Exercise profile during cycling, and fitness and health level among middle and older adults with a cycling habit

Abstract

This study evaluated the exercise profile (heart rate, cycling speed and pedal cadence) during 25-30 km cycling and fitness and health level for adults (11 males: 69.6 ± 4.7 yrs; 6 females: 66.3 ± 4.9 yrs) with a recreational cycling habit (27.6 ± 14.8 km/week). Exercise intensity at a constant speed on a flat road during male and female cycling was 71.2 ± 11.5 and 66.8 ± 11.4% heart rate reserved (HRR), respectively. Exercise intensity over 60% HRR occupied 72% of cycling time. Peak intensity during male and female cycling was 89.2 ± 8.9 and 93.1 ± 6.1% HRR, respectively. VO2max and CS (chair stand)-30 test for male and female were 40.3 ± 4.3 and 37.7 ± 2.4 ml/kg/min, and 30.8 ± 3.1 and 30.1 ± 3.2 times, respectively. The muscle cross-sectional area of thigh extensor and flexor measured by MRI were 55.4 ± 6.5 and 58.3 ± 13.3 cm² for male, and 45.5 ± 6.4 and 50.2 ± 5.7 cm² for female, respectively. Blood profile for HDL-C (cholesterol), LDL-C and HbA1c (JDS) for male and female were 65.9 ± 8.2 and 67.9 ± 10.6 mg/dl, 112.3 ± 32.0 and 130.6 ± 12.3 mg/dl, and 4.8 ± 0.4 and 4.7 ± 0.1%, respectively. Fitness level and blood profile results were superior to those of the same aged adults. We concluded that the exercise intensity of cycling by middle and older adults with a recreational cycling habit is high and their fitness and health level are higher than average adults.