Banner day for research supporting cycling technique

The Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology is publishing amazing articles in the area of cycling. Just to help, Electromyography is the study of electrical patterns associated with muscle activity. Kinesiology is the study of movement.

Up until recently, many cycling research models had limitations when applying the information into a real world context. This doesn't mean that the research was or is bad. It just means that the study of the cycling movement is difficult to encapsulate and therefore, much of the research is limited to finite details that have to be pieced together with several pieces of other research to form a provable concept.

This new research seems to have broken a bit of the mold. The first article discusses patterns of muscle recruitment in novice and highly trained cyclists. <click here>. The final sentence in the abstract is the most important statement. Basically, it states that cycling is a skill sport and technique has to be developed to become successful. While this concept is generally accepted in other sports like swimming, golf, tennis, it's generally absent in the cycling community. Most cyclists thing that they just need to ride faster, longer, harder. This article says that cyclists need to ride smarter.

The second article says that trunk position affect technique. <click here>This project compared elite cyclists, elite triathletes and novice cyclists. Basically, it shows that elite triathletes ride with the same technique problems seen in novice cyclists. Once again, this supports the need to develop technique in general, but specifically, it states that novice triathletes never have a chance to develop good technique. The are at a disadvantage because they are new to the sport and their cycling position puts them at a disadvantage when trying to produce good power.

It's time we move away from any positioning model that takes away from the production of power at the pedals. If we disregard principles that are based physiology, physics and biomechanics in favor of aerodynamics, we are doing a disservice to the triathlete.

Skill set can be improved by triathletes

The Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology recently published a paper comparing Cyclist and Triathlete pedaling economy. Click Here

Regardless of the cycling sport, it should be noted that cycling economy is a factor that leads to success. If you are producing power ineffectively or you aren't able to turn muscles on and off rapidly, you are scrubbing speed.