The Study

Previous research at the University has investigated the factors that determine the selection and maintenance of pacing strategies during cycle time trials.  This work has demonstrated that pacing and performance appear to be regulated by emotional changes before and during exercise.  Our data indicates that emotion may itself be effected by physiological status which is interpreted in light of the upcoming exercise task. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate emotion, performance, and pacing during a 10 km laboratory time trial following an intervention that will influence physiological status in a predictable manner.

 What will you be asked to do?

If you agree to take part, you will be asked to make three visits to the Human Performance Laboratory.  On each occasion you will be asked to perform three brief (10 second) maximal cycle sprints with 3 minutes of recovery between each, followed by a maximal effort 10km time trial using your own bicycle mounted onto the Kingcycle ergometer rig.  The first visit acts as a familiarisation task prior to the two main experimental trials which will be performed following ingestion of either sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) or a sodium chloride (NaCl) placebo.  The sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride will both be given dissolved in a low calorie orange drink, and you will be asked to consume a small carbohydrate meal (bread and honey) at the same time as this has been demonstrated to reduce the occurrence of gastrointestinal distress. The trials will be performed in a 'blind' manner, meaning that you will not be told which of the substances you have consumed

 Prior to each trial you will be asked to fill in a number of short questionnaires designed to measure a range of psychological measures (motivation, goal setting, personality, and mood).  Throughout the main experimental trials we will measure the electrical activity within your leg muscles.  This will involve the placement of a number of electrodes on the skin surface (this is a non-invasive, pain free procedure). Heart rate will be recorded continually via a strap worn around the chest.  At regular intervals you will be asked to report your perceived exertion and mood using a simple scale.  You will be provided with information on elapsed distance, time, and power output throughout exercise.

At various times you will be asked to provide fingertip capillary blood samples for analyses. Each of these experimental sessions will take approximately 2 hours in total as a period of 90 minutes needs to elapse between consuming the experimental treatment and starting exercise. The time requirement for the familiarisation trial will be less as there is no need to ingest either solution and then wait for any associated physiological changes to occur.

 If you are interested in participating or would like further information, please contact Andy Renfree on 01905 855376 or at a.renfree@worc.ac.uk