Accuracy of Cycling Power Meters against a Mathematical Model of Treadmill Cycling

Maier, Thomas; Schmid, Lucas; Müller, Beat; Steiner, Thomas; Wehrlin, Jon Peter

doi:10.1055/s-0043-102945

Cited by 61 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The accuracy of the power meter used in the current study may be questioned with regards to the observed differences. If the true power outputs are difficult to define accurately, a recent study underlined the decent precision (with a coefficient of variation of 2%) for the power meter utilized in the current study (Maier et al, 2017). This indicates a rather low day-today variability and allows to consider the observed differences in terms of power output with confidence.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Repeated Sprint Training in Hypoxia: Case Report of Performance Benefits in a Professional Cyclist

Faiss¹,

Rapillard²

2020

Front. Sports Act. Living

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Repeated sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) has gained unprecedented popularity among the various strategies using hypoxia as an additional stimulus to improve performance. This case study reports the benefits of 150 repeated sprints in normobaric hypoxia over 10 days in a professional cyclist. After 3 weeks of endurance training in November, the cyclist performed five RSH sessions at a simulated altitude of 3,300 m on his own bicycle attached to an indoor trainer in a hypoxic chamber (FiO 2 14.1 ± 0.1%, PiO 2 94.6 ± 1.4 mm Hg). Each session consisted of four blocks of seven all-out sprints of 6 s interspersed with 14 s active recovery (for a total of 126 s per block). After 12 min of warm-up with a single isolated 6 s reference sprint, the sessions included a first and a second sprinting block with 4 min 54 s active recovery in-between. After 9 min 54 s active recovery including an isolated 6 s reference sprint, a third and a fourth block were performed with 4 min 54 s active recovery in-between, before an active cool-down of 9 min 54 s. The total duration was thus of 50 min per session for a total hypoxic exposure of 250 min exercising. Power output and heart rate were monitored at 1 Hz. Lactate concentration ([La]) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2) were measured at the start and end of each block during the first and fifth training session. Basal SpO 2 was of 83% during session one and 85.5% during session five. When comparing the first and fifth training session, peak power increased for the best 1 s value (+8%) and the best 5 s average (+10%) to reach 1,041 W and 961 W, respectively. Average power for all blocks (including active recoveries) increased from 334 to 354 W with a similar average heart rate during the sessions (146'. min −1). Peak [La] was increased from 12.3 to 13.8 mmol. l −1. In conclusion, this case report illustrates a 10-days RSH intervention perceived as efficient in a professional cyclist and shown to improve total work (6-s sprints) produced for a similar physiological strain.

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Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Repeated Sprint Training in Hypoxia: Case Report of Performance Benefits in a Professional Cyclist

Faiss¹,

Rapillard²

2020

Front. Sports Act. Living

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“…Trueness = -1.7 ± 1.1 vs. -0.5 ± 2.4%; Precision = 0.6 ± 0.4 vs. 0.8 ± 0.4%, respectively). 15 These small measurement errors might have resulted in the variability found in this study. Further, methodological variability in this study could have arisen from the environmental conditions and mathematical modelling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The bicycle was equipped with a Verve Cycling InfoCrank power meter (Verve Cycling, Perth, Australia) containing four strain gauges per crank arm. 15 All tests were completed on a quiet, straight, and flat road. A high definition camera (Sony, Tokyo, Japan) was placed on the side of the road at the middle of the 250 m test section to film the participant's sagittal plane at 25 Hz.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing Aerodynamic Drag by Adopting a Novel Road-Cycling Sprint Position

Merkes¹,

Menaspà²,

Abbiss³

2019

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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Purpose: To assess the influence of seated, standing, and forward-standing cycling sprint positions on aerodynamic drag (CdA) and the reproducibility of a field test of CdA calculated in these different positions. Methods: A total of 11 recreational male road cyclists rode 250 m in 2 directions at around 25, 32, and 40 km·h−1 and in each of the 3 positions, resulting in a total of 18 efforts per participant. Riding velocity, power output, wind direction and velocity, road gradient, temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure were measured and used to calculate CdA using regression analysis. Results: A main effect of position showed that the average CdA of the 2 d was lower for the forward-standing position (0.295 [0.059]) compared with both the seated (0.363 [0.071], P = .018) and standing positions (0.372 [0.077], P = .037). Seated and standing positions did not differ from each other. Although no significant difference was observed in CdA between the 2 test days, a poor between-days reliability was observed. Conclusion: A novel forward-standing cycling sprint position resulted in 23% and 26% reductions in CdA compared with a seated and standing position, respectively. This decrease in CdA could potentially result in an important increase in cycling sprint velocity of 3.9–4.9 km·h−1, although these results should be interpreted with caution because poor reliability of CdA was observed between days.

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“…Depending on the specific study protocol, the range of power outputs investigated and the brand/model, results vary with errors up to 16.5% (Gardner et al, 2004 ; Bertucci et al, 2005 ; Hurst and Atkins, 2006 ; Duc et al, 2007 ; Maier et al, 2017 ). While some individual devices have been shown to be inaccurate shortly after manufacturing (Gardner et al, 2004 ), other factors difficult to control, such as, ambient temperature, vibrations, and impacts from gear shifts, but also bicycle and power meter maintenance have been suggested as variables influencing the accuracy of power assessment (Gardner et al, 2004 ; Maier et al, 2017 ; Passfield et al, 2017 ). For the above mentioned reasons, the consistent accuracy of commercial power meter devices cannot not be presumed.…”

Section: Accuracy Of Power Metersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to note that different calibration procedures may convey different results and as such the need for a standardization of calibration methodologies has been highlighted (Hawser, 2016 ). In this regard, the use of first principle-based calibration methods are recommended (Stein et al, 1967 ; Maier et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Accuracy Of Power Metersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considerations on the Assessment and Use of Cycling Performance Metrics and their Integration in the Athlete's Biological Passport

Menaspà

Abbiss

2017

Front. Physiol.

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Over the past few decades the possibility to capture real-time data from road cyclists has drastically improved. Given the increasing pressure for improved transparency and openness, there has been an increase in publication of cyclists' physiological and performance data. Recently, it has been suggested that the use of such performance biometrics may be used to strengthen the sensitivity and applicability of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) and aid in the fight against doping. This is an interesting concept which has merit, although there are several important factors that need to be considered. These factors include accuracy of the data collected and validity (and reliability) of the subsequent performance modeling. In order to guarantee high quality standards, the implementation of well-structured Quality-Systems within sporting organizations should be considered, and external certifications may be required. Various modeling techniques have been developed, many of which are based on fundamental intensity/time relationships. These models have increased our understanding of performance but are currently limited in their application, for example due to the largely unaccounted effects of environmental factors such as, heat and altitude. In conclusion, in order to use power data as a performance biometric to be integrated in the biological passport, a number of actions must be taken to ensure accuracy of the data and better understand road cycling performance in the field. This article aims to outline considerations in the quantification of cycling performance, also presenting an alternative method (i.e., monitoring race results) to allow for determination of unusual performance improvements.

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Accuracy of Cycling Power Meters against a Mathematical Model of Treadmill Cycling

Cited by 61 publications

References 27 publications

Repeated Sprint Training in Hypoxia: Case Report of Performance Benefits in a Professional Cyclist

Repeated Sprint Training in Hypoxia: Case Report of Performance Benefits in a Professional Cyclist

Reducing Aerodynamic Drag by Adopting a Novel Road-Cycling Sprint Position

Considerations on the Assessment and Use of Cycling Performance Metrics and their Integration in the Athlete's Biological Passport

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