Determining optimal cadence for an individual road cyclist from field data

Reed, RJ; Scarf, PA; Jobson, SA; Passfield, L

Abstract

The cadence that maximises power output developed at the crank by an individual cyclist is conventionally determined using a
laboratory test. The purpose of this study was two-fold: (i) to show that such a cadence, which we call the optimal cadence, can
be determined using power output, heart-rate, and cadence measured in the field and (ii) to describe methodology to do so.
For an individual cyclist’s sessions, power output is related to cadence and the elicited heart-rate using a non-linear regression
model. Optimal cadences are found for two riders (83 and 70 revolutions per minute, respectively); these cadences are similar
to the riders’ preferred cadences (82–92 rpm and 65–75 rpm). Power output reduces by approximately 6% for cadences 20
rpm above or below optimum. Our methodology can be used by a rider to determine an optimal cadence without laboratory
testing intervention: the rider will need to collect power output, heart-rate, and cadence measurements from training and
racing sessions over an extended period (>6 months); ride at a range of cadences within those sessions; and calculate his/
her optimal cadence using the methodology described or a software tool that implements it.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Feb 22, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 29, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 12, 2016
• Journal: European Journal of Sport Science
• Print ISSN: 1746-1391
• Electronic ISSN: 1536-7290
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 903-911
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2016.1146336
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2016.1146336
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tejs20/current#.VtQliq3cvcs
• Additional Information: Funders : Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); Projects : Modelling Training and Performance in Elite Cyclists; Optimum Strategy in Sport; Grant Number: EP/F006136/1; Grant Number: EP/F005792/1