Effects of Caffeine and Carboyhdrate Ingestion on Ratings of Perceived Exertion in Female Cyclists

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of carbohydrate and caffeine ingestion on ratings of perceived exertion in recreational female cyclists during prolonged exercise. This study was to differentiate the effects of carbohydrate and caffeine treatments to determine which is most advantageous to female recreational cyclists performing prolonged cycling exercise. Approximately fifteen female cyclists from Oklahoma State University were recruited from indoor cycling classes to participate in the study. Eleven cyclists volunteered and nine completed the study. A week prior to the study the participants completed a criteria questionnaire and were familiarized with the protocol of the study. On three alternating occasions for forty-five minutes in the morning the participants rode a cycle ergometer at 65% of their heart rate reserve. While cycling the participants were asked to report their RPE every five minutes for the entire forty-five minutes. Each day of the study the participants received either a placebo, caffeine treatment or a carbohydrate treatment. The ANOVA analysis evaluated the differences in RPE between each treatment group, at each time interval, and the RPE in each treatment group at each time interval. This information showed that there were no significant differences in RPE scores of the caffeine treatment groups and the carbohydrate treatment groups at any time intervals.