NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/rec/bicycles/misc/2241

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-28 | 1.6 KB

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From: [e-mail] (Eric Praetzel)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.misc
Subject: Re: Power needs on recumbents vs. diamond frames (was: Recumbents)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 26 Jan 93 17:44:07 GMT
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Organization: University of Waterloo
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One small comment.
From the VO2 data (power, pulse, VO2, VCO2, breath rate ...) I have and have
seen it is usually 10% more efficient to be suppine.  So for the same amount
of O2, water, energy you can go 10% father when suppine.  This is fine upto
the AT plus a bit.  In my case my AT is about 250W and I am fine upto 280W.
When I cross 280W my breath rates starts to climb and it quickly becomes
less efficient than an upright bike.  In an upright bike people usually
put out a bit more power than when they are supine.
  The only conclusion is that if you car about fast racing then get supine.
As long as full out exertions are not part of the event (ie TTs RAAM ..) then
you are much better off in a supine position.
  The difference in "efficiency" (ie converting O2 to mech. energy) can vary
greatly amoung people and does not seem to be trainable.  The difference
between myself and close_to_national_calibre runners is about 30%.  It is
not that they have a huge VO2 max but that they can use the O2 they get
very efficiently.
  - Eric