Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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Centre for Human Performance
Pacing for Endurance Performance
A set of projects investigating cognitive processes and the feedback sources novice and trained cyclists attend to and how this can inform pacing decisions during alone and competitive events.
The Challenge
Theories of decision-making have been applied to the continuous nature of self-paced exercise and suggest that exertion is regulated by continual cognitive decisions in response to physiological disturbances, perceived levels of effort, performance feedback and psychological drive. However, methods to assess decision-making during performance can be problematic without interference. Verbal data is collected concurrently as an individual performs using a Think Aloud protocol, capturing participant’s cognitions. Equally information-seeking behaviours measured through eye-tracking software can support what feedback sources are being attended to, to inform decisions. Such methodologies can examine which sources of feedback are used to continuously regulate exertion during self-paced activity.
The Approach
Within the projects novice and trained cyclists were assessed over 4km and 16.1km cycling time trials, both on road and simulated in the laboratory. They had visual access to all performance feedback, physiological heart rate data and external scenery during their performances. Cyclists were fitted with a microphone and Dictaphone to capture all verbalised thoughts. During the laboratory trials they were also fitted with head-mounted eye-tracking glasses to collect information-seeking behaviours. Expertise differences were assessed in both alone and competitive time trials.
The Impact
Cognitions and pacing change throughout time trials and differences were found between laboratory and field verbalisations. Information-seeking behaviour was not different between groups however cognitive processes differ as a function of expertise during self-paced cycling time trials. Understanding cognitive differences can allow practitioners to more effectively implement interventions to athletes at different ability levels to improve performance and pacing, and decision–making insights can potentially inform future sport performance equipment.
Research outputs
- Massey, H.S., Whitehead, A.E., Marchant, D., Polman, R.C. and Williams, E.L., 2020. An investigation of expertise in cycling: Eye tracking, Think Aloud and the influence of a competitor. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, p.101681.
- An investigation of expertise in cycling: Eye tracking, Think Aloud and the influence of a competitor
- Whitehead, A.E., Jones, H.S., Williams, E.L., Rowley, C., Quayle, L., Marchant, D. and Polman, R.C., 2018. Investigating the relationship between cognitions, pacing strategies and performance in 16.1 km cycling time trials using a think aloud protocol. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 34, pp.95-109.
- Investigating the relationship between cognitions, pacing strategies and performance in 16.1 km cycling time trials using a think aloud protocol
- Whitehead, A.E., Jones, H.S., Williams, E.L., Dowling, C., Morley, D., Taylor, J.A. and Polman, R.C., 2019. Changes in cognition over a 16.1 km cycling time trial using Think Aloud protocol: Preliminary evidence. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(3), pp.266-274.
- Changes in cognition over a 16.1 km cycling time trial using Think Aloud protocol: Preliminary evidence
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