Army Physical Fitness Test - 6.2 Mile Bicycle Test


This event is used to assess the soldier’s cardiorespiratory and leg-muscle endurance.


Equipment
Two stopwatches, one clipboard and pen for each scorer, a copy of the test instructions and standards, and numbers are needed. Although one-speed bicycles are preferred for this event, multispeed bicycles may be used. If a multispeed bicycle is used, measures must be taken to ensure that only one
gear is used throughout the test. (This can usually be done by taping the gear shifters at the setting preferred by the testee.)

Facilities
A relatively flat course with a uniform surface and no obstacles must be used. It must also be clearly marked. Soldiers should not be tested on a quarter-mile track, and they should never be out of the scorers’ sight. The course should be completely free of runners and walkers.

Personnel
One event supervisor and at least one scorer for every 10 soldiers are required. Safety, control, and medical personnel should also be present as appropriate.

Instructions
The event supervisor must read the following: “THE 6.2-MILE BICYCLE TEST IS USED TO ASSESS YOUR CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS AND LEG MUSCLES’ ENDURANCE. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE 6.2 MILES WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL HELP FROM OTHERS. YOU MUST KEEP YOUR BICYCLE IN ONE
GEAR OF YOUR CHOOSING FOR THE ENTIRE TEST. CHANGING GEARS IS NOT PERMITTED AND WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION. TO BEGIN, YOU WILL LINE UP BEHIND THE STARTING LINE. ON THE COMMAND ‘GO,’ THE CLOCK WILL START, AND YOU WILL BEGIN PEDALING AT YOUR OWN PACE. TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED DISTANCE OF 6.2 MILES, YOU MUST COMPLETE (describe the number of laps, start and finish points, and course layout). YOU
WILL BE SCORED ON YOUR ABILITY TO COMPLETE THE DISTANCE OF 6.2 MILES (10 KILOMETERS) IN A TIME EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THAT LISTED FOR YOUR AGE AND SEX. IF YOU LEAVE THE DESIGNATED COURSE FOR ANY REASON, YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS EVENT?”

Administration
After reading the instructions, the event supervisor answers any related questions. He then organizes the soldiers into groups of no more than ten and assigns each group to a scorer. Scorers assign numbers to the soldiers in their groups and record each soldier’s number on the appropriate scorecard.

Timing Techniques
The event supervisor is the timer. He uses the commands “Get set” and “Go.” Two stopwatches are used in case one fails. As soldiers near the end of the 6.2-mile ride, the event supervisor starts calling off the time in minutes and seconds (for example, “Thirty-twenty-one, thirty- twenty-two, thirty-twenty-three,” and so on).

Scorers' Duties
When the event is over, scorers record each soldier’s time in the 2-mile-run block. They initial the appropriate block and note in the comment block that the time is for a 6.2-mile-bicycle test and whether or not the testee met the required standards for his age and sex.