The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week randomised controlled cycling-to-school trial on cardiorespiratory fitness. A total of 53 10- to 13-year-old children from one public school were included. The children were randomised into either a cycling group or a control group. The cycling group was encouraged to cycle to and from school each day during a period of 12 weeks. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and anthropometrical data (weight and height) were measured at baseline and at the end of the 12-week period. No significant differences were observed in VO2peak change over the 12-week period between the cycling group and the control group (49.7 mlO2/min/kg versus 5.6 mlO2/min/kg; effect size -0.13, F = 0.495, p = 0.486). Within the intervention group, 69.2% (95% CI 5.1 to 88.2) started cycling, and within the control group 4.8% (95% CI 2.9 to 6.5) started cycling. Given that several children in both groups (intervention and control) started cycling to school, re-analyses were conducted between those starting cycling and those not starting cycling. At follow up, a significant difference between those starting cycling and those who did not starting cycling was observed in VO2peak (51.7 mlO2/min/kg versus 47.9 mlO2/min/kg; effect size = 0.49, F = 8.145, p = 0.7), after adjustment for baseline scores, gender and age. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that cycling to school improves cardiorespiratory fitness.

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