Anthropometrics, flexibility and training history as determinants for bicycle configuration

Abstract

Intrinsic factors such as leg length, arm length, flexibility and training history are factors that may be relevant to the optimisation of the individual bicycle configuration process. Bike fitting methods do not always take all these variables into account, and as yet there have been limited studies examining how these variables can affect the cyclist's position on the bicycle. The main aims of this study were to establish how individual anthropometrics, training history and flexibility may influence cyclists' freely chosen bicycle configuration, and to determine the full-body static flexion angles chosen by cyclists on the bicycle.

Fifty well-trained male cyclists were recruited for the study. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to predict the four main configurations of a bicycle (saddle height, saddle setback, handlebar reach and handlebar drop) based on individual anthropometrics, flexibility and training history. Average joint kinematic ranges for the knee (36°±7°) and elbow (19°±8°) joint supported previous recommendations. Hip (77°±5°) and shoulder (112°±7°) joint angles should be determined as true clinical joints.

Trochanteric leg length (p < 0.01), Knee Extension Angle test (p < 0.01) and mSchober test (p = 0.04) were significant predictors for determining saddle height. Hamstring flexibility can be used to predict handlebar drop (p = 0.01).

A cyclist who wishes to adopt a more aerodynamic position with an increased handlebar drop should aim to improve their hamstring flexibility.

Keywords

Cycling / Flexibility / Intrinsic factors / Bicycle configuration

References

[[1]] Medicine of Cycling. Medicine of Cycling Bike Fit Task Force Consensus Statement. ( 2013)

[[2]] I. Priego Quesada, P. Pérez-soriano, A. Lucas-Cuevos, R. Salvador Palmer, R. Cibrián Ortiz de Anda. Effect of bike-fit in the perception of comfort, fatigue and pain. J Sports Sci, 35 (14) ( 2017), pp. 1459-1465, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1215496

[[3]] F. Ayachi, J. Dorey, C. Guastavino. Identifying factors of bicycle comfort: an online survey with enthusiast cyclists. Appl Ergon, 46 (Part A) ( 2015), pp. 124-136, DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2014.07.010

[[4]] J. Holmes, A. Pruitt, N. Whalen. Lower extremity overuse in bicycling. Clin Sports Med, 13 (1) ( 1994), pp. 187-205

[[5]] W. Peveler. Effects of saddle height on economy in cycling. J Strength Condit Res, 22 (4) ( 2008), pp. 1355-1359, DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318173dac6

[[6]] W. Peveler, J. Pounders, P. Bishop. Effects of saddle height on anaerobic power production in cycling. J Strength Condit Res, 21 (4) ( 2007), pp. 1023-1027, DOI: 10.1519/R-20316.1

[[7]] R. Bini, P. Hume, J. Croft. Effects of bicycle saddle height on knee injury risk and cycling performance. Sports Med, 41 (6) ( 2011), pp. 463-476, DOI: 10.2165/11588740-000000000-00000

[[8]] W. Peveler, J. Green. Effects of saddle height on economy and anaerobic power in well-trained cyclists. J Strength Condit Res, 25 (3) ( 2011), pp. 629-633, DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d09e60

[[9]] J. Swart, W. Holliday. Cycling biomechanics optimization—the (R) evolution of bicycle fitting. Curr Sports Med Rep, 18 (12) ( 2019), pp. 490-496, DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000665

[[10]] W. Holliday, J. Fisher, R. Theo, J. Swart. Static versus dynamic kinematics in cyclists: a comparison of goniometer, inclinometer and 3D motion capture. Eur J Sport Sci, 17 (9) ( 2017), pp. 1129-1142, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2017.1351580

[[11]] W. Holliday, J. Fisher, J. Swart. The effects of relative cycling intensity on saddle pressure indexes. J Sci Med Sport ( 2019), DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.05.011. Published online

[[12]] K. de Vey Mestdagh. Personal perspective: in search of an optimum cycling posture. Appl Ergon, 29 (5) ( 1998), pp. 325-334, DOI: 10.1016/S0003-6870(97)00080-X

