Cycling Anatomy

Cycling Anatomy includes 89 of the most effective cycling exercises, each with clear step-by-step descriptions, to help increase your cycling speed, strength, and endurance. Full-color anatomical illustrations highlight the active muscles to increase your understanding.

With its low impact on the joints and high caloric burn rate, cycling is a great choice for anyone wanting to get (and stay) in shape. It is accessible to all fitness levels and allows for easy progression. At all levels, cycling demands extreme physical effort and stamina to power the bicycle and to maintain correct form and speed, especially if for an extended time. Most of the work is in pushing down on the pedal, which uses all of the muscles in the leg. Equally important are the supporting muscles, which support the upper body, provide balance, reduce fatigue and increase endurance. "Anatomy of Cycling" addresses all of these needs. The exercises are designed to work the wide range of muscles that come into play when cycling. All of them can be done at home using just seven items: a mat, a chair, a "Bosu ball," a small medicine ball, a large Swiss Ball, a small roller and a large roller. The exercises are organized into four units: Flexibility Exercises Mostly stretches, these help to counteract stiffness and increase blood flow. Leg-Strengthening Exercises Legs power the bicycle and by pedaling faster, gain speed. Strength is essential to sprinting and hill-climbing skills. These weight-bearing exercises are also beneficial to bones, a benefit that a cycling-only regimen lacks. Core-Strengthening Exercises A strong core contributes to a fluid pedal stroke, energy efficiency and overall stability. Balance and Posture Exercises These exercises, including swimming, help to build back strength and improve stability, both helpful in counteracting the shoulder and lower back problems that trouble cyclists. "Anatomy of Cycling" also includes three pre-designed workouts -- Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced -- as well as seven specific workouts: Quadriceps-Strengthening, Healthy Back, Core-Stabilizing, Low-Impact, Stamina, Balancing and Postural. This is an essential reference for road cyclists and triathletes.

Full of Exercises, Training Tips, and Injury Remedies That Every Cyclist and Coach Should Have! Every year, more and more people take up cycling to get in shape and stay fit. Thousands of people are buying new bikes with the latest technology, entering races, and even forgoing rush hour traffic and crowded public transportation to ride to work. But the joy and thrill of cycling are often marred by injuries that can bother you for a few weeks or for years. That’s why every cyclist needs to have Anatomy, Stretching & Training for Cyclists. Lisa Purcell includes a detailed exercise program that is designed for cyclists from beginner to advanced levels and that is devised to strengthen and stretch the major muscle groups used in cycling. She provides answers and tools for training, including: • Step-by-step photos • Tests to assess your form • An assessment of cycling gear • Exercises to improve your core • The truth about stretching • And much more! Featured are targeted stretches to increase flexibility and a wide-ranging selection of exercises that thoroughly strengthen the legs and arms and build both core strength and stability, as well as hone your balance and posture on the bike. A handy guide lets you know which muscles are the main targets of each exercise, as well the exercise’s benefits and cautions, along with tips on perfecting your form. With a series of sample workouts that show you how to devise a training program to suit your unique goals, Anatomy, Stretching & Training for Cyclists is the ultimate reference for anyone wanting to achieve optimal cycling fitness.

From steep inclines to slick terrains, Cycling Anatomy, Second Edition, will ensure you are prepared for every challenge that comes your way. Using the same methods that elite cyclists use, you can employ this well-rounded collection of 89 strength and conditioning exercises to maximize cycling power, speed, and endurance to improve your cycling performance. Each exercise includes clear step-by-step descriptions and full-color anatomical illustrations that highlight the primary muscle being used. You’ll find dozens of variations that use a wide range of training equipment so you can modify exercises to target specific areas, and minimize common cycling injuries. The Cycling Focus section of each exercise includes illustrations of the active muscles involved in cornering, climbing, descending, and sprinting to show you how the exercises are fundamentally linked to delivering maximum power to the pedals. Using tried-and-true strength training principles for all parts of the body, Cycling Anatomy will help you develop a training plan based on your individual needs and goals. Whether you’re training for an upcoming century ride or just want to top that killer hill with strength to spare, Cycling Anatomy will help you reach top performance, avoid injury, and ensure you get the most out of every ride.

