Abstract
Two experiments were performed.
Experiment 1 had 12 subjects pedal on a stationary bicycle vs a constant load for 12 min twice in each of three conditions: a) standard bicycle seat and no toe clips, b) experimental web seat and toe clips, and c) experimental web seat and no toe clips. The criteria were heart rate (12 min work + 18 min recovery), Borg vote, and a semantic-differential vote. Heart rate was 105.3 for condition a, 110.2 for condition b, and 110.5 for condition c. Condition a was significantly lower than b and c; b and c did not differ significantly. Borg vote and semantic-differential vote gave similar results.
Experiment 2 had 10 subjects pedal for 10 min once in each of 12 conditions. The 12 conditions were all combinations of: a) toe clips vs no toe clips, b) seat horizontal vs seat tilted 7° down, and c) center of seat at a 19, 25, or 31° angle vs vertical and hub centerline. The criteria were heart rate, Borg vote, and a semantic-differential vote. Toe clips reduced heart rate by 3.5% during exercise. Seat location was better at 25° than 19°; the difference between 25° and 31° was non-significant. Although tilt did not affect heart rate, the subjects preferred no tilt.
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