MULTIVARIABLE OPTIMIZATION OF CYCLING BIOMECHANICS

Abstract

Introduction: In an activity of conventional cycling where the pedal travels a circular path at constant velocity, a number of variables affect the intersegmental loads in the leg when the power output is constant. As depicted in Figures 1a and 1b, four geometric variables are crank arm length, seat height, seat tube angle, and longitudinal foot position on the pedal. Considering the leg-bicycle to be a five-bar linkage constrained to plane motion (see Figure 2a), it is clear that each of these geometric variables influences the linkage kinematics and hence the intersegmental loads. Because of this influence these variables are termed biomechanical variables. In addition to the four geometric variables, a fifth biomechanical variable is the pedaling rate. Since these variables affect cycling biomechanics and are readily adjusted by a cyclist setting up his equipment, it is useful to determine a method for establishing optimum adjustments.