Does Your Pedaling Technique Affect Your Cycling Performance? The Science

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Singing 'Love Hime' increases your cadence exponentially.

I did a bike fitting course a couple of years ago. We had some pretty advanced tech and were looking at pedalling vectors, we could track pedal force, power, as well as horizontal and vertical vectors. It was lead by a euro sports biomechanic who works with world tour teams. We looked a pedal forces when pulling up. The issue for cyclists is that while one foot pulls up, the other leg is trying to push down (where the majority of force is generated). The ability to time this pull up and not work against the leg on the opposite side pushing down is extremely difficult, if not impossible at cadences of 80 - 90+ rpm. The data we saw showed that although cyclists can pull up, this usually resulted in applying an opposing force to the leg trying to push down. Essentially one leg worked against the other. He had data from elite track riders (fixed gear) and showed they were very good at unloading the opposite leg at very high cadences. It takes a lot of practice to become that efficient. They did not pull up. The best they could do was unload the opposing leg. The only exception was a track start, where they had to get a big (huge) gear moving from a standstill. I do not coach one legged drills or get riders to pull up. I just want them to pedal naturally and injury free and become efficient at a broad range of cadences. Push down. Push hard. Push often.

This channel > GCN. Love the science and research focused content!

Me: is doing homework Notifications: Does Your Pedaling Technique Affect Your Cycling Performance? The Science Me: Well then lets find out

Always great, Dylan, thank you for this! Had a biomechanic expert recently comment on my technique, kinda got in my head actually, but now I can relax thanks to the science and studies you've shared!

Interesting video, as always. I'm personally not an advocate of any specific technique but would like to notice that in most, if not all, of these studies the test group consisted of people who normally pedal with the 'pushing' technique. This means that any other technique will always appear less efficient, as it will involve typically underdeveloped muscles - say adductors, hamstrings - simply not much used if you're only ever 'pushing'. Would be interesting to see a study where one group consists of subjects that prefer the 'pushing' and another that naturally 'pull' and have them try each others techniques.

What a very useful video. It’s great that the answer is basically ‘Do what comes naturally’ 😁👍🏻

I have wondered about this for SOOOOO long. Awesome vid thanks!

A few weeks ago I was thinking "It would be awesome if Dylan discussed pedaling efficiency..."

Love this channel, thanks for the videos! I alway look forward to seeing anything that you have to say

Wow! Talk about busting apart a long held cycling belief! I can't tell you over how many decades I have heard the advice that you should always "pedal in circles". Truly an epiphany if there ever was one!

Great video dude, very informative and well structured! 👌👌

Above and beyond answer to a question I’ve been looking for an answer to for so long. Excellent, thank you.

Almost at 50k subscribers! Keep up the good work.

Great video, always enjoy watching a video with a solid scientific base. Thank you!

Really fantastic video with great evidence! It reminds me that the ankle flex at the bottom of the pedal stroke would greatly impact the saddle height, making the methods based on inseam and leg lengths inherently inaccurate. It’s fascinating to realize when sciences are put together, they are consistent with each other! There also seems to be one more question left on the table - should the ankle flex be fixed or varied throughout the pedal stroke.

Another great video, Dylan! 👍

Impressive breakdown of all the pedaling research!

Great video, loved all the references to papers!