Cycling Biomechanics - get your position right to improve

performance
Cycling biomechanics refer to the forces that act on the human body and the
effects these forces produce.There are a number of key areas involved in
cycling biomechanics:

1. Saddle height
2. Crank length
3. Seat tube angle
4. Saddle position (fore-aft and angle)
5. Shoe-pedal interface
6. Frame

1. Saddle height is perhaps the most important.

• Optimum Saddle height - 105% and 107% of leg length - Lowest O2

consumption

• Too High - Rock from side to side

• Too Low - Extra stress on knee

LeMond Method

Begin by standing on a hard surface with your shoes off and your feet
about 6 inches apart. Using a metric tape, measure from the floor to
your crotch, pressing with the same force that a saddle does.Multiply
this number by 0.883. The result is your saddle height, measured
from the middle of the crank axle, along the seat tube, to the top of
the saddle.

Add 2 or 3 mm if you have long feet in proportion to your height. If

you suffer from chondromalacia (knee pain caused by damage to the
underside of the kneecap), a slightly higher saddle may feel better.
However, it should never be so high that your hips must rock to help
you reach the pedals. If this formula results in a big change from the
height you’ve been using, make the adjustment by 2 or 3 mm per
week, with several rides between, till you reach the new position.
Changing too fast could strain something.

2. Crankarm Length:

Inseam < 29" => 165mm

Inseam 29-32" => 170 mm
Inseam 33-34" => 172.5 mm
Inseam > 34" => 175 mm

If you use longer crankarms than recommended, you’ll gain leverage for
pushing big gears but lose some pedaling speed.

3. Seat tube angle (STA) - Cannot change in a particular bike.

• road racing and touring bikes-72* and 76*

• triathlon and time trial bikes- 76* and 78*

• These allow the rider's body weight to be positioned further forward

for greater comfort, efficiency and power production when using aero
handlebars.

4. Saddle position - There are two factors

1. Fore-aft position
2. Saddle angle

The fore-aft position - location of the rear of the saddle behind a vertical
line drawn to the centre of the crank axle, and the angle of the saddle nose -
either pointing up, down, or neutral.

The ideal fore-aft saddle position allows for a plumb-line dropped from the
patella to bisect the pedal axle when the crank is in the horizontal forward
position. This allows the hip and knee muscles to be fully utilised, minimising
strain on the knees.

Saddle angle - many people prefer the saddle tipped slightly upwards

BUT - research has shown that an uptilted saddle can cause back pain, as it
forces the pelvis and low back to oppose each other when you lean forwards
on the bike.

ADDRESS during design???????? (Idea - Move crank position slightly

backwards??)

5. Shoe-pedal interface.

The ideal position is with the ball of the foot directly over the pedal - this
helps to decrease stress to the knee, and is the most efficient cycling
position.
6. Frame

• Measure your inseam from crotch to floor with bare feet 6 inches
apart, then multiply by 0.68. The answer is a good approximation of
your road frame size, measured along the seat tube from the center
of the crank axle to the center of the top tube.

• As a double check, this should produce 4 to 5 inches of exposed

seatpost when your saddle height is correct. When the crankarms are
horizontal, the top tube should be right between your knees when you
squeeze them together.

Other Data

Please refer for data on power output for endurance/sprint cycling

- http://www.ecs.csun.edu/hpv/bio.html

More data on gears - http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/gears.htm

Average pedal speed - cadence(racers) - 90-95 rpm

Brakes

Disc brakes cannot be used in competitions. Therefore we will have to go for

the standard wheel brakes which actually is lighter and easily available. If
using with composite wheels there might be an issue - That needs to be
investigated more thoroughly if we are keen on using non metal rims.

For further details on the danger of disc brakes

http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=23592&start=0
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/disk_and_quick_release/

References - 28/8

http://www.firstplaceosteo.com.au/page16/page16.html

http://www.planetultra.com/training/rbr/position.html

http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html

http://bicycling.suite101.com/article.cfm/cadence_for_better_pedalling

PIC - http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html