Female college students between the ages of 18 and 37 exercised using a bicycle ergometer. Exercise was performed to maximal to maximal lavels by increasing the work load 150 kpm/min each minute and at a later time exercising until exhaustion at a constant work level equal to the maximal work level attained with the step increment exercise. The maximal steady work load was maintained for between 2.5 to 4 minute and was accompanied by higher ventilations and oxygen uptakes than were observed during the incremental test. The inability of the subjects to elevate their ventilation with the step increment work test appeared to to be related to the time for adjustments to occur with exercise and to motivational factors.