Enduro mountain bike racing is composed of several timed predominantly downhill race stages linked by time restricted, non-competitive transition stages. This study aimed to 1) detail and compare the laboratory assessed physiological characteristics of elite and non-elite enduro mountain bike riders, and 2) evaluate the use of 10Hz global positioning systems (GPS) unit including a 100Hz triaxial accelerometer to define the demands of enduro mountain bike racing and identify components of successful performance. Eleven (n=11) male enduro mountain bike riders completed laboratory protocols for peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak), onset of blood lactate accumulation at 2 and 4 mmol/L (OBLA2 and OBLA4 respectively), intermittent sprint test (EST), and anthropometry measures. Participants were divided into elite (n=5) and non-elite (n=6) groups for analysis. Nine (n=9) elite enduro mountain bike athletes participated in field data collection at an international enduro mountain bike race. Two race stages were used for analysis of velocity, accumulated load, heart rate and time to complete specific sections of track calculated from GPS units placed on the bicycle seat mast and the rider’s torso. Elite athletes produced greater power during the EST and at VO2peak, OBLA2, OBLA4 when compared to non-elite riders (all p<0.05) with no significant differences in anthropometry (p>0.05). Accumulated load was significantly greater on the bicycle than the rider on both stages (p<0.05) and accumulated load in both locations was significantly higher during stage two compared to stage 1 reflecting differences in terrain (p<0.05). GPS analysis allowed detailed analysis of performance showing winning performances were characterised by reduced time to complete technical downhill and non-technical climbing sections during stage one and technical downhill sections only during stage two. In conclusion, successful performance in enduro mountain bike racing requires adequate skill and technique to sustain high velocities over technical terrain coupled with large aerobic and anaerobic capacities.
Limited information is currently available regarding the hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure for professional off-road cyclists. Previous reports have suggested that commuting and recreational cyclists are at risk of exceeding exposure limit values (ELV) in a single ride and, therefore, further investigation of HAV exposure in competitive mountain biking is warranted. Partial and total eight hour exposure data (Ai(8), A(8), ms-2) are presented for a national level mountain bike race. Assessment of hand-arm vibration meets the requirements of BS EN ISO 5349-1:2001 (BSI 2001) whereby recording frequency was 3.2 kHz and frequency weighting filters were applied (Wh). The data presented shows that HAV exposure during one day of competitive enduro mountain bike racing exceeds ELV and is greater than the HAV exposure observed in recreational cycling. This suggests that further work is required to determine the exposure associated with changes in equipment, technique and international racing events in professional athletes.
Background: The extent to which mountain biking impacts upon the environment is largely determined by rider behaviours. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how mountain bikers interact with the natural environment and explore their attitudes towards sustainability. Methods: 3780 European mountain bikers completed an online cross-sectional survey. Results: Connection to nature was an important source of motivation and the use of mountain bike trails has increased rider’s appreciation of and willingness to protect nature, with a large majority having taken direct action to do so. Mountain bikers are prepared to contribute towards trail maintenance through the provision of labour or financially. Although most mountain bikers make use of wet trails and illegal trails, incidence of conflict is relatively low. A range of characteristics were identified as being fundamental elements of sustainable trails, both in relation to the sustainability of the trail itself and in terms of wider environmental sustainability. Conclusions: European mountain bikers care about the sustainability of the natural environment. Self-reported attitudes and behaviours suggest a willingness to reduce environmental impact and actively protect nature.
Introduction: Understanding the sport-specific immune response elicited during both training and competition is imperative to maximise athlete health and performance. Despite a growing population of professional enduro mountain bike athletes, little is known about the recovery of the immune system following enduro racing events. Methods: Nine international level elite enduro mountain bike athletes (age 24.3 ± 2.4 years, height 178.5 ± 8.7 cm, mass 76.5 ± 12.5 kg) completed a laboratory-based maximal exercise test (LAB) on a cycle ergometer and competed in an international mountain bike enduro race event (RACE). Blood samples were taken before, immediately after, and 1 h after LAB and before, 1 h after, and 17 h after RACE. Leukocyte subsets were enumerated using seven-colour flow cytometry. Lucia’s training impulse (LuTRIMP) and vibration exposure (VIB) were quantified during RACE. Results: Seven participants were included in the final analyses. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in neutrophil count alongside a reduction of cytotoxic lymphocyte cell subsets of both the innate (CD3−/CD56+ NK-cells and CD3−/CD56dim NK-cells) and adaptive (CD8+/CD62L−/CD45RA− T-cells and CD8+/CD27+/CD28− T-cells) components of the immune system one hour after RACE. All cell counts returned to baseline values 17 h afterwards (p > 0.05). Cell subset redistribution from pre- to post-one-hour time points (%Δpre-post1h) in cell subsets with potent effector functions (Neutrophils, CD3−/CD56+ NK-cells, CD8+/CD62L−/CD45RA− T-cells, CD8+/CD27+/CD28− T-cells, and CD3−/CD56dim/CD57− NK-cells) was significantly greater at RACE than LAB (p < 0.05). VIB was shown to be a superior predictor of %Δpre-post1h CD4+ T-cells, CD4+ early T-cells, CD4+ naïve T-cells, and NK cells as compared with LuTRIMP on its own (ΔR2 = 0.63 − 0.89, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The race event offers a greater challenge to the immune system than LAB, and potentially, whole body vibration is a key component of training load measurement in mountain bike applications.
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