Spinal cord injuries require rehabilitation programs immediately after injury. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) have been demonstrated as a suitable means to regulate exercise intensity for those trained in wheelchair propulsion. The use of RPE with novice wheelchair users has not been validated. Ten able-bodied males with no previous wheelchair experience (mean ± SD, age 22 ± 2 years, height 1.79 ± 0.08 m, mass 76.0 ± 12.1 kg) completed an incremental submaximal test followed by a VO2peak test on a wheelchair ergometer. In a second visit, two 12-min intermittent exercise tests of three 4-min bouts were completed at a moderate (40% VO2peak) and a vigorous intensity (60% VO2peak). On a separate day, participants completed the two 12-min tests at a self-selected intensity corresponding to the RPE noted during the second visit. During the last minute of each 4-min bout measures of VO2, HR and blood lactate concentration [La-] were recorded. Power output (PO) was measured continuously. There were differences in average VO2, %VO2peak, HR, and %HR between the Imposed and RPE-regulated Trial at a moderate (P<0.05) but not at a vigorous intensity (P>0.31) for these measures, whilst [La-] showed no difference at either intensity. There were no differences in PO between the Imposed and RPE-regulated Trial at a vigorous intensity. PO was however ~13% higher during the RPE-regulated Trial at the moderate intensity (P ≤ 0.01). These data supports the use of RPE as a method of regulating exercise at a vigorous but not at a moderate intensity during wheelchair propulsion in novice able-bodied males. Research is needed into familiarisation with wheelchair propulsion to improve RPE accuracy at a moderate intensity, since large inter-individual differences were observed when comparing the Imposed and RPE-regulated Trial