UCT are looking for cyclists to take part in 2 research projects as follows:

1. UCT SPORTS SCIENCE STUDY INVESTIGATING WHETHER TRAINED CYCLISTS TEND TO BE OWLS OR LARKS

UCT’s Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Research Unit is conducting research to determine whether trained cyclists tend to be “morning/lark” or “evening/owl” people…and whether this impacts training and performance.
The first phase of this research involves genotyping a large group of trained cyclists for a particular gene (Per 3) known to contribute to an individuals circadian rhythm, or internal clock. We are interested in finding out whether cyclists, who are often required to train and / or race in the morning tend to be more morning-oriented people. At a later stage, we will investigate whether the performance of those cyclists preferring either mornings or evenings changes during the day, and whether this is related to their personal preference for mornings or evenings. For example – do night owls train and race better at the end of the day compared to earlier in the morning?
To participate in this study, you need to be a white male, aged between 25 and 50 years, capable of completing the Argus Cycle Tour (or similar event) in a time of less than 03hours45min (within the last three years), and you must currently be training at least three days each week.

Cyclists that are eligible for the study will visit the Sports Science Institute on one occasion to complete a questionnaire to (a) determine their preference for mornings or evenings and (b) gather information relating to their medical, training habits and racing history. The investigator will then take a sample of their cheek cells (a non-invasive and painless process) using a cotton wool swab. This will be used to obtain a DNA sample necessary to genotype the cyclists for the Per3 gene.
If you are interested in taking part in the study and would like additional information, please contact:
Dr. Dale Rae
Tel: 021 650 4577
Email: dale.rae@uct.ac.za
Closing date for participation in this study: Friday 23rd April 2010

2. UCT's RESEARCH UNIT FOR EXERCISE SCIENCE & SPORTS MEDICINE WOULD LIKE TO MONITOR A GROUP OF WELL TRAINED MALE CYCLISTS AS THEY UNDERGO TWO WEEKS OF HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING

INCLUDES 3 FREE VO2 MAX TESTS AND A FREE PERSONALISED TRAINING PROGRAM

What type of subjects are we looking for?

• 20 injury free and healthy male cyclists between age 18 and 45
  
• In the possession of working road bikes and heart rate monitors

• 3 VO2 max tests and three 40 km TT
  
• Keeping a daily log of all your training and complete a questionnaire daily
  
• Perform some of the training sessions in the laboratory
  
• Sleeping 3 nights a week with a heart rate monitor on in order to measure heart rate variability
  
• YOU WILL BE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM RACING FOR 4 WEEKS DURING THE STUDY

• Full analysis of your performance tests
  
• An opportunity to monitor how you are adapting to your training

• UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, At the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Boundary Rd, Newlands
  Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town

Contact: Ben Capostagno via email: Benoit.Capostagno@uct.ac.za or phone: 082 562 8419
PLEASE APPLY BEFORE 15 April 2010