TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantifying power output during cycling through measuring strain energy in a bicycle frame
AU - Watt, Jonathan B.
AU - Reiser, Raoul F.
AU - Peterson, M. L.
AU - Walrath, D. E.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Quantifying power output is becoming more popular in training and competition for cycling. This popularity comes from the fact that power is a direct means of measuring intensity, which is considered by many to be the most important variable in a successful training program. Although other methods are available for measuring power output, there is no frame that is available that uses strain to quantify power output. Using a frame may prove superior to currently available products. Additionally, strain may prove useful for cycling technique analysis, another critical factor for success. In this study, a cyclocross bicycle frame was instrumented with six strain gages to determine if strain energy in the frame correlates with power output. For pilot data, an 85 kg subject rode the bike on rollers with a fork stand at 250 watts and a cadence of 90 rpm. Although more data needs to be collected and analyzed to find a correlation with power output, initial pilot data shows that the strain in the frame is cyclic in nature when pedaling and has a corresponding frequency with the pedaling cadence. It is hypothesized that the strain in the frame will have a high correlation with power output. While this application is specific to cycling, correlating strain to power output may prove useful in other applications.
AB - Quantifying power output is becoming more popular in training and competition for cycling. This popularity comes from the fact that power is a direct means of measuring intensity, which is considered by many to be the most important variable in a successful training program. Although other methods are available for measuring power output, there is no frame that is available that uses strain to quantify power output. Using a frame may prove superior to currently available products. Additionally, strain may prove useful for cycling technique analysis, another critical factor for success. In this study, a cyclocross bicycle frame was instrumented with six strain gages to determine if strain energy in the frame correlates with power output. For pilot data, an 85 kg subject rode the bike on rollers with a fork stand at 250 watts and a cadence of 90 rpm. Although more data needs to be collected and analyzed to find a correlation with power output, initial pilot data shows that the strain in the frame is cyclic in nature when pedaling and has a corresponding frequency with the pedaling cadence. It is hypothesized that the strain in the frame will have a high correlation with power output. While this application is specific to cycling, correlating strain to power output may prove useful in other applications.
KW - Bicycle
KW - Cycling
KW - Frame
KW - Power
KW - Strain
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036040045&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036040045&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 12085643
AN - SCOPUS:0036040045
SN - 0067-8856
VL - 38
SP - 417
EP - 421
JO - Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation
JF - Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation
ER -