Laboratory — Bicycle Confinement
Test human performance and physiological responses while cycling in a small, controlled room (confinement) using a stationary bicycle and monitoring equipment.
A small but vocal group of cycling humanists argues that bicycle confinement labs are conceptually grotesque. “A bicycle’s telos is movement,” says Dr. Elena Vassily of the Institute for Slow Transport. “Confinement is a form of functional imprisonment.” Bicycle Confinement Laboratory
If you want, I can produce:
) can measure power with laboratory precision, often accurate to within Climate Control Chambers Elena Vassily of the Institute for Slow Transport
The Bicycle Confinement Laboratory pumps out oxygen, replacing it with nitrogen to simulate 18,000 feet of altitude. The Cyclist: A trained athlete pedals at 70% of their VO2 max. The Test: Every 10 minutes, they are given a complex puzzle (a "Wisconsin Card Sorting Test"). The Finding: Bicycle Confinement Labs have proven that exercise at altitude degrades executive function before it degrades muscle performance. You feel fine on the bike, but you cannot solve basic math. This has massive implications for pilots, mountain rescue, and high-altitude warfare. The Test: Every 10 minutes, they are given
At its core, a Bicycle Confinement Laboratory is a hermetically sealed, airtight chamber that contains a stationary bicycle (ergometer) connected to a comprehensive suite of sensors. However, three critical features distinguish it from a standard exercise physiology lab:
