Resistive force selection and upper body contraction dynamics: relationships with anaerobic cycle ergometry performance

High intensity cycle ergometry is widely used to assess the muscular performance and maximal exercise potential of athletic groups, healthy individuals and special populations (Bogdanis et al., 1995; Stone et al., 2004). Following the initial introduction of the friction braked cycle ergometer test by Cumming (1973), the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test was developed in Israel in the 1970s by a team of scientists led by the late Oded Bar-Or (Bar-Or, 1981; McCormick and Baker, 2011). This has since been adapted to assess performance over varying durations. When performing a high intensity cycle ergometer test, the participant initially pedals against no resistance at a fixed speed (Franklin et al., 2006). When resistance is applied, the participant pedals maximally for the specified time period. Some of the variables that are habitually measured include peak power output (PPO), mean power output (MPO) and fatigue indices (Baker et al., 2001a; Dore et al., 2006).