Specificity of leg power changes to velocities used in bicycle endurance training

Increases in leg power production resulting from 8 wk of bicycle endurance training (30 min/day, 5 times/wk) were studied using an isokinetic dynamometer. In addition, biopsies of vastus lateralis were analyzed to characterize muscle ultrastructural changes. Performance increased on the dynamometer specifically near the estimated average knee angular velocity used during the bicycle training (200 degrees/s). Power measurements were made during the first 5 contractions (maximal power: Pmax) and last 5 contractions (final power: Pend) of 25 and 50 consecutive contractions (at 60 and 240 degrees/s, respectively). Pmax and Pend increased only at 240 degrees/s but not at 60 degrees/s. These increases in Pmax (86 W) and Pend (78 W) resulted primarily from longer torque maintenance but also from increased peak torque during each contraction and were close to the increase in mechanical power output maintained on the bicycle (Pb; 78 W) during the training sessions. The specificity of these changes to the angular velocities used in the bicycle training indicates a neural basis to these adaptations. We suggest that these neural adaptations, coupled with the observed enhancement of muscle mitochondrial and capillary density (+41 and +15%, respectively) underlie the increased ability to maintain power production on a bicycle after endurance training.