A Dual Piezoelectric Bicycle Pedal with Multiple Shoe/Pedal Interface Compatibility

Abstract

In response to the popularity of clipless bicycle pedals with float designs, an instrumented force pedal system with multicompatibility for different shoe/pedal interfaces is presented. A dual piezoelectric element pedal has been modified for use with popular clipless pedal interfaces. The dual transducer arrangement permits measurement of three components of uniaxial load, location of the applied load, and calculation of the moment Mz about an axis through the position of the applied load and orthogonal to the pedal surface. Quantification of lower extremity kinetics using float feature pedals and the investigation of the pathomechanics of lower extremity cycling overuse injuries, especially knee injuries, is warranted. Qualitative descriptions of lower extremity pathomechanics related to overuse injuries have suggested that foot constraint may induce undesirable knee kinematics and kinetics. The instrumented force pedal system described here permits a comparison between pedal kinematics and kinetics of popular shoe/pedal interfaces with varying degrees of float allowance.

Development and Evaluation of a New Bicycle Instrument for Measurements of Pedal Forces and Power Output in Cycling

“…Therefore, a one-to-one comparison is not appropriate. Furthermore, it may be criticised that a number of papers do not specify which load the Newton error refers to [3,24]; others do not provide the exact error or sufficient information about the calibration procedure [1,4,18,26]. Fig.…”

“…Indeed, this bicycle instrument is not only adaptable to the crank of the SRM-ergometer but also to the different types of cranks of common bicycles and could, therefore, also be used in multiple testing situations. Therefore, this system presents more measurement possibilities than comparable existing instruments providing either only pedal force measurements in the laboratory [3,4,11,16,24,26] and potentially in field conditions [1,19], or only valid power output measurements as, for example, the SRM-System [7,12] or the PowerTap-System [7]. Moreover, this system is prepared for every pedal system to be screwed on, which allows cyclists to use their own pedals and shoes to which they are accustomed instead of readjusting the foot position on the pedal.…”

Symmetrical kinematics does not imply symmetrical kinetics in people with transtibial amputation using cycling model

“…The pedal contained dual piezoelectric elements to measure forces normal and orthogonal to the pedal surface [31] adapted with a commercial "clipless" pedal system (Figure 1) [32]. Saddle height was initially set to 98 percent leg length, and then fine adjustments (±1 cm) were made for comfort [26].…”

A cycle ergometer mounted on a standard force platform for three-dimensional pedal forces measurement during cycling

“…In these studies, mechanical work done when pedaling is of interest and can be accurately measured (Arsac et al, 1996;Lakomy, 1986). Moreover cycle ergometers are also used for research questions where the knowledge of pedal forces is useful, as for pedal forces asymmetry investigations (Daly and Cavanagh, 1976) or comparison of shoepedal interfaces (Wheeler et al, 1992). So it is important to accurately measure pedal forces.…”