Effect of commuter cycling on physical performance of male and female employees

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Abstract
HENDRIKSEN, I. J. M., B. ZUIDERVELD, H. C. G. KEMPER, and P. D. BEZEMER. Effect of commuter cycling on physical performance of male and female employees. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 504–510, 2000. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of commuter cycling on physical performance. Eighty-seven male and 35 female employees volunteered to cycle regularly to their work. Sixty-one participants went commuter cycling for 1 yr (cycling group); the others cycled only in the second half year (control group). A maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer was carried out at the start of the study, after 6 months, and after 1 yr to measure maximal external power (Wmax) and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max). After the first 6 months of commuter cycling, with a mean single trip distance of 8.5 km and a mean frequency of more than three times a week, a significant increase of 13% was found in the Wmax per kilogram body weight (Wmax·kg−1) in both sexes of the cycling group. The improvement in V̇O2max·kg−1 was significant for the male participants (6%) but not for the female participants (−2%). At the end of the second half year, the control group also showed a mean gain in Wmax·kg−1 of 13%. Their V̇O2max·kg−1 declined in the first half year, but this was counteracted in the second half year. A dose-response relationship was found between two independent variables and the physical performance; the lower the physical performance at the start of the study and the higher the total amount of kilometers cycled, the higher the gain in Wmax. For subjects with a low initial fitness level, a single trip distance of only 3 km turned out to be enough to improve physical performance. Commuter cycling can yield much the same improvement in physical performance as specific training programs.