While most sports scientists have focussed their efforts on developing a "fit bike" that analyzes physiological data and body composition, a new group is utilizing power and heart rate data to find a rider’s most efficient and natural cycling position.
The Wales based Apex Bike Performance claims their Fit Bike has an advantage over traditional biomechanical fitting programs, because it uses power output, cadence and heart rate to help calculate the rider’s *sweet spot" in terms of efficiency of effort and power output.
Apex’s Ceri Pritchard said the Fit Bike took 18 months to develop, and can measure right/left power balance, cadence, heart rate and torque. It measures power output 64 times a revolution, he added.
Moreover, Pritchard said: "A lot of positions might get you 90 percent or 95 percent there, what we’re really trying to find is that extra few percent to make it perfect for that individual."
And though he said the system didn’t suggest radical position changes, he added: "What we’ve found is it gives a much higher fidelity position – it’s more tuned to the individual."
Additionally, Pritchard added, the system would even tailor positions to account for details such as whether a rider predominantly used their quadriceps or gluteal muscles and that the system also allows riders to find the best position for their chosen discipline: track sprinters can sacrifice comfort to access more power and sportive riders can find a position that’s more suitable for long hours in the saddle.
Apex Fit System
Overview
About Us
Apex Bike Performance draws from an in-house team of professional cyclists, biomechanical experts, remedial therapists, physios, strength & conditioning experts, orthopaedic surgeons and world-class bike fit technicians.
We believe this has allowed us to create the most advanced, accurate and efficient bike fitting system on the market.
Quantifying Marginal Gains
About the Fit System
The Apex Fit System is the most advanced, revolutionary bike fitting system & cycle coaching system in the world.
The Problem
Bike fits cannot currently quantify why one position is better or more efficient than another, neither do they consider the riders neurological and biomechanical function as part of the fit.
The Solution
By replicating a riders position on the Apex Bike, it is possible to adjust the saddle and bars as the rider is peddling. Using left and right power, cadence, HR, and full torque analysis you can accurately measure any positive and negative changes to your position.
The Apex Functional Movement Assessment (AFMA)
Prior to the fit, the client completes 6 exercises that finds the clients biomechanical fingerprint. The results highlight strengths and weaknesses in their body, giving very clear indicators to the bike fitter how the rider is likely to react to any adjustments. More importantly it creates a specific training programme for the rider to enable greater gains in the future.
The Apex Bike
Our fully servo-assisted bike allows the rider’s position to be micro-adjusted whilst pedalling to find the perfect bike fit. A full suite of monitoring software enables the technician to quantify the fit by tracking power, heart rate, cadence, 360 degree torque force analysis and torque force direction to find the most powerful and efficient position for the rider.
The perfect machine for the cycle coach
The Apex Bike has also been designed for physiological testing as well as in depth position analysis. Most coaches use the Ramp Test, 20 min FTP or Critical Power Test to analyse and track a riders ability and improvement. The Apex bike will do all of this.
Technical Info
– Full dual axis movement of both saddle and handle bar position, adjustable in
2mm, 5mm or 10mm increments and accurate to 0.1mm using servo motors
remotely controlled by the bike fitter
– True left and right independent power measurement, accurate to within
+/-0.5%
– Full 360 degree torque analysis to display where within the pedal revolution
you are crating positive and negative power
– Variable magnetic resistance unit capable of generating more than 3000w of
resistance
– AFMA gives a riders biomechanical fingerprint and offers custom training
programs for future marginal gains
http://www.apexbikeperformance.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.
