MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS AND MUSCULAR ACTIVITY IN CYCLING ON COBBLESTONES AT RACE PACE – A SINGLE CASE STUDY

Abstract

The aim of this research is to reveal the best bike configuration, wheels, and tyre pressure for competitive cycling on cobblestones. One former professional cyclist performed 16.75 laps on a cobbled road track (1.55 km). Three accelerometers were mounted on the stem, the seat post and the down tube. sEMG of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum, and thoracolumbar fascia were measured by wireless sensors that measured also soft tissue longitudinal accelerations. The pressure inflated on tubular tyres led to significant differences on effective values of vibrations, each time higher at 5.5 rather than 5 bar. The methods implemented in this study appear to be consistent in revealing the best bike configuration and settings when vibrations are the main elements in races.