Influence of time of day on reactions to cycling at a fixed high intensity

The circadian cycle in all-out competitive performance may be due to changes in motivational drive to tolerate strenuous exercise rather than to rhythms in maximal physiological functions. This experiment explored the hypothesis that a fixed relative loading of high intensity aerobic effort could be sustained for longer in the evening compared with the morning. Eight females cycled to exhaustion at 95% VO2 max at 06.30 h. and at 22.00 h. after a 5 min, moderate load of 40% VO2 max. Oral temperature was 0.4 degrees C higher at 22.00 h. compared with the earlier time. Perceived exertion showed no significant effect of time of day at either work load but exercise tolerance time, total work done and peak lactate production were significantly greater at 22.00 h. (p = 0.05). Perceived exertion at the high load was significantly related to endurance time (r = -0.77) and to the rating at the low work level (r = 0.75). Peak lactate was not significantly correlated with the time to exhaustion (p less than 0.05). It was concluded that superior exercise performance in the evening may be attributed to a greater tolerance for high intensity exercise which is closely associated with the acrophase in body temperature.