The selection of pedalling cadence during cycling may be determined by a number of factors, including the degree of oxygenation in the exercising skeletal muscle. It is generally accepted that muscle oxygenation decreases while cycling at increasing work rates, when metabolic rate increases (1). In contrast, muscle oxygenation response to increased cadence at a fixed work rate is less clear (2, 3). The purpose of the two studies presented here was to determine muscle oxygenation at different cycling cadences and work rates. Sub-Tvent study: Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to cycling were recorded in 12 participants at work rates of 70% and 90% of the ventilatory threshold (Tvent). Participants cycled at cadences of 30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 revolutions per minute (rpm), in a randomised sequence with 110 rpm performed last. Each cadence was sustained for 4 min, interspersed with active recovery periods (4). Skeletal muscle (vastus lateralis) oxygenation was measured using near-infrared spectroscopy and tissue saturation index (TSI) determined. Tvent study: A similar protocol was used to measure TSI in 9 participants at cadences of 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 rpm. Work rate was equal to 100% Tvent (5), with cadences tested as above for 4 min each, in a randomised sequence with 90 rpm undertaken last. Data were analysed with two-way repeated measures ANOVA corrected for multiple comparisons with Bonferroni’s post-hoc test. Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses were greater at 90% than at 70% Tvent, and at 110 rpm compared with lower cadences (Figure 1), but vastus lateralis oxygenation changes from baseline were not different between the two work rates or between the five cadences tested (Figure 2). At a work rate equal to 100% Tvent, the cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses were again greater at the higher pedalling cadences (Figure 3). At this higher work rate, the TSI reduction from baseline was significantly greater at 90 rpm (−14±4%) than at 40 rpm (−12±3%) and 50 rpm (−12±3%) (P=0.027 and 0.017, respectively) (Figure 4). Our results demonstrate that elevated pedalling cadence at a work rate equal to 100% Tvent can significantly reduce vastus lateralis TSI and confirm previous findings (1) for skeletal muscle oxygenation being unaffected by pedalling cadence at workloads below Tvent. These findings suggest that skeletal muscle oxygenation is affected by high cadence when cycling at a work rate equal to Tvent and may only be a determinant of self-selected cadence during cycling at this exercise intensity.