Ergonomics Part 1 (BIKE 8/2008):
I'm at the end of my tether, I'm a wreck; even my home rounds are nothing but pain. As soon as I've been on the bike for an hour, the saddle starts to pinch, my knees ache, my wrists hurt and my feet go numb. Instead of focussing on the landscape and the panorama, I'm fighting pain on the mountain. Biking is no longer fun. How did it get this far?
ERGONOMICS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
I've just turned 30 and the JEANTEX-BIKE-Transalp was on the agenda. I trained, lost weight and got my equipment together. And now the orthopaedist says my meniscus is probably broken. That's a shock - instead of being on the bike, I can already see myself on the operating table. But my doctor doesn't want to cut me open quite so quickly. His tip: I should check my sitting position and have my insoles fitted, after all, "ergonomics is the most important thing!". Ergonomic adjustments are all about optimising the interfaces between man and machine. For bikers, these are the contact points of hands, feet and buttocks. If you grip, sit or pedal in the wrong position, you risk putting incorrect strain on ligaments, muscles, blood vessels and joints - and then cycling can hurt. However, a few modifications are often enough to remedy the problems: cranked handlebars for a more upright sitting position, special saddles that are adapted to the respective buttocks, grips with ergo wings that no longer pinch nerves. A body measurement shows where improvements need to be made. It helped me: After four weeks of riding with insoles, a customised saddle and ergonomic grips, the rest almost goes by itself. And the pain is now just an unpleasant memory! Do you also have problems on your bike? We explain what causes the pain - and show you the right solution for your problem.
In the PDF Ergonomics Part I you will find the following information:
- Buttocks/saddle
Numbness and pain in the bum are not only annoying, they can also be dangerous if you don't listen to your body.
- Anatomy
The differences between men and women are smaller than expected.
- Seating position
Marathon rider or freerider? Different riding positions place different demands on the saddle.
-Ergo products
Measuring the sit bone distance leads to the correct saddle.
- Symptoms -What actually hurts?
- Foot/pedal
If your feet fall asleep when you're cycling, you're putting the wrong load on them. We show you how to get pressure back on the pedals.
-Hand/grip
Little room for nerves. The hand is a bottleneck with a risk of congestion.
Ergonomics Part 2 (BIKE 9/2008):
It's a tricky business with people - no two are exactly alike. Short and tall people; legs of different lengths, short and curved legs and, above all, non-proportional body halves pose major problems for the bike industry: there is no bike that fits everyone straight away. Ergonomics experts, sports physicians and orthopaedists have been researching the best alternative to a customised bike for years. The most important realisation of the past few years: there is no point in being forced into a grid. The only thing that makes a comfortable and pain-free riding position on the bike possible in the long term is customising the bike to the rider. Just like before a wedding, it's a case of "Let he who binds himself forever prove it". Because if biker and bike don't fit together, the relationship is doomed to failure.
YOU CAN TINKER WITH THE BIKE. NOT ON THE BIKER.
One thing is clear: there are many ways to customise a bike to the individual rider. This doesn't work the other way round - after all, you can't simply fit a longer lower leg if necessary. Instead, special methods are used to determine the length, mobility and flexibility of individual body parts and regions. The knowledge gained from this can then be used to customise the bike to the rider. In the second part of our ergonomics story, we give you a brief overview of the different test and measurement methods and reveal basic tricks and tips on the way to the ideal riding position. We can't provide a complete guide to the perfect position on the bike here - for a complete adjustment of your bike, you should consult a professional who can measure you all round and address your individual problems. Have fun testing the initial settings and enjoy a pain-free ride.
In the PDF Ergonomics Part II you will find the following information:
- Freedom of movement
Individual manoeuvrability is required: First test, then adjust the bike.
- Surveying
Only the measuring tape brings the realisation: this is the right way to sit.
- Field of application
The area of use determines important settings on the bike. Especially those of the cockpit.
