Int J Sports Med 1994; 15(1): 16-20
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1021013
Training and Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

A Comparison Between Aero and Standard Racing Handlebars During Prolonged Exercise

M. J. Berry, W. E. Pollock, K. van Nieuwenhuizen, P. H. Brubaker
  • Department of Health and Sport Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

The use of aero style handlebars has gained popularity in triathlons and individual time trial events recently. The effect of using these handlebars has only been examined during short term exercise. It was the aim of this investigation to compare time to exhaustion and selected measures of ventilation, gas exchange and pulmonary function when using aero style handlebars versus standard racing style handlebars during long term exercise. Eleven well trained cyclists with a V̇O2max of 61.7±2.9ml·kg-1·min-1 completed two continuous rides at 80 to 95 percent of their V̇O2max. Subjects rode at 80% of their V̇O2max for one hour and the work rate was increased by 5% of their V̇O2max every 15 min thereafter. The rides were completed with the subject riding his/her personal bicycle on a Velodyne trainer and differed in that during one ride the subjects rode with aero style handlebars and during the other they rode with standard racing style handlebars. During the ride with standard racing style handlebars, subjects rode with their hands on top of the bars or on the hoods of the brake levers. The subjects rode with the standard racing handlebars for 69.3±5.3 minutes as compared to 59.8±7.0 minutes with the aero style handlebars. This difference was not statistically significant. The average work rates when the cyclists terminated the exercise bouts with the aero and standard racing handlebars were 268.1 ±38.4 and 276.4±39.3 watts and were not significant from one another. Gas exchange and ventilatory parameters were measured every 15 mm during the exercise bouts. Oxygen consumption and minute ventilation during the first hour were similar between the aero and standard rides, 47.6±0.9 vs 48.3±0.9 ml·kg-1·min-1 and 99.7±7.4 vs 93.9±5.81·min-1, respectively. In addition, tidal volume breathing frequency and the time components of the breathing period, inspiratory and expiratory time, were similar between the two rides. Pulmonary function tests were made prior to the start of exercise and one to two mm following the completion of the exercise bout. Maximal voluntary ventilation, forced expiratory volume in one second expressed as a percent of the forced vital capacity and forced vital capacity were not significantly different in the standard riding position as compared to the aero riding position. In addition, lung volumes and total lung capacity. measured prior to the start of the exercise bout, were similar when comparing subjects in the two riding positions. These results suggest that there are not ventilatory or pulmonary limitations as a result of riding with aero style handlebars. While mean differences in riding time were not statistically significant, individual subjects did show large differences in riding times. These appear to be related to whether or not the subjects had previously trained with aero style handlebars. Based on this observation, it is suggested that individuals who chose to race with aero style handlebars should also train with them.

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