[[13]] J. Iriberri, X. Muriel, I. Larrazabal. The bike fit of the road professional cyclist related to anthropometric measurements and the torque of de crank. M. Estivalet, P. Brisson (Eds.), The Engineering of Sport 7 (seventh ed.), Springer Science & Business Media ( 2008), pp. 483-488, DOI: 10.1007/978-2-287-09413-2_59

[[14]] E. Burke. High-Tech Cycling. Second. Human Kinetics ( 2003)

[[15]] P. Burt. Bike Fit:Optimise Your Bike Position for High Performance and Injury Avoidance. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc ( 2014)

[[16]] M. Silberman, D. Webner, S. Collina, B. Shiple. Road bicycle fit. Clin J Sport Med, 15 (4) ( 2005), pp. 271-276

[[17]] R. Bini, P. Hume, F. Lanferdini, M. Vaz. Effects of moving forward or backward on the saddle on knee joint forces during cycling. Phys Ther Sport, 14 (1) ( 2013), pp. 23-27, DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2012.02.003

[[18]] M. Menard, M. Domalain, A. Decatoire, P. Lacouture. Influence of saddle setback on knee joint forces in cycling. Sports BioMech, 3141 ( 2018), pp. 1-13, DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2018.1466906

[[19]] H. Christiaans, A. Bremner. Comfort on bicycles and the validity of a commercial bicycle fitting system. Appl Ergon, 29 (3) ( 1998), pp. 201-211, DOI: 10.1016/S0003-6870(97)00052-5

[[20]] A. Pruitt, F. Matheny. Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists. Velo Press ( 2006)

[[21]] V. Ferrer-Roca, A. Roig, P. Galilea, J. Garcia-Lopez. Influence of saddle height on lower limb kinematics in well-trained cyclists: static versus dynamic evaluation in bike fitting. J Strength Condit Res, 26 (11) ( 2012), pp. 3025-3029, DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318245c09d

[[22]] J. Holmes, A. Pruitt, N. Whalen. Iliotibial band syndrome in cyclists. Am J Sports Med, 21 (3) ( 1993), pp. 419-424, DOI: 10.1177/036354659302100316

[[23]] J. Hynd, D. Crowle, C. Stephenson.The influence of hamstring extensibility on preselected saddle height within experienced competitive cyclists. J Sci Cycl, 3 (2) ( 2014), p. 22

[[24]] A. Burnett, M. Cornelius, W. Dankaerts, P. O’sullivan. Spinal kinematics and trunk muscle activity in cyclists: a comparison between healthy controls and non-specific chronic low back pain subjects-a pilot investigation. Man Ther, 9 (4) ( 2004), pp. 211-219, DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2004.06.002

[[25]] R. Congdon, R. Bohannon, D. Tiberio. Intrinsic and imposed hamstring length influence posterior pelvic rotation during hip flexion. Clin Biomech, 20 (9) ( 2005), pp. 947-951, DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2005.03.011

[[26]] P. López-Miñarro, F. Alacid. Influence of hamstring muscle extensibility in spinal curvatures in young athletes. Sci Sports, 25 (4) ( 2010), pp. 188-192, DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2009.10.004

[[27]] J. Muyor, P. López-Miñarro, F. Alacid. Spinal posture of thoracic and lumbar spine and pelvic tilt in highly trained cyclists. J Sports Sci Med, 10 (2) ( 2011), pp. 355-361

[[28]] J. Sauer, J. Potter, C. Weisshaar, H. Ploeg, D. Thelen. Influence of gender, power, and hand position on pelvic motion during seated cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 39 (12) ( 2007), pp. 2204-2211, DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e3181568b66

[[29]] D. Kotler, A. Babu,G. Robidoux. Prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of cycling-related injury. Am Coll Sports Med, 15 (3) ( 2016), pp. 199-206, DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000262

[[30]] M. McEvoy, K. Wilkie, M. Williams. Anterior pelvic tilt in elite cyclists-A comparative matched pairs study. Phys Ther Sport, 8 (1) ( 2007), pp. 22-29, DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2006.09.022

[[31]] A. Chapman, B. Vicenzino, P. Blanch, P. Hodges. Patterns of leg muscle recruitment vary between novice and highly trained cyclists. J Electromyogr Kinesiol, 18 (3) ( 2008), pp. 359-371, DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2005.12.007

