Preferred Saddle Heights Effects on Pedalling Kinematics Among Skilled and Less Skilled Cyclists

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the movement kinematics between skilled and less skilled cyclists based on their preferred saddle heights. 12 recreational cyclists were recruited for this study, and they were required to perform 10-minute cycling using their own bike (mounted on a bike trainer) which consists of a 4-minute warm-up, and continue with a 6-minute cycle at 90-100 rotations per minute with their preferred saddle height. Reflective markers were placed at the joint involved such as hip, knee, and ankle to assess change in the segment and joint motion parallel to the 90° of the crank cycle (3'o clock) during the study. Additional variables such as cadence and power (watt) were recorded for monitoring purposes. Results showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in hip and ankle range of motion during pedalling between skilled and less-skilled recreational cyclists. It can be concluded, significantly better range of motion on the hip and ankle performed by the skilled cyclist may be due to suitable saddle height and it might lead to effectiveness on cycling efficiency.