Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD ACSM
Résumé : International audience
PURPOSE AND METHODS: This study was designed to compare the physiological responses and performance of well trained cyclists riding with two different chainring designs, round or eccentric, during a brief and intense cycling exercise: an "all-out" 1-km laboratory test. The eccentrically designed chainring was made of two crank arms sliding into each other, with the inside arm fixed on the center of the arm of a circular chainring and the outside arm sliding along the inside and revolving around an elliptical cam. This design increases crank arm length at the downstroke and decreases it during the upstroke, thus increasing and decreasing the torque. In terms of the chainring's revolution, the crank arm length at 0 degrees and 180 degrees is similar to the arm length of circular chainrings (175 mm). However, during the downstroke (0-180 degrees ), it increases to its maximum length of 200 mm at 90 degrees and then returns to its original length of 175 mm at 180 degrees. During the upstroke, it decreases to a minimum length of 150 mm at 270 degrees and then increases to 175 mm at 360 degrees. Eleven cyclists performed an all-out 1-km laboratory test using each chainring. The study was conducted over two consecutive weeks with the order of chainring use randomized. During all trials, ventilatory data were collected every minute using an automated breath-by-breath system. Heart rate was measured using a telemetry system. RESULTS: None of the cardiorespiratory variables showed significant differences between chainring trials. Performance, however, was significantly improved using the eccentric design (64.25 +/- 1.05 vs 69.08 +/- 1.38 s, P < 0.004, with the eccentric and the round design, respectively). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the eccentric chainring significantly improved the cycling performance during an all-out 1-km test. Further testing with indoor cycling specialists performing on a velodrome would be helpful to define the maximal possibilities of such a chainring.
Medicine & Science in Sports & exercise

hal-00720551
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00720551
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00720551/document
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00720551/file/Article.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
This study compared the conventional parameters of anaerobic cycling power in physically active non-cyclists using the Pro-Race® system and a traditional chainring. The force--velocity test was chosen for this purpose because it is the shortest validated cycling laboratory test in which each parameter of maximal anaerobic power can be estimated. The power output (Wmax) and the force at whichWmax is produced (Fopt) were significantly improved with the eccentric chainring (1100±227W versus 1006±197W and 1.39±0.15 N/kg body mass versus 1.13±0.16 N/kg body mass with the eccentric and round designs, respectively; P < 0.006 and P < 0.0004, respectively). The power gained (delta power) was significantly correlated with the eccentric chainring Fopt (r = 0.649; P < 0.05), the mid-thigh circumference (r = 0.685; P < 0.05), the estimated lean thigh volume (r = 0.765; P < 0.01) and the estimated lean lower limb volume (r = 0.665; P < 0.05). We concluded that the eccentric chainring significantly improved the estimated anaerobic power output during a force--velocity test by increasing the force component, Fopt. Cautious interpretation of our results suggests that the subjects with physical attributes that contribute to developing high forces may have a significant advantage in performing with the eccentric chainring.
ISSN: 1440-2440

hal-00703458
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00703458
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsams.2007.06.004