[[32]] J. García-López, S. Díez-Leal, A. Ogueta-Alday, J. Larrazabal, J.A. Rodríguez-Marroyo. Differences in pedalling technique between road cyclists of different competitive levels. J Sports Sci, 34 (17) ( 2016), pp. 1619-1626, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2015.1127987

[[33]] J. Muyor, M. Zabala. Road cycling and mountain biking produces adaptations on the spine and hamstring extensibility. Int J Sports Med, 37 ( 2015), pp. 43-49, DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1555861

[[34]] M. Dahlquist, M. Leisz, M. Finkelstein. The club-level road cyclist. Clin J Sport Med, 25 (2) ( 2015), pp. 88-94, DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000111

[[35]] K. De Pauw, B. Roelands, S. Cheung, B. de Geus, G. Rietjens, R. Meeusen. Guidelines to classify subject groups in sport-science research. Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 8 (2) ( 2013), pp. 111-122

[[36]] M. Whaley, P. Brubaker, R. Otto. Preparticipation health screening and risk stratification. M. Whaley, P. Brubaker, R. Otto ( Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (Eds.), ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 2007), p. 26

[[37]] World Medical Association. World Medical Association declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. J Am Med Assoc, 310 (20) ( 2013), pp. 2191-2194, DOI: 10.1001/jama.2013.281053

[[38]] W. Ross, M. Marfell-Jones. Kinanthropometry in: Physiological Testing of the High Performance Athlete. ( 1991)

[[39]] H. Wickham,Henry L. Tidyr. Easily tidy data with “spread%28%29” and “gather%28%29” functions.

[[40]] E. Hamley, V. Thomas. Physiological and postural factors in the calibration of the bicycle ergometer. J Physiol, 191 (2) ( 1967), pp. 55-56

[[41]] K. Nordeen-Snyder. The effect of bicycle seat height variation upon oxygen consumption and lower limb kinematics. Med Sci Sports, 9 (2) ( 1977), pp. 113-117

[[42]] R. Bini, P. Hume, J. Croft. Cyclists and triathletes have different body positions on the bicycle. Eur J Sport Sci, 14 (S1) ( 2014), pp. 109-115, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2011.654269

[[43]] W. Holliday, J. Swart. Performance variables associated with bicycle configuration and flexibility. J Sci Med Sport, 24 (3) ( 2021), pp. 312-317, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.09.015

[[44]] J. Muyor, F. Alacid, P. López-Miñarro. Influence of hamstring muscles extensibility on spinal curvatures and pelvic tilt in highly trained cyclists. J Hum Kinet, 29 (September) ( 2011), pp. 15-23, DOI: 10.2478/v10078-011-0035-8

[[45]] G. Millour, S. Duc, F. Puel, W. Bertucci. Comparison of two static methods of saddle height adjustment for cyclists of different morphologies. Sports Biomech. Published online ( 2019), pp. 1-16, DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2018.1556324

[[46]] K. Farrell, K. Reisinger, M. Tillman. Force and repetition in cycling: possible implications for iliotibial band friction syndrome. Knee, 10 (1) ( 2003), pp. 103-109

[[47]] B. Fonda, N. Sarabon, F. Li. Validity and reliability of different kinematics methods used for bike fitting. J Sports Sci, 32 (10) ( 2014), pp. 940-946, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2013.868919

[[48]] R. Bini, D. Senger, F. Lanferdini, A. Lopes. Joint kinematics assessment during cycling incremental test to exhaustion. Isokinet Exerc Sci, 20 (2) ( 2012), pp. 99-105, DOI: 10.3233/IES-2012-0447

[[49]] R. Bini, F. Diefenthaeler. Kinetics and kinematics analysis of incremental cycling to exhaustion. Sports BioMech, 9 (4) ( 2010), pp. 223-235, DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2010.540672

[[50]] D. Sanderson, A. Black. The effect of prolonged cycling on pedal forces. J Sports Sci, 21 (3) ( 2003), pp. 191-199, DOI: 10.1080/0264041031000071010

[[51]] J. Dingwell, J. Joubert, F. Diefenthaeler, J. Trinity. Changes in muscle activity and kinematics of highly trained cyclists during fatigue. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng, 55 (11) ( 2008), pp. 2666-2674, DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2008.2001130

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa [101413].