View Full Version : Les Knees de Lance
In watching Lance's form, I've noticed that his knees appear to incline inward (slightly) when he pedals. I see this in some other cyclists (especially when climbing?), but I was wondering if 'text book' form calls for the knees to be in line with the rest of the leg when pedaling (that is, a 'straight' leg for pedalling).
Too Tall
07-14-2005, 12:43 PM
It is actually less efficient eg uses fewer muscles to pedal "knees in" than out. Pedaling with knees parallel or even somewhat away from parallel and normal to midline engages medial and lateral vastus in a more balanced fashion. Is it desirable to pedal in a fashion such to engage max muscle engagement? Not necessarily. Why pedal with all your muscles and tire yourself out if you can pedal just fine with fewer muscles? Save it for when it counts is one reason. An old school myth is that this is more aero. Prolly not.
OK here is a puzzler (no not Click and Clack). What leg muscle has the highest energy requirement (uses the most glycogen)?
are you showing off again? I'll tell your momma, and you know what that means.
keno
chrisroph
07-14-2005, 01:14 PM
glut if you consider it a leg muscle, then vasdus lateralis.
Dr. Doofus
07-14-2005, 01:30 PM
dang it roph...beat me to it
gluteus maximus (not the medias), or vastus lateralis...vastus medialis and medialis oblique are more stabilizers in pedaling...when they become big movers, that's a sign that some nasty chondomalacia is soon to follow, because the patella track will get wack with the vm and vmo pulling it inward rather than stabilizing it...of course, if the vm and vmo are weak in relation to the vl then you get cart. softening as well...
what the doof has read has said that the vl and the rectus femoris are the main motors among the quads in the pedaling motion... ti d and tt, is the doof misinformed???
So pedaling knees out (or parallel) engages more or less muscle (than knees in)? It seems that when I pedal knees in, my glutes are more active. Would engaging more muscle enable one to pedal with less effort, but with greater power?
You need to look at the feet and work up. It would not surprise me at all if knees "in" for many would work quite well. When the foot collapses under power, knees "in" will provide better alingment.
weisan
07-14-2005, 05:36 PM
OK here is a puzzler (no not Click and Clack). What leg muscle has the highest energy requirement (uses the most glycogen)?
Bambi has the answer!!! (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=9634)
lot's of the kids are riding like that these days.
Dr. Doofus
07-14-2005, 07:48 PM
oohhhh jerkpal --
bestest beer and friends movie ever
"I look like f-ing stevie nicks!"
andy mac
07-14-2005, 11:38 PM
wouldn't consciously trying to ride with knees out of their natural alignment, in or out further than usual, cause patella tracking problems?? maybe more?
(don't know, just asking)
Too Tall
07-15-2005, 06:45 AM
Pedaling with knees (more) parallel to the TT is a more powerful option and that's a fact. I've watched a pro rider hooked up to a bunch of sensors pedal while muscle activity was displayed and he was instructed to pedal knees in, knees out and both with heels down and heels up...Zapper is onto the puzzler.
Nope, Bambi and Christophe are wrong. Gastrocnemius, your calf, is a veritable blast furnace consuming almost 3 times the energy of comparable leg muscle (by mass: quads, hamstrings etc, hip flexors, sartorius etc.) Interesting non?
The answer to the question "is it better pedal knees in" is a Kenny Rodgers deal. "Know when to hold 'em and know when to fold em'". If you are conserving energy or pedaling at very high rpms there are good reasons to dis-engage antgonist muscles not involved in powerful action...think heels up for faster rpms. Not to corn-fuse the issue with pedaling fast...it takes less energy to pedal knees in.
Will it cause an organic problem to pedal knees out? Depends on how g-d designed you and who setup your cleats!
Doc Doof, yes. That's correct but you knew that ;) Often you can cure that syndrome through temp. taping or backing off combined with a thorough program of Vastus balancing....I think I showed you the drill using a physio-ball or you showed me...it's all a blur.
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