Bike Biology

[Heltor Chasca]

I found this diagram fascinating.

[LollyKat]

Me too - thanks for posting.

[531colin]

Can you give us the source for that diagram?
I think that on the power stroke the Hamstrings function to pull the knee down, in the same way as the Glutes do, and it isn't on the diagram.

[Heltor Chasca]

Can you give us the source for that diagram?
I think that on the power stroke the Hamstrings function to pull the knee down, in the same way as the Glutes do, and it isn't on the diagram.

Sorry Colin I copied & pasted this from Twitter. Apologies it's not up to scratch. [emoji45]

I think I'm going to give up posting stuff on here.

[Mick F]

Very interesting and explanatory.
Thanks!

Thinks .................. what about the rest of the body?
Dunno about other folk, but after a long ride, it's not only my legs that are tired. Arms, hands, shoulders, back.

[531colin]

Can you give us the source for that diagram?
I think that on the power stroke the Hamstrings function to pull the knee down, in the same way as the Glutes do, and it isn't on the diagram.

Sorry Colin I copied & pasted this from Twitter. Apologies it's not up to scratch. [emoji45]

I think I'm going to give up posting stuff on here.

I'm by no means sure of my muscle physiology.......but I'm interested in riding positions, pedalling style and stuff like that, so I was interested to find an authoritative source on which muscle does what and when, I will have a look when I remember/am bored.
I don't think its completely straightforward, the Hamstrings go across 2 joints (hip and knee) so they work to both flex the knee and straighten the hip (ie. lower the knee, pedalling)
Also at least some of the Quads. go across hip and knee, to straighten the knee or flex the hip (lift the knee, pedalling....not that I put any effort into lifting the knee, except honking)

[531colin]

Very interesting and explanatory.
Thanks!

Thinks .................. what about the rest of the body?
Dunno about other folk, but after a long ride, it's not only my legs that are tired. Arms, hands, shoulders, back.

I don't mind being tired after a long day, but I don't like to come back "broken", which to me means still feeling it the next day.
If your arms, shoulders, hands and back are feeling sore, you may have too much weight on your hands?
I'm 68 this month (sort of crept up on me, that has) and I'm aware that I can't get away with stuff I could do a few years back. My bars have come up to just higher than the saddle for the first time ever, and also a bit closer.
Haven't done 100 miler yet this tear, but last year did about 125 miles, including Tan Hill, Buttertubs, and Grinton Moor, so there is no need for despair. Just back from a short tour on Mull, Ardnamurchan, Great Glen, with 50 + mile days and 1000 metres climbing, so I'm not ready for easy rides just yet!

[Psamathe]

Can you give us the source for that diagram?
I think that on the power stroke the Hamstrings function to pull the knee down, in the same way as the Glutes do, and it isn't on the diagram.

http://www.physioworks.com.au/Injuries-Conditions/Activities/cycling_tips

Ian

[LollyKat]

Just back from a short tour on Mull, Ardnamurchan, Great Glen, with 50 + mile days and 1000 metres climbing, so I'm not ready for easy rides just yet!

You must have hit some pretty horrible weather - I hope you managed to take some photos and will post them sometime for the rest of us.

[Mick F]

I don't mind being tired after a long day, but I don't like to come back "broken", which to me means still feeling it the next day.
If your arms, shoulders, hands and back are feeling sore, you may have too much weight on your hands?

Yes, one probably does, but that's not me. I'm not sore, but tired. Not even my bum gets sore!

60 odd miles to do tomorrow out into further west Cornwall. No doubt I'll be tired when I finish tomorrow afternoon. I won't be sore, just tired, and not only my legs.

We always concentrate, when this subject comes up, on the legs. No consideration seems to be given to the body, arms, hands and back. They contribute to the whole thing ............... sort of holistically. We aren't just a pair of piston-like legs sat on a fixed frame, we RIDE a bicycle. The whole body is required to balance, to power, to pull, to push, to honk and to twiddle, to crouch low on the drops or to sit up high on the tops.

I wonder if riding a recumbent trike is completely different in this regard?