• The ecological validity of laboratory cycling: Does body size explain the difference between laboratory- and field-based cycling performance?

      Jobson, Simon A.; Nevill, Alan M.; Palmer, G.S.; Jeukendrup, A.E.; Doherty, Michael; Atkinson, Greg (Taylor & Francis, 2007)
      Previous researchers have identified significant differences between laboratory and road cycling performances. To establish the ecological validity of laboratory time-trial cycling performances, the causes of such differences should be understood. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to quantify differences between laboratory- and road-based time-trial cycling and to establish to what extent body size [mass (m) and height (h)] may help to explain such differences. Twenty-three male competitive, but non-elite, cyclists completed two 25 mile time-trials, one in the laboratory using an air-braked ergometer (Kingcycle) and the other outdoors on a local road course over relatively flat terrain. Although laboratory speed was a reasonably strong predictor of road speed (R2=69.3%), a significant 4% difference (P < 0.001) in cycling speed was identified (laboratory vs. road speed: 40.4 +/- 3.02 vs. 38.7 +/- 3.55 km . h-1; mean +/- s). When linear regression was used to predict these differences (Diff) in cycling speeds, the following equation was obtained: Diff (km . h-1)=24.9 - 0.0969 . m - 10.7 . h, R2=52.1% and the standard deviation of residuals about the fitted regression line=1.428 (km . h-1). The difference between road and laboratory cycling speeds (km . h-1) was found to be minimal for small individuals (mass=65 kg and height=1.738 m) but larger riders would appear to benefit from the fixed resistance in the laboratory compared with the progressively increasing drag due to increased body size that would be experienced in the field. This difference was found to be proportional to the cyclists' body surface area that we speculate might be associated with the cyclists' frontal surface area.
    • Use of limited hydrological data and mathematical parameters for catchment regionalization: a case study of the Osun Drainage Basin, Nigeria.

      Awokola, O. S.; Coker, Akinwale O.; Fullen, Michael A.; Booth, Colin A. (Pan African Consulting UK, 2009)
      The trends of variations in daily stage and discharge of seven gauging stations located in the 9,900 km2 Osun Drainage Basin (South West Nigeria) were investigated. Linear regression models for all stations show the expected strong positive association of stage and discharge. The estimated daily changes explain only 1.44% of variations in stage, 0.25% variation in discharge and 99.5% in stagedischarge for station 5, 5.5% variation in stage, 0.7% variation in discharge and 99.7% in stagedischarge at station 25, and 10% variation in stage, 8.9% variation in discharge and 100% in stagedischarge at station 27. For the other studied stations, R2 estimated from daily stage and daily discharge give widely varying patterns. R2 estimated from daily stage and daily discharge is nonsignificant, but is significant for the daily stage-discharge relationship. The derived daily-stage and daily-discharge equations for the seven stations and their corresponding coefficients of determination can be used to classify the basin into three distinct zones. These are Zone I (coefficient of determination within the range of 0 to 6% for the daily-stage and daily-discharge), Zone II (coefficient of determination within the range of 7 to 10.5% for the daily-stage and daily-discharge), and Zone III (coefficient of determination within the range of 11 to 22% for the daily-stage and daily-discharge). The exponents of the stage-discharge equation can also be used for spatial classification. Zone A exponent is in the range of 1.3 to 1.7, Zone B exponent is in the range 2.2 to 2.3 and Zone C exponent is in the range 4.0 to 4.7. These can be combined to produce three hydrometric regions. It is proposed that this regionalization protocol could be used as an initial step in dividing complex catchment systems into more homogeneous subunits, to assist subsequent catchment management and planning. The hydrometric regionalization protocol is now being evaluated on the Osun and other drainage basins in Nigeria.