Efficiency Variation in Cycling Exercise Related to Cadence and Work Rate Standardized by Ventilatory Threshold

We investigated the influence of cycling cadence (60, 80 and 100 rpm) on the gross efficiency (GE), net efficiency (NE), work efficiency (WE) and apparent efficiency (AE) with different cycle exercise work rates standardized by ventilatory threshold (VT). Firstly, the participants (6 male young adults) performed 3 ramp exercise tests to determine ventilatory threshold (VO2@VT) and AE at each cycling cadence. They then carried out 9 steady state tests (the combination of each work rate (50%VO2@VT, 75%VO2@VT and 100%VO2@VT) and cycling cadence). There were no significant differences among the cycling speeds in AE during the ramp exercise. The oxygen uptake values during unloaded cycling exercise significantly increased related to the increments of cycling cadence (p<0.01). In all steady work rates, GE, NE and WE were decreased associated with the increase of cycling cadence (p<0.05). In all cycling cadence, each efficiency was heightened related to the magnitude of work rate below VT (p<0.05). These results rearranged in terms of relative value to VT would provide significant basis for light exercise treatment like in active recovery.