Abstract
The pedal force effectiveness, an important parameter in cycling performance, is rarely optimal. Decreased power is generally observed during the recovery phase (the cyclist does not pull enough). An essential part of training for cyclists consists in improving pedaling technique. Visual feedback can be useful but may not be feasible in real life, where the cyclist has to visually focus on the road. We propose auditive feedback as a better way to help cyclists improve their pedal force effectiveness in real-time. In this study, both competitive cyclists and non-cyclists tested different online sonification strategies of force effectiveness, comparing them to a silent control. The ”Squeak” strategy, generating a squeak when torque was negative, had the most positive impact on Torque Effectiveness: some participants managed to eliminate any negative torque for a full minute.
Highlights
Enhancing the performance of cyclists in competition depends on various parameters: physiological factors, nutritional strategy, bike design ([1], [2]) and, pedaling technique [3]
The pedal stroke is a complex process consisting of 4 phases: pushing and pulling phases, high and low transitions
Pedaling technique is complex to analyze, forces applied with the feet may not reveal all this complexity [5]. Measuring these forces is the easiest way to help the cyclist to improve his pedaling technique. This could explain why pedal force sensors are already available on the consumer market, as a solution for training
Summary
Enhancing the performance of cyclists in competition depends on various parameters: physiological factors, nutritional strategy, bike design ([1], [2]) and, pedaling technique [3]. Pedaling technique is complex to analyze, forces applied with the feet may not reveal all this complexity [5]. Measuring these forces is the easiest way to help the cyclist to improve his pedaling technique. This could explain why pedal force sensors are already available on the consumer market, as a solution for training. The first way is by examining pedaling efficiency, the ratio of tangential force to the total force applied on the pedal [3], [6].
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