Gear, inertial work and road slopes as determinants of biomechanics in cycling

Abstract

In cycling the gear determines the distance travelled and the mean applied force at each leg thrust. According to Padilla et al. (J Appl Physiol 89:1522-1527, 2000), an elite cyclist was able to cycle for an hour at 14.6 m.s(-1 developing 510 W at a pedal frequency of 101 rpm. Thus, the opposing force was 34 N (=500/14.6), whereas the mean force, developed by the leg muscles, was 144.1 N. It can be calculated that in the same subject cycling on a 20% slope at the same pedal frequency, the velocity would be reduced by about 5 times, i.e. to 2.9 m.s(-1) because of a fivefold increase of the opposing force. In reality, the increase of mean force developed by leg muscles is even larger, because of the fall of the cadence to 60 rpm. In general, during mountain ascents cyclists develop high forces at low cadences that are likely to be more economical; in contrast, on flat ground, they increase the pedalling rates because their aerodynamic posture does not allow high force production. The intermittent pattern of muscular force application generates speed changes that become more evident at great inclines and low cadences. It can be shown that inertial work is appreciable in cycling, increasing with the incline of the road and decreasing with the cadence. However, inertial work does not seem to affect efficiency. Differences in physiologic potential make differences in performance more evident in time trials where the mean incline of the road is not negligible. Cyclists with low body size have an advantageous force versus mass ratio in high mountain ascents.