Determination of the Optimal Saddle Height for Leisure Cycling (P188)

Several studies have been done on road racing cycling and triathlon to determine the optimal saddle height (LINF) in terms of efficiency. However, cycling is becoming nowadays not only a popular sport but also a mass mean of transport were comfort takes priority over efficiency. The aim of this study is to determine an optimal saddle height (LINF) to improve comfort in leisure cycling. Five male subjects (height mean=172.2 cm, std=1.34 cm; crotch height mean=81.25cm, std=0.88cm) tested 9 prototypes of the company ORBEA with 3 levels of LINF. The test consisted in one hour cycling in lab conditions and four different techniques were used to evaluate the LINF: 3-D movement analysis was used t…