The School of Health Sciences at the University of Ballarat is currently seeking competitive cyclists to take part in an investigation into the reliability of a new measure of cycling performance.

The School of Health Sciences invites you to take part in the above research project being conducted by Dr. Brendan O’Brien and PhD student Brad Clark of the School of Health Science at the University of Ballarat and Dr. Carl Paton of the Eastern Institute of Technology, New Zealand.

This research forms part of Brad's doctoral thesis and is part of a series of investigations into cycling physiological assessment and training practices. The purpose of this study is to establish the reliability of a simulated cycling time trial completed over a course of dynamic gradient. Traditionally, time trial assessment of cycling performance has been conducted over simulated courses without any variation in gradient thus leading to a test of constant power. In contrast, time trial competitions are generally completed on roads with numerous variations in gradient and therefore required power output. As a participant in the study you will be required to complete four 20km simulated cycling time trials over the course of five weeks.

The results of this study will be used to inform future training studies to be conducted later in 2012 and also in the development of testing protocols for competitive cyclists.

If you are a competitive cyclist currently free of injury or illness and think you may wish to participate in this study please read the plain language information statement supplied at the bottom of the page or alternatively contact Brad Clark via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 0431 447 926 for further information.