Bicycles have been a common device to enhance physical fitness level in gyms and training centers along with solid use in competitive sport. For that reason, biomechanics of cycling has grown as a research field with many publications addressing different perspective of the interaction between the cyclist and his bicycle. The most common end point of research on biomechanics of cycling is optimization of performance and reduction of injury risk. One goal of this book is to meet the growing need for a comprehensive presentation of contemporary knowledge on biomechanics of cycling which will positively influence the activity of cycling in a global fashion. In order to accomplish this purpose, ten chapters are presented with focus on varying methods for biomechanical analysis of cycling motion. The introduction section provides an overview of the main methods for assessment of cycling motion, including motion analysis, pedal force measurements, muscle activation, anthropometry and joint kinetics. These methods are discussed in depth in individual chapters followed by chapters on characteristics of bicycles and potential perspectives to improve their configuration in order to improve performance of cyclists and reduce their overuse injury risk. Moreover, a preliminary method to train technique in cyclists is shown. A final chapter provides authors perspective on the upcoming technology that should be effective in helping training of cyclists.

Finally, the authoritative resource that serious cyclists have been waiting for has arrived. The perfect blend of science and application, Cycling Science takes you inside the sport, into the training room and research lab, and onto the course. A remarkable achievement, Cycling Science features the following: • Contributions from 43 top cycling scientists and coaches from around the world • The latest thinking on the rider-machine interface, including topics such as bike fit, aerodynamics, biomechanics, and pedaling technique • Information about environmental stressors, including heat, altitude, and air pollution • A look at health issues such as on-bike and off-bike nutrition, common injuries, fatigue, overtraining, and recovery • Help in planning training programs, including using a power meter, managing cycling data, off-the-bike training, cycling specific stretching, and mental training • The latest coaching and racing techniques, including pacing theories, and strategies for road, track, MTB, BMX, and ultra-distance events In this book, editors and cycling scientists Stephen Cheung, PhD, and Mikel Zabala, PhD, have assembled the latest information for serious cyclists.

Investigating the scientific wonders that keep the cyclist in the saddle and explaining how the bike and rider work together, this fascinating book is the perfect way to analyse your own kit and technique by showing you the techniques of the professionals. Each chapter investigates a different area of physics or technology and is organised around a series of questions; What is the frame design? How have bicycle wheels evolved? What muscle groups does cycling exploit? How much power does a professional cyclist generate? Each question is investigated using explanatory infographics and illustrations to clarify the answers. Dip into the book for answers to specific questions or read it right through for a complete overview of how machine and rider work together. At its heart, the simple process of getting about on two wheels contains a wealth of fascinating science.

Barron’s Anatomy & 100 Stretching Exercises for Cycling includes guidelines and advice designed to help bicycle enthusiasts improve their safety and performance. You’ll get full-color photos and illustrations, along with step-by-step descriptions of each exercise and its impact on anatomy. Whether you’re a recreational rider or a high-performance cyclist, you can benefit from learning about biomechanics, ergonomics, stretching techniques, and more. You’ll get: 86 specific stretches to help cyclists achieve optimal performance, with detailed explanations of each technique 14 stretches on the bicycle to delay the onset of muscle fatigue and avoid discomfort due to prolonged cycling Knowledge about the biomechanics of cycling, including the anatomical descriptions of the muscle groups involved in pedaling, and the importance of holding the correct position over the bike Instructions on adjusting bicycles to fit their specific bodies for greater comfort, speed, endurance, and performance Equipment and security essentials The basic history and evolution of the bicycle With Barron’s, cyclists will love learning how to improve their form—and perform to the max—with every pedal stroke.