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Effect of “Pose” cycling on efficiency and pedaling mechanics

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of “Pose” cycling (a combination of specific bicycle setup and pedaling technique) on metabolic efficiency and pedaling mechanics. Eighteen recreational cyclists were tested for efficiency and pedaling mechanics during steady-state cycling (90% gas-exchange threshold) using two different bicycle setups (preferred and “Pose”) and three different pedaling rates (70, 90 and 110 rpm). Nine of the participants underwent a coaching intervention (4 × 1 h) consisting of drills based on the “Pose” instruction manual. The remaining nine participants did not receive an intervention. All participants were tested before and after the intervention period. Analyses of variance were performed to test the independent effects of the “Pose”-specific bicycle setup and pedaling technique on gross efficiency and pedaling mechanics. The “Pose”-specific bicycle setup resulted in increased gross efficiency at each pedaling rate compared to the participants’ preferred bicycle position (P < 0.05). This increase in efficiency was accompanied by a significant increase in trunk frontal area (P < 0.05). The coaching intervention resulted in decreased gross efficiency at 110 rpm (P < 0.05); at this pedaling rate the intervention resulted in a slight increase in the non-muscular contribution to pedal power in the experimental group and a decrease in the control group. The combination of changed bicycle setup and pedaling technique had no effect on gross efficiency and only small effects on pedaling mechanics. Our findings add to a growing body of literature that short-term interventions in pedaling technique can change pedaling mechanics but do not improve efficiency during steady-state cycling.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Nicholas Romanov for his assistance with the coaching intervention.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sports Medicine and Human Performance, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK

    Thomas Korff, David Brown & Lee M. Romer

  2. University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, Canada

    Graham Fletcher

Authors
  1. Thomas Korff
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  2. Graham Fletcher
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  3. David Brown
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  4. Lee M. Romer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Korff.

Additional information

Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Korff, T., Fletcher, G., Brown, D. et al. Effect of “Pose” cycling on efficiency and pedaling mechanics. Eur J Appl Physiol 111, 1177–1186 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1745-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1745-7

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