get your kitchen scales out everyone. Shave some grams off your bike.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise:
May 2008 - Volume 40 - Issue 5 - p S42
doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000321631.79521.d0
C-14 Free Communication/Slide - Endurance Training: MAY 29, 2008 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM ROOM: 104
Power Development in Hill Climbing as a Function of Bicycle Weight: 697: May 29 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Wood, Brandon M.; Albrechtsen, Steven J.
Free Access
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI.
Email: albrechs@uww.edu
(No relationships reported)
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of differences in the weight of bicycles on power development while riding uphill.
METHODS: Thirteen competitive bicycle racers performed two hill climbs in a single exercise session up a 2,865 meter incline with an average gradient of 16.47%, a maximum gradient of 18.00% and a total elevation gain of 166 meters on which they had previously trained. During both hill climbs the subjects rode their own bicycles which were previously fitted with a Saris Cycling Group PowerTap SL 2.4 power meter on the rear wheel of the bicycle. During one climb 1.0 kg of sand was added to a water bottle on the bicycle frame and the order in which the bicycles were weighted was randomized. The subjects were allowed 30 minutes to recover following the first hill climb before starting the second hill climb.
RESULTS: The 1.0 kg weight added to the bicycle increased maximum power output by 53.77±38.02 watts from a mean of 679.538 watts to a mean of 733.308 watts. The average power decreased by 3.462±2.45 watts from a mean of 291.308 watts to a mean of 287.846 watts. The duration of the hill climb increased by 21.00±14.85 seconds from a mean of 10 minutes 11 seconds to a mean of 10 minutes 32 seconds.
CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that additional effort and slower performances during hill climbing resulted from the addition of weight to the bicycle. This information provides an important perspective on the relative advantages of reducing the weight of the cyclist and/or bicycle. The numerous materials that are used in today's manufacturing of bicycle frames and components allow cyclists to measure each gram of weight that they either put onto or take off of their bicycle. The results also suggest the possible application of an overload through the addition of weight to the bicycle when training on hills. Knowing the consequences for time, energy and power offers insights for cyclists in both training and competition.
©2008The American College of Sports Medicine
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise:
May 2008 - Volume 40 - Issue 5 - p S42
doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000321631.79521.d0
C-14 Free Communication/Slide - Endurance Training: MAY 29, 2008 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM ROOM: 104
Power Development in Hill Climbing as a Function of Bicycle Weight: 697: May 29 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Wood, Brandon M.; Albrechtsen, Steven J.
Free Access
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI.
Email: albrechs@uww.edu
(No relationships reported)
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of differences in the weight of bicycles on power development while riding uphill.
METHODS: Thirteen competitive bicycle racers performed two hill climbs in a single exercise session up a 2,865 meter incline with an average gradient of 16.47%, a maximum gradient of 18.00% and a total elevation gain of 166 meters on which they had previously trained. During both hill climbs the subjects rode their own bicycles which were previously fitted with a Saris Cycling Group PowerTap SL 2.4 power meter on the rear wheel of the bicycle. During one climb 1.0 kg of sand was added to a water bottle on the bicycle frame and the order in which the bicycles were weighted was randomized. The subjects were allowed 30 minutes to recover following the first hill climb before starting the second hill climb.
RESULTS: The 1.0 kg weight added to the bicycle increased maximum power output by 53.77±38.02 watts from a mean of 679.538 watts to a mean of 733.308 watts. The average power decreased by 3.462±2.45 watts from a mean of 291.308 watts to a mean of 287.846 watts. The duration of the hill climb increased by 21.00±14.85 seconds from a mean of 10 minutes 11 seconds to a mean of 10 minutes 32 seconds.
CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that additional effort and slower performances during hill climbing resulted from the addition of weight to the bicycle. This information provides an important perspective on the relative advantages of reducing the weight of the cyclist and/or bicycle. The numerous materials that are used in today's manufacturing of bicycle frames and components allow cyclists to measure each gram of weight that they either put onto or take off of their bicycle. The results also suggest the possible application of an overload through the addition of weight to the bicycle when training on hills. Knowing the consequences for time, energy and power offers insights for cyclists in both training and competition.
©2008The American College of Sports Medicine
