The effect of aerodynamic handlebars on oxygen consumption while cycling at a constant speed

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Abstract
In this study, the oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O2) of bicycling was measured at a fixed speed (40 km·h−1on level terrain, with normal and aerodynamic handlebars using a Douglas bag collection system. Eleven elite (USCF category I or 2) men cyclists age 24 to 40 years (X¯=28·5, SD±4·6) performed four consecutive (two with each bar in alternating order) steady state rides at 40 km· h−1over a 4 km flat course (same direction each trial). Expired gases were collected in a 1501 Douglas bag attached to a following vehicle during the last 45 s (approx. 0·5 km) of each trial. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant (p2was 2% lower under the aerodynamic handlebar treatment (X¯=4·26, SD±0·36 1 min−1when compared with that of the normal handlebar treatment (X¯=4·34, SD±0·35 1 min−1The results of this study demonstrate that the reported aerodynamic advantage of the aerodynamic handlebars produces a small but significant reduction in the [Vdot]O2of bicycling at 40 km·h−1