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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 91/3/621    most recent expphysiol.2005.032789v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Barker, T. Articles by Barstow, T. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Barker, T. Articles by Barstow, T. J. Related Collections Renal

¹ The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, Murray, UT 84107, USA² Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, Milam Hall 5, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3302, USA³ Department of Kinesiology, 1A Natatorium, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-0302, USA

Critical power (CP) is lower at faster rather than slower pedalling frequencies and traditionally reported in watts (W). Faster pedalling frequencies also engender a greater metabolic rate at low work rates, but with progressive increases in power output, the initial difference in between fast and slower pedalling frequencies is reduced. We tested the hypothesis that CP represents a unique metabolic rate for any given individual which would be similar at different pedalling frequencies. Eleven collegiate athletes (five cross-country runners, END; six sprinters, SPR), aged 18–23 years, performed exhaustive rides at either 60 or 100 r.p.m. on separate days for the determination of the pedal rate-specific CP. The at CP (CP-) was determined from an 8 min ride at the CP for each pedal frequency. The group mean CP was significantly lower at 100 r.p.m. (189 ± 50 W) compared to 60 r.p.m. (207 ± 53 W, P < 0.05). However, the group mean CP- values at 60 (2.53 ± 0.60 l min^–1) and 100 r.p.m. (2.58 ± 0.53 l min^–1) were not significantly different. Critical power was significantly higher in the END athletes (242 ± 50 W at 60 r.p.m.; 221 ± 56 W at 100 r.p.m.) compared to SPR athletes at both pedal frequencies (177 ± 38 W at 60 r.p.m.; 162 ± 27 W at 100 r.p.m., P < 0.05), but the CP- was not (P > 0.05). However, when the CP- was scaled to body weight, the END athletes had a significantly greater CP- (41.3 ± 4.1 ml min^–1 kg^–1 at 60 r.p.m.; 40.8 ± 5.5 ml min^–1 kg^–1 at 100 r.p.m.) compared to the SPR athletes at both pedal frequencies (27.7 ± 4.6 ml min^–1 kg^–1 at 60 r.p.m.; 29.4 ± 2.8 ml min^–1 kg^–1 at 100 r.p.m., P < 0.05). We conclude that CP represents a specific metabolic rate which can be achieved at different combinations of power outputs and pedalling frequencies.

(Received 15 November 2005; accepted after revision 6 March 2006; first published online 9 March 2006)
Corresponding author T. J. Barstow: Department of Kinesiology, 1A Natatorium, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-0302, USA. Email: tbarsto{at}ksu.edu

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