Bicycle pedaling has been studied from both a motor control and an equipment setup and design perspective. In both cases, although the dynamics of the bicycle drive system may have an influence on the results, a thorough understanding of the dynamics has not been developed. This study pursued three objectives related to developing such an understanding. The first was to identify the limitations of the inertial/frictional drive system model commonly used in the literature. The second was to investigate the advantages of an inertial/frictional/compliant model. The final objective was to use these models to develop a methodology for configuring a laboratory ergometer to emulate the drive system dynamics of road riding. Experimental data collected from the resulting road-riding emulator and from a standard ergometer confirmed that the inertial/frictional model is adequate for most studies of road-riding mechanics or pedaling coordination. However, the compliant model was needed to reproduce the phase shift in crank angle variations observed experimentally when emulating the high inertia of road riding. This finding may be significant for equipment setup and design studies where crank kinematic variations are important or for motor control studies where fine control issues are of interest. [S0148-0731(00)02004-5]
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August 2000
Technical Papers
Bicycle Drive System Dynamics: Theory and Experimental Validation
Benjamin J. Fregly,
Benjamin J. Fregly
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Mechanics & Engineering Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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Felix E. Zajac,
Felix E. Zajac
Rehabilitation R&D Center, Veterans’ Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Departments of Mechanical Engineering (Biomechanical Engineering Division) & Functional Restoration, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
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Christine A. Dairaghi
Christine A. Dairaghi
Rehabilitation R&D Center, Veterans’ Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304
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Benjamin J. Fregly
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Mechanics & Engineering Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
Felix E. Zajac
Rehabilitation R&D Center, Veterans’ Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Departments of Mechanical Engineering (Biomechanical Engineering Division) & Functional Restoration, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
Christine A. Dairaghi
Rehabilitation R&D Center, Veterans’ Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Contributed by the Bioengineering Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the Bioengineering Division August 9, 1998; revised manuscript received March 22, 2000. Associate Technical Editor: M. L. Hull.
J Biomech Eng. Aug 2000, 122(4): 446-452 (7 pages)
Published Online: March 22, 2000
Article history
Received:
August 9, 1998
Revised:
March 22, 2000
Citation
Fregly, B. J., Zajac, F. E., and Dairaghi, C. A. (March 22, 2000). "Bicycle Drive System Dynamics: Theory and Experimental Validation ." ASME. J Biomech Eng. August 2000; 122(4): 446–452. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1286678
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