A self-paced 15-minute cycling time trial is a reliable performance measure in recreationally active individuals.

Cycling time trial (TT) protocols have been shown to be reliable in trained cyclists, but their reproducibility in lesser-trained individuals is unknown. This study examined the reliability of a self-paced 15-minute cycling TT in recreationally active individuals. Twelve recreationally active males (age 27 ± 3 y; body mass 75.2 ± 8.9 kg; V ˙ O 2peak  = 51.10 ± 7.53 ml∙kg∙min -1 ) completed a V ˙ O 2peak test and four experimental trials, separated by > 48 h. Experimental trials consisted of 10 min cycling at 60% W max , followed by a self-paced 15-min TT. Heart rate and work done were recorded every 5 min during the TT; and coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated. Work done was not different ( P  = 0.706) between trials (193.2 ± 45.3 kJ; 193.2 ± 43.5 kJ; 192.0 ± 42.3 kJ; 193.9 ± 42.8 kJ). Within participant CV ranged from 0.5-4.9% for the four TTs, with a mean CV of 2.1%. Mean CV decreased from 2.0% (range 0.1-5.0%) for the first two TTs to 1.7% (range 0.2-5.6%) for the second and third TTs, and further decreased to 1.0% (range 0.2-1.8%) for the third and fourth TTs. In conclusion, the use of a short-duration self-paced cycling TT in recreationally active individuals is a reliable performance measure.