The Effect of Secret Clock Manipulation on 10km Cycle Time Trial Performance

The anticipatory RPE feedback model (Tucker 2009) proposes that during self paced exercise tasks, muscular work is continually regulated through comparison of a subconscious ‘template’ Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) that serves to protect against the development of catastrophic physiological failure, and a ‘conscious’ RPE that is generated through afferent feedback with regards to peripheral physiological status and through psychological inputs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of altering psychological inputs via incorrect time feedback on both RPE and performance during a series of maximal effort 10km cycle time trials. After task familiarisation, eight participants performed three separate time trials using their own cycle mounted onto the Kingcycle ergometer rig. Distance covered was available via large visual display along with elapsed time. On one occasion the display clock ran at the correct speed, but on two other occasions the clock manipulation was altered so that it ran either 10% too fast or 10% too slow. The order of the interventions was randomised. Although no significant differences were observed in total performance time, the magnitude of the endspurt participants were able to generate in the final 10% of the trial was significantly (P<0.01) greater during the slow clock trials than during the fast clock trials. Despite differences in pace distribution under each clock condition, a similar generally linear increase in RPE was observed throughout trials in all conditions. It is proposed that these findings lend support to the anticipatory RPE feedback model, and that altered psychological inputs probably act by influencing the fraction of metabolic reserve capacity that can be accessed during such trials.