Transferability of workload measurements between three different types of ergometer

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Accurate workload measurement is crucial for exercise physiology research and training.
• Bicycle ergometers and powermeters are commonly used to quantify exercise intensity.
• Understanding the transferability of measurements between devices is essential for data consistency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the transferability of workload measurements between two laboratory bicycle ergometers and a field powermeter.
• To determine if oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate measurements are equivalent across different ergometric devices.
• To validate the use of a powermeter for road cycling workload assessment in comparison to laboratory ergometers.

Main Methods:

• Twelve well-trained subjects performed graded incremental exercise tests on three devices: Lode Excalibur, Avantronic Cyclus 2, and Schoberer SRM powermeter.
• Standardized protocols with four 4-minute stages at 100, 150, 200, and 250 W were used.
• Oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate were measured to assess metabolic and cardiovascular strain.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in VO2 or heart rate were observed between the two laboratory ergometers and the field powermeter.
• Measurements of metabolic and cardiovascular strain were consistent across all three devices for a given workload intensity.
• Statistical analysis (P = 0.425 for VO2, P = 0.845 for heart rate) confirmed the equivalency of the devices.

Conclusions:

• Workload measurements are transferable between common laboratory bicycle ergometers and a field powermeter.
• VO2 and heart rate serve as reliable indices for demonstrating equivalency in exercise intensity across different ergometric devices.
• This study validates the use of powermeters for consistent workload assessment in real-world cycling conditions.