Bicycle ergometry and speed skating performance.

A comparison between maximal power output during cycling and skating was made, and correlates of skating performance with bicycle performance and skating technique were investigated. Twenty-five well-trained speed skaters performed two bicycle tests and a 500-m and 1500-m ice skating race. The power (P) during skating is calculated from ice and air friction losses: at 500 m P500 = 344 +/- 60 W and at 1500 m P1500 = 283 +/- 65 W. Stroke frequency and pre-extension knee angle as principle determining factors of P were determined. The two bicycle tests (of 30" and 2'30" duration, maximal performance) yield P30C = 875 +/- 86 W and P2.30C = 420 +/- 52 W with VO2max = 4.76 +/- 0.45 l/min. The highest correlate of P500 as well as of P1500 appeared to be P30C, respectively, r = 0.78 and r = 0.85. Correlation coefficients between the power during skating and P2.30C or VO2max have a value of about 0.6. If the stroke frequency and P30C are correlated with the power during skating, then high multiple correlation coefficients are obtained: at 500 m R = 0.85 and at 1500 m R = 0.90. The correlation of P30C suggests that the interindividual differences of skating performance at 500-m and 1500-m distances can be attributed substantially to differences in anaerobic power. Yet, the predictive value of the bicycle test for speed skating performance is low. The difference observed between maximal power output during cycling and skating is discussed.