Quads or Hams

[Wizzer]

I have to post a reply to this one as it's near and dear to my heart.

There was a study done on 100 olympic level cyclists to show which muscles were used where in a pedal stroke, these are the results: This study was done by the Nautilus Institute.

If you look at your pedal stroke as a clock, between 12 and 3 is where all muscles used are engaged at the same time, these being - Rectus Femoris, Vastii, Gluteus Maximus, Soleus, Gastrocnemius and Hamstrings. This is the power phase of your pedal stroke.

After 6pm most of the work comes from use in your Gastrocnemius, not your Hamstrings, your Hams shut off at about 6:35pm!

Your Hams, Glutes and Neck/Traps get very tight and shortened through cycling, so your Hams would be the #1 thing to stretch after a ride. They need work to help keep them as strong as your quads, leg extensions and squats are good exercises that that help with strength and flexibility.

Hope this helps a little as there is much confusion about such things in the world of cycling today.

Wizzer

[maggiedatongue]

I will start tweaking my seat 1cm at a time. I guess I was being a bit aggressive! I took a few bikes for a test ride this weekend, but being from a small town I didn't get to ride one that actually fits. I tried out a 16" Trek 6700 WSD (no offense to pink lovers, but this really isn't my color) and a men's 17.5 6500. The WSD was too small for the length of my legs and on the men's, the reach to the handlebars was too far. I'll have to visit bike shops when I go out of town on business to try and find the right size. I'd really like to try an 18" 6500 WSD.

Wizzer....very interesting post. I'll confess to having to look up some of the muscles that you mentioned in wikipedia.org. Based on what you are saying, I think I"m on the right track. With time, practice and the information that I've received on this site hopefully soon I will be able to get my seat in the right location and will be firing the correct muscles. My main concern is not to hurt my knees.

Maggie

[Dianyla]

As long as your bicycle frame size is correct, you might want to try this formula:

Bicycle seat height = .883 x inseam

Measure from the top of the saddle to the middle of the bottom bracket (which is the axle hub around which the pedal crank turns). You might want to tweak it in one direction or another, but in general if you start at this number you'll probably be pretty close.

[susanm8048]

When you talk about "inseam", do you mean measuring the distance between crotch and floor eg by standing flat against a wall and putting a ruler or a book etc between your legs and measuring the distance? Or is there a better way?

And also, does this formula take into a account the sole of your cycling shoes?

I have difficulty getting my saddle height right so I am keen to try a new approach.

[Dianyla]

When you talk about "inseam", do you mean measuring the distance between crotch and floor eg by standing flat against a wall and putting a ruler or a book etc between your legs and measuring the distance? Or is there a better way?

And also, does this formula take into a account the sole of your cycling shoes?

Yes, the book against the wall is the best way to measure your own inseam without a special measuring thingy (<-- technical word). I've heard differing reports about whether to measure with shoes or not. My bike fitter measured me with my cycling shoes on, since that's going to be the effective inseam once I'm on the bike.