Introduction

Bicycle commuting has economic, environmental, and health benefits. However, it is not clear whether adults meet the physical activity guidelines when performing bicycle commuting in ‘real-world’ scenarios. This study aimed: (1) to verify whether adults reach the maximum heart rate percentage (%HR_max) recommended by the physical activity guidelines when doing bicycle commuting; (2) to compare the cardiorespiratory fitness of adults who meet and do not the physical activity guidelines and how they bicycle commute.

Methods

In experiment A, 20 healthy adults (25.1 ± 7.6years; 23.0 ± 1.9 kg/m²) were monitored during their habitual bicycle commuting using a Global Positioning System device with a HR monitor for one week. In experiment B, 20 healthy adults (27.8 ± 4.7years; 24.1 ± 3.1 kg/m²) were assessed (peak oxygen uptake, VO_2peak; peak power output, PPO) and the following characteristics of the cycling route were compared between active and inactive individuals for one week: time commuting; distance covered; speed; %HR_max; time spent at a vigorous intensity.

Results

Participants in experiment A cycled at a moderate intensity (68.1 ± 8.7%HR_max) and covered ~4.2 ± 2.6 km per route. Meanwhile, the active and inactive individuals in experiment B showed similar VO_2peak (P > 0.05), but the active participants reached a higher PPO (P < 0.05). Active individuals spent more time cycling, covered a higher distance, cycled at a higher speed, and showed a higher %HR_max and time spent at vigorous intensity than their inactive peers (Ps < 0.01).

Conclusion

Bicycle commuting should be encouraged for adults to meet the physical activity guidelines. Policymakers, companies, educational institutions should consider implementing measures to promote bicycle commuting.

中文翻译：

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“真实世界”的自行车通勤：表征巴西纳塔尔市成年人的强度和骑行路线

介绍

骑自行车通勤具有经济、环境和健康益处。然而，尚不清楚成年人在“现实世界”场景中进行自行车通勤时是否符合体育活动指南。本研究的目的是：（1）验证成年人在骑自行车上下班时是否达到体力活动指南推荐的最大心率百分比（%HR _max）；(2) 比较符合和不符合体育活动指南的成年人的心肺健康以及他们如何骑自行车上下班。

方法

在实验 A 中，20 名健康成年人（25.1 ± 7.6 岁；23.0 ± 1.9 kg/m ²）在他们习惯性的自行车通勤期间使用带有 HR 监测器的全球定位系统设备进行了为期一周的监测。在实验 B 中，对 20 名健康成年人（27.8 ± 4.7 岁；24.1 ± 3.1 kg/m ²）进行了评估（峰值摄氧量，VO _2peak；峰值功率输出，PPO），并比较了活跃和一周不活动的个人：时间通勤；覆盖的距离；速度; %HR_最大值；在剧烈的强度中度过的时间。

结果

实验 A 的参与者以中等强度 (68.1 ± 8.7% HR _max )骑行，每条路线覆盖约 4.2 ± 2.6 公里。同时，实验B中活跃和不活跃的个体表现出相似的VO _2peak (P > 0.05)，但活跃的参与者达到了更高的PPO (P < 0.05)。与不活跃的同龄人相比，活跃的人骑自行车的时间更长，行驶的距离更长，骑自行车的速度更快，并且表现出更高的_最大心率百分比和高强度的时间（Ps < 0.01）。

结论

应鼓励成年人骑自行车上下班，以满足身体活动指南。政策制定者、企业、教育机构应考虑采取措施促进自行车通勤。