MEASUREMENT OF RIDER INDUCED LOADS DURING SIMULATED BICYCLING

Research related to bicycling has broadened in scope over the last decade. Prior to about 1975, the majority of bicycling related research was dedicated to topics surrounding the physiology of human performance. These early efforts served to stimulate interest in bicycling research with the result that more recent research has explored a diversity of topics ranging from,Jundamental s of muscle mechanics to measurenent of foot/pedal loads. Despite the both broadened and intensified research activity, one topic, which has recei ved no attention to the authors I knowledge, is measurement of the complete loading induced by the rider on the bicycle frame. The importance of this topic lies in the applicability of the results to two areas, design analysis of bicycle components including the frame and biomechanical analysis of the pedalling process. The concern in the present article is with the biomechanical analysis. Seeking to understand the biomechanics of the pedalling process, a number of researchers have recognized that pedal loading merits study. Th