After checking the data acceptability of the ECG, blood pressure, and expired gas analysis parameters at rest, the test was started with 4 min of rest either sitting on the cycle ergometer or standing on the treadmill. A symptom-limited exercise test was then conducted. Ramp protocols for the cycle ergometer were 10 W/min, 20 W/min, and 30 W/min ramping (Fig. 1A). Ramp protocols for the treadmill ergometer were TR-2, TR-3, and TR-4. These were designed to obtain linear increases in ˙VO2 of 2 ml/min, 3 ml/min, and 4 ml/min in young males, respectively, through increases in grade and speed (Fig. 1B–D). These protocols were designed using the equation: ˙VO2 (ml/min/kg) = 0.15S2 + 0.14SG + 0.45S + 0.40G + 4.23, where S is speed (km/h) and G is grade (%)