EFFECTS OF CYCLING PEDAL RATE ON RUNNING KINEMATICS IN EXPERIENCED TRIATHLETES

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of two cycling pedal rates on running kinematics during the cycle-to-run transition in triathlon. Methods: Eight male triathletes (age: 25.7 ± 4.5 yr; experience: 8.8 ± 5.8 yr; VO2max: 57.2 ± 6.4 ml/kg/min) completed a series of tests on different days: VO2max cycling test and two treadmill runs (control) followed by cycle-to-run transition tests. Athletes performed a 60-minute cycling effort for each of two cycling speeds (80 and 100 rpm) at a workload below the individual's ventilatory threshold. Subjects rapidly moved to the treadmill for a 40-minute post-cycle run. Right sagittal lower extremity kinematic data (60 Hz video) were obtained during the first two minutes of each run and used to quantify stride length and individual joint range of motion (ROM) characteristics for 10 strides. Analysis of variance was used to determine differences among the three run conditions for each dependent variable. Results: No significant (P > 0.05) differences were identified for stride length; average hip, knee, or ankle ROM velocity during the stride; hip ROM during the stride; knee ROM during swing; or ankle ROM during stance/toe-off. Conclusion: These results suggest that the pedal rates used in the current study did not adversely affect running kinematics at the beginning of the post-cycling runs. The implication for triathlon is that running performance may not be affected by cycling pedal rate.