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 349
- Downloads 24
Caffeine supplementation improves simulated 16 km cycling time-trial performance without altering pacing strategy
Caffeine is a well-known ergogenic aid with a high prevalence of use by endurance athletes including cyclists and tri-athletes (Del Coso et al., 2011). Acute caffeine supplementation has been shown to improve cycling tim...
The reliability and validity of the 3-minute critical power test
Background: Athletes utilise exercise testing to assist with training design and race strategy. Critical power (CP) is a useful addition to an exercise testing battery as it provides an estimate of the heavy-severe exerc...
Influence of age and sex on pacing during Sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman and Ironman triathlons. Part B
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of biological sex and age on the pacing strategies adopted by non-drafting top triathletes during the cycle and run disciplines of a Sprint, Olympic, half-Ironman an...
Does six-weeks of high-intensity cycle training with induced changes in acid-base balance lead to mitochondrial adaptations?
Background: Endurance training leads to an improved ability of muscle to utilize oxygen. This is related to an increased density and function of mitochondria. The biogenesis and adaptation of mitochondria is a complex pr...
Low Cadence, High Resistance Creates More Muscle Breakdown than High Cadence, Low Resistance in Well Trained Cyclists during High Intensity Interval Training
Research by Laursen (2005:Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 19, 527-533) demonstrated the positive effects of High Intensity Interval Training on cycling performance concluding that peripheral (muscular) ad...