The relationship of body weight on maximum oxygen uptake and heavy-work endurance capacity on the bicycle ergometer

Abstract

Heavy-work endurance capacity was measured in 50 male college students during two different tests performed on the bicycle ergometer. In Test 1, the work load was progressively increased 180 kpm each two minutes until the subject stopped working. Low and non-significant correlations were obtained between body weight and max Vo2 (r = .23) and body weight and total work done (r = .05). Average max Vo2 was 3.94 1/min (SD = .55), and average total amount of work done was 15,693 kgm (SD = 3,908). In Test 2, all subjects began pedaling at the same high initial rate of work (1,656 kgm/min), which they tried to maintain for 12 minutes. The amount of drop-off in rate of work was 26% at minute 12. During the last eight minutes of performance, oxygen consumption was above 90% max Vo2. The correlation between body weight and min-by-min Vo2 during this heavy exercise averaged r = .25; between body weight and cumulated min-by-min work output the correlations averaged r = .19. Average total amount of work done in 12 minutes was 16,828 kgm (SD = 1,912). The results were interpreted to mean that endurance capacity on the bicycle ergometer using the two different tests was not favored by individuals of either high or low body weights. The apparent disparity with the results of others is discussed.