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Int J Sports Med 2019; 40(14): 897-902
DOI: 10.1055/a-0989-2387
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Isovelocity vs. Isoinertial Sprint Cycling Tests for Power- and Torque-cadence Relationships

Mehdi Kordi
1   Department of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2   British Cycling, GBCT, Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Jonathan Folland
3   School of sport & Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Stuart Goodall
1   Department of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Paul Barratt
2   British Cycling, GBCT, Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Glyn Howatson
1   Department of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
4   Northwest University, Water Research Group, Potchefstroom, South Africa
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted 19 July 2019

Publication Date:
07 October 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Sprint cycling performance is heavily dependent on mechanical peak power output (PPO) and the underlying power- and torque-cadence relationships. Other key indices of these relationships include maximum torque (TMAX), cadence (CMAX) and optimal cadence (COPT). Two common methods are used in the laboratory to ascertain PPO: isovelocity and isoinertial. Little research has been carried out to compare the magnitude and reliability of these performance measures with these two common sprint cycling assessments. The aim of this study was to compare the magnitude and reliability of PPO, TMAX, CMAX and COPT measured with isovelocity and isoinertial sprint cycling methods. Two experimental sessions required 20 trained cyclists to perform isoinertial sprints and then isovelocity sprints. For each method, power-cadence and torque-cadence relationships were established, and PPO and COPT were interpolated and TMAX and CMAX were extrapolated. The isoinertial method produced significantly higher PPO (p<0.001) and TMAX (p<0.001) than the isovelocity method. However, the isovelocity method produced significantly higher COPT (p<0.001) and CMAX (p=0.002). Both sprint cycling tests showed high levels of between-session reliability (isoinertial 2.9–4.4%; isovelocity 2.7–4.0%). Functional measures of isovelocity and isoinertial sprint cycling tests were highly reliable but should not be used interchangably.

Key words

maximum power - pedaling - torque - cadence
 

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