| Abstract: | Abstract In this study, the oxygen consumption (Vdot]O2) of bicycling was measured at a fixed speed (40 km·h?1on level terrain, with normal and aerodynamic handlebars using a Douglas bag collection system. Eleven elite (USCF category I or 2) men cyclists age 24 to 40 years (X¯=28·5, SD±4·6) performed four consecutive (two with each bar in alternating order) steady state rides at 40 km· h?1over a 4 km flat course (same direction each trial). Expired gases were collected in a 1501 Douglas bag attached to a following vehicle during the last 45 s (approx. 0·5 km) of each trial. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant (p<0·02) handlebar effect. Specifically, Vdot]O2was 2% lower under the aerodynamic handlebar treatment (X¯=4·26, SD±0·36 1 min?1when compared with that of the normal handlebar treatment (X¯=4·34, SD±0·35 1 min?1The results of this study demonstrate that the reported aerodynamic advantage of the aerodynamic handlebars produces a small but significant reduction in the Vdot]O2of bicycling at 40 km·h?1 |
