Jeremiah Peiffer

This chapter discusses methods of obtaining data regarding a cyclist's physiological characteristics. Several laboratory-based cycling tests exist for the assessment of anaerobic capacity and performance. While performance is understandably best assessed in real world competition or field settings, laboratory testing can be important in various aspects of athlete development and training optimization. Since body composition is influenced by a number of different factors, including age, gender, genetics, diet, exercise and environmental factors, each person will have a slightly different body composition. However, conducting an incremental exercise test without assessing oxygen consumption can also provide some important information on aerobic characteristics, including maximal power output, heart rate, etc. The incremental exercise test provides an indication of cardiorespiratory fitness and therefore is also often used to assess health in general or clinical populations. Factors influencing cycling economy are multifactorial and include anthropometry, body temperature, muscle fiber type, cadence and movement pattern efficiency.