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APPENDIX
D
STATIONARY
BICYCLE TEST
Only stationary bicycles which can be calibrated and which have mechanically
adjustable resistances may be used to test profiled soldiers on the 6.2-mile (l
O-kilometer), alternate APFT event. Therefore, the event supervisor or scorer
must be sure that the stationary bicycle can be accurately adjusted to ensure
that the soldier pedals against the correct resistance (force) of 2 kiloponds or
20 newtons. If the stationary bicycle cannot be properly calibrated and
adjusted, the soldier may end up pedalling against a resistance which is too
great or not great enough. In either case, the test would not provide an
accurate indication of the soldier’s level of cardiorespiratory fitness.
The best type of stationary bicycle for testing has the following features:
• Calibration adjustment.
• Adjustable resistance displayed in kiloponds or newtons.
• Odometer which accurately measures the distance traveled in either miles or
tenths of miles or in kilometers and tenths of kilometers.
Examples of stationary bicycles which meet the above criteria are the
mechanically braked Bodyguard 990 and Monark 868. Such bicycles can be used to
accurately measure a person’s rate of work or the total amount of work. They are
often called bicycle ergometers.
If the stationary bicycle has an odometer, the soldier must pedal 6.2 miles
(10.0 kilometers or 10,000 meters) against a resistance set at 2 kiloponds or 20
newtons. The test is completed when the soldier pedals 6.2 miles (10.0
kilometers). He receives a “Go” if he is below or at the time allotted for his
particular age group and gender. Care should be taken to ensure that, when using
a stationary bicycle which measures distance in kilometers, the test is ended at
10 kilometers, not 6.2 kilometers.
There are many electrically operated, stationary bicycles (EOSBS) on the market
and in gymnasiums on Army installations. Most of them are designed for physical
fitness training. Only a limited number of EOSB models are designed to
accurately assess a person’s energy expenditure during exercise. Such EOSBS are
relatively expensive and are generally found in medical and scientific
laboratories. Very few, if any, are found in gymnasiums on Army installations.
Because most of the more common training EOSBS were not designed to accurately
assess energy expenditure, they should not be used for the alternate,
cardiorespiratory APFT event. For the sake of accuracy and ease of
administration, soldiers designated to be tested on either of the two bicycle
protocols should be tested using a moving bicycle IAW the guidelines provided
elsewhere in this field manuel. If the mechanical y- braked Bodyguard 990 or
Monark 868 is used, however, the tester must ensure that the equipment has been
properly calibrated prior to each test.
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