Chad Andrews, a senior associate coach with Elite Fit Coach and a Certified USA Cycling Elite Coach, had been searching for someone who would be interested in doing this type of testing. A cardiologist in the area referred him to Bill Riner, an exercise physiologist at USC Lancaster.

Andrews now brings athletes to USC Lancaster for testing on a regular basis. The data collected are used to develop a plan for training and racing activities for the athlete.

Two types of tests are performed using a Velotron ergometer. One determines the maximum aerobic capacity of the athlete. The other measures maximum power output, an indication of the athlete’s strength.“I use the information from these tests to train elite athletes to take the next step,” Andrews said.

These tests are usually performed at least two times a year to determine the individual’s fitness level. Each time a cyclist performs the testing, Andrews gauges his or her status to see if strength and aerobic capacity are improving with training.

John Patterson is one of the many cyclists who has taken advantage of the testing this facility has to offer. Patterson, who now lives in Charlotte, is originally from Salisbury, N.C. He started racing when he was 16 years old and remained a professional cyclist until the mid 1980’s. He was national champion as a junior and represented the United States in the World Championships twice. Patterson is now competing in the master’s category and has won two races this year. He came to USC Lancaster once before to be tested and returned recently to be retested. When he was a professional cyclist, Patterson had to go to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to have this same type of evaluation done.

When asked about the value of the scientific testing available at USC Lancaster, Patterson responded, “Back then it was just a question of riding lots of hours—five to six a day. Not hard, just long easy miles, and racing took care of the rest. Now training days are much more specialized for specific races or for the type of race in which you want to peak. When I stopped racing, cycling was just at the edge of the new era where medical technology plays such a vital role. Now the type of testing done plays a critical role in determining where a rider’s weaknesses are and what needs to be worked on.”

Mike Rudkin from Raleigh started racing in 1998. He races in the 45-plus category which, he says, is very competitive. Rudkin came to the clinic to perform the testing so that Andrews could prescribe a training program for him for the upcoming year. He has competed in many races including the Bridge-to-Bridge, the Assault on Mt. Mitchell, and finished second in the North Carolina State Championship Road Race. Rudkin hopes that the results from the tests will enable Andrews to devise a training plan that will help improve his performance.

Nigel Duckworth from Huntersville, N.C., recently came to the laboratory for the first time. He has been a cyclist for three years and has competed in many races including the Bridge-to-Bridge, Criterions, and other races in the Charlotte and Georgia areas. Many racers attribute their success to a great training program, he said, so he hired Andrews as his coach. Andrews suggested that he do the two tests to aid in the development of a training plan. Duckworth stated that with Andrews’ help he hoped to move up to a Category 3 racer.

“The testing available at USC Lancaster’s Exercise Physiology Laboratory is a cutting-edge tool for training these athletes,” Andrews said.

For more information about the USC Lancaster Exercise Physiology Laboratory, contact Andrews at 704-281-5959, or Riner at 803- 313-7104 or wriner@sc.edu.

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