Determining optimal cadence for an individual road cyclist from field data |
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| Authors: | Robert Reed Simon Adrian Jobson Louis Passfield |
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| Institution: | 1. Centre for Sports Business, Salford Business School, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK;2. Department of Sports Studies, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK;3. School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Kent, Medway Building, Chatham, Kent ME4 4AG, UK |
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| Abstract: | The cadence that maximises power output developed at the crank by an individual cyclist is conventionally determined using a laboratory test. The purpose of this study was two-fold: (i) to show that such a cadence, which we call the optimal cadence, can be determined using power output, heart-rate, and cadence measured in the field and (ii) to describe methodology to do so. For an individual cyclist's sessions, power output is related to cadence and the elicited heart-rate using a non-linear regression model. Optimal cadences are found for two riders (83 and 70 revolutions per minute, respectively); these cadences are similar to the riders’ preferred cadences (82–92?rpm and 65–75?rpm). Power output reduces by approximately 6% for cadences 20?rpm above or below optimum. Our methodology can be used by a rider to determine an optimal cadence without laboratory testing intervention: the rider will need to collect power output, heart-rate, and cadence measurements from training and racing sessions over an extended period (>6 months); ride at a range of cadences within those sessions; and calculate his/her optimal cadence using the methodology described or a software tool that implements it. |
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| Keywords: | Cycling power heart-rate training load TRIMP |
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