Body Composition and Physical Performance in Experienced Cyclists: A Descriptive Analysis of a Cycling Club in Tijuana, Mexico
Keywords:
cycling, muscle mass, obesity, BMI, body fatAbstract
Introduction: Regular cycling provides numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension, as well as a significantly lower likelihood of obesity. Objective: To analyze muscle mass, body fat, and physical performance during a maximal exercise test in experienced road cyclists. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. Eight male members of the FastBike Cycling Club, aged 21 to 64 years, participated in the study. Height was recorded, body mass and body composition were assessed, and an incremental maximal exercise test was performed using a cycleergometer. Results: The normality test indicated a normal distribution for all variables (p ≤ 0.05). Body mass ranged from 71 to 98 kg, height from 168 to 183 cm, body mass index (BMI) from 23 to 31 kg/m², and muscle mass from 31 to 42 kg. Regarding physical performance, exercise-test duration ranged from 6.17 to 8.48 min, peak power output from 360 to 430 W, the highest stage achieved from 7 to 9, final-stage cadence from 92 to 118 rpm, and sustained power output throughout the test from 325 to 395 W. Conclusion: The findings indicate that, despite participants having relatively high muscle mass, their BMI and body fat percentage indicate overweight status, which may be limiting physical performance during maximal exercise testing.
References
Aguirre-Loaiza, H., Arias, I., Bonilla, S., Ramírez, R., Ramírez-Herrera, S., Nanez, J., Barbosa-Granados, S., & Arenas-Granada, J. (2022). Effect of acute physical exercise on inhibitory control in young adults: High-intensity indoor cycling session. Physiology & Behavior, 254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113902
Allen, H., Coggan, A. y McGregor, S. (2021). Entrenar y correr con potenciómetro. Paidotribo.
Alvero-Cruz, J. R., García-Romero, J. C., Ordonez, F. J., Mongin, D., Correas-Gómez, L., Nikolaidis, P. T. y Knechtle, B. (2021). Age and training-related changes in body composition and physical fitness in male recreational cyclists. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010093
Barbany, J. R. (2019). Alimentación para el deporte y la salud. Paidotribo.
Becerra-Patiño, B. A., Montenegro-Bonilla, A. D., Martínez-Benítez, C. F., Pino-Ortega, J., Hernández-Jaña, S., Castillo-Paredes, A., Olivares-Arancibia, J., Yáñez-Sepúlveda, R., & López-Gil, J. F. (2026). Effects of indoor cycling (spinning) on physiological, cardiac and perceived exertion responses in adults: A systematic review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2026.1715110
Belzunce, M. A., Henckel, J., Di Laura, A., Horga, L. M. y Hart, A. J. (2023). Gender similarities and differences in skeletal muscle and body composition: An MRI study of recreational cyclists. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001672
Borszcz, F., Tramontin, A., Bossi, A., Carminatti, L. y Costa, V. (2018). Functional threshold power in cyclists: Validity of the concept and physiological responses. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 39(10), 737–742. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-101546
Burbano, L. L., Benavides, P., Pinta, O. G., Ruíz, I. J. A. (2023). Ciclismo de ruta como fenómeno sociocultural en el departamento de Nariño (Colombia): Perspectiva de los ruteros. El Ágora USB, 23(2), 580–606. https://doi.org/10.21500/16578031.6209
Chavarrias, M., Carlos-Vivas, J., Collado-Mateo, D. y Pérez-Gómez, J. (2019). Health benefits of indoor cycling: A systematic review. Medicina, 55(8), 452. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55080452
Chávez-Velásquez, M., Pedraza, E. y Montiel, M. (2019). Prevalencia de obesidad: Estudio sistemático de la evolución en 7 países de América Latina. Revista Chilena de Salud Pública, 23(1), 72-78. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5281.2019.55063
Cove, B., Chalmers, S., Nelson, M. J., Anderson, M., & Bennett, H. (2025). The effect of training distribution, duration, and volume on VO2max and performance in trained cyclists: A systematic review, multilevel meta-analysis, and multivariate meta-regression. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 28(5), 423–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2024.12.005
Denham, J., Scott-Hamilton, J., Hagstrom, A. D. y Gray, A. J. (2020). Las salidas de potencia en ciclismo predicen la potencia umbral funcional y el consumo máximo de oxígeno. Revista de Investigación en Fuerza y Acondicionamiento, 34(12), 3489-3497. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002253
InBody. (2014). Tecnología InBody. https://www.composicion-corporal-inbody.com/tecnologia-inbody.html
Kell, D. T. y Greer, B. K. (2017). Use of the Wattbike cycle ergometer for attenuation of bilateral pedaling asymmetry in trained cyclists. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 31(2), 468-473. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001495
Maciejczyk, M., Wiecek, M., Szymura, J., Szygula, Z. y Brown, L. E. (2015). Influence of increased body mass and body composition on cycling anaerobic power. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29(1), 58–65. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000727
Pearson, L., Page, M. J., Gerhard, R., Clarke, N., & Winters, M. (2025). Effectiveness of interventions for modal shift to walking and bike riding: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Transport Reviews, 45(4), 482–513. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2025.2480292
Swafford, A., Navalta, J., Freedman Silvernail, J., Lough, N., & Mercer, J. (2025). Physiological and biomechanical responses to indoor cycling with and without the ability to sway. International Journal of Exercise Science, 18(7), 531–542. https://doi.org/10.70252/FQRW7720
Reyes, A., Villarroel-Ojeda, L., Moraga-Múñoz, R., Hernández-Mosqueira, C. (2023). Efectos de programas de ejercicio físico en la calidad de vida y la condición física orientadas a la salud, en estudiantes universitarios con sobrepeso u obesidad: una revisión sistemática. Retos, 50, 332–341. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v50.99688
World Medical Association. (2024). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human participants. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.21972
Yin, H., Zhang, J., Lian, M., & Zhang, Y. (2025). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training for physical fitness in university students. BMC Public Health, 25, Article 1601. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22829-7
Zargarzadeh, M., Ribeiro, A. S. N., Santos, A. M. C., & Rodrigues, R. N. (2026). Health benefits of cycling as a form of active travel: A pilot empirical study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1), Article 79. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010079mdpi
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Revista de Educación Física y Calidad de Vida
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
