximately 85% of peak oxygen uptake with artificially sweetened, coloured water (F). During F, the cyclists drank mean 1.49 (SEM 0.14) 1 of which mean 0.27 (SEM 0.08) 1 remained in the stomach at the end of exercise and mean 0.20 (SEM 0.05) 1 was urinated after the trial. Thus, only mean 1.02 (SEM 0.12) 1 of the ingested fluid was available to replace sweat losses during the 1-h performance ride. That fluid decreased the mean average heart rate from 166 (SEM 3) to 157 (SEM 5) beats.min-1 (P < 0.0001) and reduced the final mean serum [Na+] and osmolalities from 143 (SEM 0.6) to 139 (SEM 0.6) matom.l-1 (P < 0.005) and from 294 (SEM 1.7) to 290 (SEM 1.9) mosmol.l-1 (P = 0.05), respectively. Fluid ingestion did not significantly attenuate rises in plasma anti-diuretic hormone and angiotensin concentrations, or decrease the approximate-15% falls in estimated plasma volume in the F and NF trials. Nor did fluid ingestion significantly affect the approximate 1.71.h-1 sweat rates, the rises in rectal temperature (from 36.6 degrees to 38.3 degrees C) or the ratings of perceived exertion in the two trials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The aim of this study was to determine the anthropometric and physiological profile of 200-m sprint kayakers and to examine relationships with 200-m race performance. Twenty-six male kayakers who were categorised in two ability groups, international (Int) and national (Nat) level, underwent a battery of anthropometric and physiological tests and a 200-m race. Race time was significantly lower in Int than Nat (39.9 +/- 0.8 s and 42.6 +/- 0.9 s, respectively). Int demonstrated significantly greater measures of mesomorphy, biepycondylar humeral breadth, circumferences of the upper arm, forearm and chest, peak power and total work in a modified Wingate test, total work in a 2-min ergometry test, peak isokinetic power, and peak isometric force. Significant relationships were found between 200-m time and a number of anthropometric variables and anaerobic and dynamometric parameters. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that total work in the modified Wingate alone predicted 200-m race time (R2 = 0.53, SEE = 1.11 s) for all 26 subjects, while biepycondylar humeral breadth alone predicted race time (R2 = 0.54, SEE = 0.52 s) in Int. These results demonstrate that superior upper body dimensions and anaerobic capacities distinguish international-level kayakers from national-level athletes and may be used to predict 200-m performance.

We have evaluated whether sodium bicarbonate, taken chronically (0.5 g x kg(-1) body mass) for a period of 5 days would improve the performance of eight subjects during 60 s of high-intensity exercise on an electrically braked cycle ergometer. The first test was performed prior to chronic supplementation (pre-ingestion) while the post-ingestion test took place 6 days later. A control test took place approximately 1 month after the cessation of all testing. Acid-base and metabolite data (n = 7) were measured from arterialised blood both pre- and post-exercise, as well as daily throughout the exercise period. The work completed by the subjects in the control and pre-ingestion test [21.1 (0.9) and 21.1 (0.9) MJ, respectively] was less than (P<0.05) that completed in the post-ingestion test [24.1 (0.9) MJ; F(2,21) = 3.4, P<0.05, power = 0.57]. Peak power was higher after the 5-day supplementation period (P<0.05). Ingestion of the sodium bicarbonate for a period of 5 days resulted in an increase in pH (F(5,36) = 12.5, P<0.0001, power = 1.0) over the 5-day period. The blood bicarbonate levels also rose during the trial (P<0.05) from a resting level of 22.8 (0.4) to 28.4 (1.1) mmol x l(-1) after 24 h of ingestion. In conclusion, the addition of sodium bicarbonate to a normal diet proved to be of ergogenic benefit in the performance of short-term, high-intensity work.

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