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 Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Résumé : International audience
In this study, we analyzed the correlations between hip flexion power, sprint performance, lumbar lordosis (LL) and the cross-sectionalarea (CSA) of the psoas muscle (PM). Ten young adults performed isokinetic tests to determine hip flexion power and two sprinttests. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine LL and PM CSA. There were correlations between hip flexion power, sprintperformance, and PM CSA, but LL showed no correlation with any parameter. The impact of hip flexion power and LL on sprintstride pattern efficiency was considered. Hip flexion might not have a simple role in the passive knee replacement of the stride pattern;instead, it may be an active parameter. Other investigations are needed to determine the influence of pelvic architecture on sprintperformance.
ISSN: 0270-1367

hal-01143531
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-01143531

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Résumé : International audience
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of triathlon training using multiple, short cycle-run sequences (multicycle-run training) on cycle-run performance. Twelve competitive triathletes, randomized into two groups, underwent multicycle-run training or normal training for 6 weeks. During this period, baseline training remained the same for both groups, and only the high-intensity component differed. The differentiated exercises were performed at or above 100% maximal aerobic velocity. The improvements in overall cycle-run performance were similar (3.3 +/- 1.4 % and 6.1 +/- 1.7% rise in Performance in multicycle-run and normal training, respectively). However, the improvement in performance was significantly greater for the multicycle-run training (-11.2 +/- 6.8 s versus -1.2 +/- 7. 7 s for multicycle-run training and normal training, respectively) during both the cycle-run change and the first 333-m lap, which together are termed the cycle-run transition. We concluded that 6 weeks of multicycle-run training did not induce greater improvement in cycle-run performance than did normal training in competitive triathletes. However, it did induce significant improvement in the cycle-run transition. This finding indicates that multicycle-run training may help competitive triathletes to develop greater skill and better physiological adaptations during this critical transition period of the triathlon race.
ISSN: 0270-1367

hal-00720124
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00720124

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