Time to exhaustion at maximal lactate steady state is similar for cycling and running in moderately trained subjects

We compared time to exhaustion (t lim) at maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) between cycling and running, investigated if oxygen consumption, ventilation, blood lactate concentration, and perceived exertion differ between the exercise modes, and established whether MLSS can be determined for cycling and running using the same criteria. MLSS was determined in 15 moderately trained men (30±6years, 77±6kg) by several constant-load tests to exhaustion in cycling and running. Heart rate, oxygen consumption, and ventilation were recorded continuously. Blood lactate concentration and perceived exertion were measured every 5min. t lim (37.7±8.9 vs. 34.4±5.4min) and perceived exertion (7.2±1.7 vs. 7.2±1.5) were similar for cycling and running. Heart rate (165±8 vs. 175±10min−1; P<0.01), oxygen consumption (3.1±0.3 vs. 3.4±0.3lmin−1; P<0.001) and ventilation (93±12 vs. 103±16lmin−1; P<0.01) were lower for cycling compared to running, respectively, whereas blood lactate concentration (5.6±1.7 vs. 4.3±1.3mmoll−1; P