Power output reliability between Garmin® Vector meter and Lode Excalibur Sport® cycle ergometer

Abstract

Power output can be used to control training load. However, it is important to know if different power meters are reliable, because variations in their measures have direct repercussions on the training program. The aim of this study was to verify the reliability of the power output during two different pedaling protocols (incremental and variable tests) obtained with GARMIN Vector pedals and to compare it with the gold standard LODE Excalibur cycle ergometer. Fourteen male cyclists (30 (6) years of age, maximal power 423 (23) W) performed a maximal test (initial load 100 W with 25 W/min increments) and a variable load test (100–400 W) with the LODE Excalibur cycle ergometer instrumented with GARMIN Vector pedals (coupled on the LODE Excalibur cranks). Student’s t test, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman analysis were used to evaluate meters’ differences and reliability, respectively. All measures performed in the incremental test (100–400 W) and two measures (100 W, 150 W) of the variable load test showed no power output measurements’ reliability between the GARMIN Vector pedals and the LODE Excalibur cycle ergometer (p < 0.05). The high non-systematic errors in power output measured by the GARMIN Vector pedals (low repeatability) can generate problems when using this equipment for the training periodization in cycling.