The head movements degrade the aerodynamic drag according to the time-trial duration
Journal Title: Journal of Science and Cycling - Year 2016, Vol 5, Issue 2
Abstract
Effective frontal area (ACd, m2) is the main parameter opposing motion on level ground in cycling (Debraux et al. 2011). To reduce ACd, cyclists adopt a characteristic time trial (TT) position accounting for about 70 % of the total drag of the cyclist-bicycle system. When the cyclist is subdivided into 19 body segments, the highest ACd values are found to be for the head, legs and arms, as these areas contribute the most to the frontal area of the cyclist (Defraeye et al. 2011). The drag area of the head in the TT position was higher than for the other positions because the head was the most protruding body segment in this position, consequently contributing significantly to increase ACd. Additionally, it is very important to remain as stable as possible on the saddle to produce the highest power output (PO, W) during TTs to pretend increase the performance. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of time-trial duration on head and lower back movements. We hypothesized that the more the duration of exercise is long the more the fatigue increases involving an increase of the head and lower back movements increasing ACd.
Authors and Affiliations
A Bouillod| EA4660, C3S Health - Sport Department, Sports University, Besancon, France.French Cycling Federation, Saint Quentin en Yvelines, France.LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France, L Garbellotto| LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France, P Acco| LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France, E Brunet| French Cycling Federation, Saint Quentin en Yvelines, France, G. Soto-Romero| LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France.ISIFC, Université de Franche-Comté, France, F Grappe| EA4660, C3S Health - Sport Department, Sports University, Besancon, France.Professional Cycling Team FDJ, Moussy le Vieux, France
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP2992
- DOI -
- Views 337
- Downloads 24
Validation of a new pedal sensor to measure torque, power and work during pedaling.
In the field of biomechanical analysis of pedaling motion, researchers studied the relationship between cost energy and cycling technique for optimal use of the force applied to the pedals, to improve cycling velocity f...
Field tests with an instrumented bicycle for comfort measurements
High frame stiffness is one of the most important parameters a racing bicycle should fulfil, it shows advantages in steering stability and a smaller amount of pedalling power is lost due to frame deflection. On the contr...
Evaluating the central pressure point to determine the optimal saddle setback
Over half of all cyclists describe discomfort at the saddle as limiting condition. (Detori & Norvell, 2006) The saddle setback is an important parameter to consider when aiming to improve the comfort for sportive road bi...
The effect of bicycle seat-tube angle on muscle activation of lower extremity
Purpose: This study recruited bicycle enthusiasts and investigated lower extremity muscle activation at various seat-tube angles. Methods: Twenty healthy participants (10 males and 10 females) with right dominant leg wer...
Modelling of cycling power data and its application for anti-doping
Since the introduction of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), research studies have suggested that there is risk of false-positive results due to a variety of factors that act to compromise its sensitivity to detect u...