Fig 1.
Outline of experimental protocol for the first and second visits to the laboratory.
Fig 2.
Relationships between physiological changes induced by 2- and 4-min CWR tests.
Correlation and absolute standard error of the estimates (SEE) between the CWR tests are displayed on the top left corner of each graph. Dotted lines indicate the 95% CI. Moderate to very strong relationships were observed between physiological variables obtained during the 2- and 4-min CWR tests.
Fig 3.
-time profiles for 2- and 4-min CWR tests in a representative participant performed on different days.
kinetics are inferred by the mean response times (Corrected MRT2min = 25.3 s vs. MRT4min = 23.6 s) and the
steady state, as fitted by a mono-exponential function which were similar for both tests. The bottom black and grey lines represent the residuals. The darker and lighter grey shaded regions show the 2- and 4-min CWR test durations, respectively.
Table 1.
Physiological variables and perceived exertion observed in the 2-and 4-min CWR tests (n = 16).
Fig 4.
Relationships between 2-min and 4-min CWR tests for changes in (Δ) mechanical variables obtained in the sprints.
Correlation and standard error of the estimates (SEE) between the CWR tests are displayed on the top left corner of each graph. Dotted lines indicate 95% CIs. Moderate to very strong relationships were observed between mechanical variables obtained during the 2- and 4-min CWR tests.
Fig 5.
Power-cadence (left) and torque-cadence (right) relationships obtained in the sprints performed before and after the 2-min (black shapes) and 4-min (grey shapes) CWR tests from a representative subject.
Triangles represent PRE-CWR sprints and the dots represent POST-CWR sprints. The downward shift of power- and torque-cadence relationships after CWRs demonstrate that power was severely compromised by the increase in CWR test duration. Shaded boxed regions represent the differences between the pedal rate ranges for POST-CWR2min (lighter grey region) and POST-CWR4min (darker grey region) zones used for ΔPowerave, PRS calculation.
Fig 6.
Peak power (relative to body mass) before and after the 2- and 4-min CWR tests for all participants.
Irrespective of individual variation, a greater overall functional deficit was observed for the longer test duration. Sprint time point ‘0’ represents the relative peak power in pre-CWR sprints whereas time points ‘2’ and ‘4’ represent the relative peak power in sprints performed after the 2-min and 4-min CWR tests, respectively. Shapes represent the different groups of cyclists: Black dots = elite men, light grey squares = junior (U19) men, dark grey triangles = women.
Table 2.
Differences in mechanical variables recorded during sprints performed before (PRE-CWR) and after (POST-CWR) the 2-and 4-min CWR tests (n = 16).