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Cycling Repeat Sprint Test

The Cycling Repeat Sprint Test is a cycle ergometer test of anaerobic capacity, involving 5 x 6-second efforts performed every 30 seconds. This test is a laboratory alternative to the numerous repeat sprint field tests.



purpose: the aim of this test is to measure anaerobic capacity.

equipment required: a mechanically braked cycle ergometer (e.g. Monark 894 E Ergomedic, Stockholm, Sweden).

pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender, test conditions. Check and calibrate the ergometer. Adjust seat and handlebar height. Perform an appropriate warm-up. See more details of pre-test procedures.

Monark cycling testMonark cycling test

procedure: The subject should first perform a cycling warm-up of several minutes. Measure body weight for determination of the resistance load. Set the resistance on the ergometer to 10% of the participant's body mass. The starting position for each cycling bout starts with the pedal set at a 45ยบ pedal angle. The subject is instructed to pedal as fast as possible for 6 seconds, repeating this effort every 30 seconds (e.g. 24 seconds rest).

scoring: calculate total work and sprint power decrement (decrease in power output over the five sprints as a percentage of their best result).

reference: Bishop D, Spencer M, Duffield R, Lawrence S. (2001) The validity of a repeated sprint ability test. J Sci Med Sport. 2001 Mar;4(1):19-29.



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