Influence of body size on oxygen consumption during bicycling

D. P. Swain; J. R. Coast; P. S. Clifford; M. C. Milliken; J. Stray-Gundersen

Influence of body size on oxygen consumption during bicycling

D. P. Swain, J. R. Coast, P. S. Clifford, M. C. Milliken, J. Stray-Gundersen

Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

Energy in bicycling is primarily expended to overcome air resistance, which is proportional to a cyclist's surface area (SA). Thus we hypothesized that large cyclists should have a lower O₂ consumption normalized to body weight (V̇O₂/BW) than small cyclists because of the former's lower SA/BW. We measured the V̇O₂/BW of small (BW = 59.4 ± 4.1 kg) and large (BW = 84.4 ± 3.2 kg) cyclists while they bicycled on a flat road at 10, 15, and 20 mph. The large cyclists had a 22% lower V̇O₂/BW than the small cyclists at all speeds. However, the SA/BW ratio of the large cyclists was only 11% lower than that of the small cyclists. We then photographically determined the frontal area (FA) of the cyclists in a racing posture, and found that the large cyclists had a 16% lower FA/BW ratio than the small cyclists. We conclude that 1) large cyclists are at a distinct advantage, in terms of V̇O₂/BW, while bicycling on level roads, and 2) this advantage is principally due to their lower FA/BW ratio.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	668-672
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume	62
Issue number	2
State	Published - Jun 30 1987

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physiology
Physiology (medical)

Cite this

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title = "Influence of body size on oxygen consumption during bicycling",

abstract = "Energy in bicycling is primarily expended to overcome air resistance, which is proportional to a cyclist's surface area (SA). Thus we hypothesized that large cyclists should have a lower O2 consumption normalized to body weight ({\.V}O2/BW) than small cyclists because of the former's lower SA/BW. We measured the {\.V}O2/BW of small (BW = 59.4 ± 4.1 kg) and large (BW = 84.4 ± 3.2 kg) cyclists while they bicycled on a flat road at 10, 15, and 20 mph. The large cyclists had a 22% lower {\.V}O2/BW than the small cyclists at all speeds. However, the SA/BW ratio of the large cyclists was only 11% lower than that of the small cyclists. We then photographically determined the frontal area (FA) of the cyclists in a racing posture, and found that the large cyclists had a 16% lower FA/BW ratio than the small cyclists. We conclude that 1) large cyclists are at a distinct advantage, in terms of {\.V}O2/BW, while bicycling on level roads, and 2) this advantage is principally due to their lower FA/BW ratio.",

author = "Swain, {D. P.} and Coast, {J. R.} and Clifford, {P. S.} and Milliken, {M. C.} and J. Stray-Gundersen",

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AU - Swain, D. P.

AU - Coast, J. R.

AU - Clifford, P. S.

AU - Milliken, M. C.

AU - Stray-Gundersen, J.

PY - 1987/6/30

Y1 - 1987/6/30

N2 - Energy in bicycling is primarily expended to overcome air resistance, which is proportional to a cyclist's surface area (SA). Thus we hypothesized that large cyclists should have a lower O2 consumption normalized to body weight (V̇O2/BW) than small cyclists because of the former's lower SA/BW. We measured the V̇O2/BW of small (BW = 59.4 ± 4.1 kg) and large (BW = 84.4 ± 3.2 kg) cyclists while they bicycled on a flat road at 10, 15, and 20 mph. The large cyclists had a 22% lower V̇O2/BW than the small cyclists at all speeds. However, the SA/BW ratio of the large cyclists was only 11% lower than that of the small cyclists. We then photographically determined the frontal area (FA) of the cyclists in a racing posture, and found that the large cyclists had a 16% lower FA/BW ratio than the small cyclists. We conclude that 1) large cyclists are at a distinct advantage, in terms of V̇O2/BW, while bicycling on level roads, and 2) this advantage is principally due to their lower FA/BW ratio.

AB - Energy in bicycling is primarily expended to overcome air resistance, which is proportional to a cyclist's surface area (SA). Thus we hypothesized that large cyclists should have a lower O2 consumption normalized to body weight (V̇O2/BW) than small cyclists because of the former's lower SA/BW. We measured the V̇O2/BW of small (BW = 59.4 ± 4.1 kg) and large (BW = 84.4 ± 3.2 kg) cyclists while they bicycled on a flat road at 10, 15, and 20 mph. The large cyclists had a 22% lower V̇O2/BW than the small cyclists at all speeds. However, the SA/BW ratio of the large cyclists was only 11% lower than that of the small cyclists. We then photographically determined the frontal area (FA) of the cyclists in a racing posture, and found that the large cyclists had a 16% lower FA/BW ratio than the small cyclists. We conclude that 1) large cyclists are at a distinct advantage, in terms of V̇O2/BW, while bicycling on level roads, and 2) this advantage is principally due to their lower FA/BW ratio.

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Influence of body size on oxygen consumption during bicycling

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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