Cycling Performance

Purpose: To use eye-tracking technology to directly compare information acquisition behavior of experienced and novice cyclists during a self-paced, 10-mile (16.1 km) time trial (TT). Method: Two groups of novice (n = 10) and experienced cyclists (n = 10) performed a 10-mile self-paced TT on two separate occasions during which a number of feedback variables (speed, distance, power output, cadence, HR, and time) were projected within their view. A large RPE scale was also presented next to the projected information and participants. Participants were fitted with a head-mounted eye tracker and HR monitor. Results: Experienced cyclists performed both TT quicker than novices (F 1,18 = 6.8, P = 0.018) during which they primarily looked at speed (9 of 10 participants), whereas novices primarily looked at distance (6 of 10 participants). Experienced cyclists looked at primary information for longer than novices across the whole TT (24.5% T 4.2% vs 34.2% T 6.1%; t 18 = 4.2; P G 0.001) and less frequently than novices during the last quarter of the TT (49 T 19 vs 80 T 32; t 18 = j2.6; P = 0.009). The most common combination of primary and secondary information looked at by experienced cyclists was speed and distance, respectively. Looking at 10 different primary-secondary feedback permutations, the novices were less consistent than the experienced cyclists in their information acquisition behavior. Conclusions: This study challenges the importance placed on knowledge of the endpoint to pacing in previous models, especially for experienced cyclists for whom distance feedback was looked at secondary to, but in conjunction with, information about speed. Novice cyclists have a greater dependence on distance feedback, which they look at for shorter and more frequent periods than the experienced cyclists. Experienced cyclists are more selective and consistent in attention to feedback during TT cycling.

Introduction: To achieve personal goals in exercise task completion, exercisers have to regulate, distribute, and manage their effort. In endurance sports, it has become very commonplace for athletes to consult task-related feedback on external devices to do so. The aim of the present study was to explore the importance of the presence of this information by examining the influence of the absence of commonly available task-related feedback on effort distribution and performance in experienced endurance athletes. Methods: A 20-km cycling time trial was performed. Twenty Participants from a homogenous cyclist population were appointed to a group that did not receive any feedback (NoF), or a group that could consult task-related feedback (i.e., speed, heart rate, power output, cadence, elapsed time, and elapsed distance) continuously during their trial (FF). Results: The distribution of power output (PO) differed between groups. Most evident is the spurt at the end of the trial of FF, which was not incorporated by NoF. Nevertheless, no between-group differences were found in performance time (FF: 28.86 ± 3.68 vs. NoF: 30.95 ± 2.77 min) and mean PO controlled by body mass (FF: 3.61 ± 0.60 vs. NoF: 3.43 ± 0.38 W/kg). Also, no differences in rating of perceived exertion scores were found. The current study provides a first indication that prior knowledge of task demands together with reliance on bodily and environmental information can be sufficient for experienced athletes to come to comparable time trial performances. This questions the necessity of the presence of in-race instantaneous task-related feedback via external devices for maximizing performance. Moreover, it seems that different pacing strategies emerge depending on sources of information available to experienced athletes.

This thesis explores some of the intersections of sport, politics, identity, and
pharmacological enhancement in apartheid-era South African cycling during the 1970s and 1980s. While much scholarship on South African sport has concentrated on internationally prominent codes such as rugby, cricket, and football, this study foregrounds road cycling as a culturally rich yet underexplored arena through which the logics of apartheid were enacted,
contested, and, at times, doped.

Through a combination of oral history interviews with former cyclists and archival research into contemporary newspapers, federations, and event materials, the study reconstructs aspects of the internal culture of South African cycling during a period of growing political isolation and internal consolidation of the sport. Interviews with former cyclists, many of whom competed in the Rapport Tour, help to reveal the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), as well as ambivalent attitudes towards state authority, bodily limits, and racing. PED use, often rationalised as necessary for national pride or personal survival, is analysed not simply as a biomedical practice but as a social and cultural phenomenon entangled with the racialised ideologies of the time.

The thesis also interrogates the institutional terrain of apartheid-era cycling, including the shifting alliances and tensions between white-only and multiracial sporting bodies. This complexity was shaped in part by the apartheid state’s adoption of a “multinational” sports policy, an effort to present racially segregated sports as legitimate expressions of separate development, based on “national” (racial) identities within South Africa. Within these contradictory frameworks, Black cyclists often found ways to navigate, resist, and even succeed in systems not built for them, sometimes in surprising and revealing ways.

The study begins to contribute new empirical and conceptual insights to South African sports history and broader historiographies of doping and masculinity. It shows how apartheid cycling’s performance culture – chemical, symbolic, and ideological – offers a revealing lens into the contradictions and ambitions of white South African nationalism under
strain.

TO THE EDITOR: That exercise training improves clinical symptoms and slows the progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not in question (5). To date, however, the prognostic importance of endothelial function in conferring protection from CVD has been largely confined to a role as "best supporting actor." The commentary by Green and coworkers (4) serves as a timely reminder that the endothelium has become a major target for therapeutic interventions and, more importantly, that exercise training can directly improve endothelial function independently of modification of traditional risk factors (via a direct effect on the vascular wall). But, as usual, there is a sting in the tail. Low and moderate [25-50% of maximal oxygen uptake (V ˙O2max )] intensity endurance training decrease oxidative stress and improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation in healthy subjects, but high (75% of V ˙O2max ) intensity training increases oxidative stress and impairs endothelial function (3). Sustained intense exercise is associated with an increase in free radical formation (2) and a decrease in circulating antioxidants (1), the net effect being a reduction in nitric oxide bioavailability and consequently endothelial dys-function. It would appear that the impact of any exercise intervention on endothelial function is likely to depend on a fine balance between free radical production, antioxidant defenses, and their combined impact on nitric oxide production and subsequent bioavailability. Future studies of the effect of different exercise modes and intensities on CVD and associated risk factors should incorporate direct markers of endothelial function as independent outcome measures.

Quad bikes are popular recreational, four-wheeled bikes in the Middle East. Injury prevention programs targeting quad bike crashes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) need evidence about the risk factors and behaviours associated with these crashes in the target population. This is a protocol for a study aiming to investigate quad bike rider behaviours and to assess the risk factors associated with related injuries in the UAE. This is a cross-sectional observational study aiming to describe a seasonal sport in a desert environment. With an estimated sample size of 451, the survey will follow a three-stage, location-based sampling strategy using the line-transect method. A sampling frame of desert locations with high injury incidences was developed, using Dubai ambulance injury records. Further expansion of the sampling frame was participatory, involving police, enthusiasts, emergency responders and gas station employees. The data collection will be limited to the winter months in fifteen high-injury desert locations across three major Emirates in the UAE. Trained researchers will observe the riders directly in the desert to note their riding habits, followed by a researcher-administered interview on riding and injury history. The interviews will be administered in Arabic and English using Qualtrics software on handheld tablets with offline and online entry mode. In addition, paper-based entry with the same format will be used as a contingency in busy quad bike locations. The objective of this study protocol is to develop a comprehensive survey that will furnish substantial evidence for the formulation of effective injury prevention strategies. To enhance the credibility of the recorded riding behaviors, field observations will be employed. The

It has been demonstrated that, on their own, both exercise and stimulation from the environment can improve cognitive function and well-being in older adults. The combined effect of exercising in the outdoor environment on psychological function is less well studied. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of an outdoor cycling intervention on cognitive function and mental health and well-being in older adults. A total of 100 older adults took part in the study (aged 50–83), 26 of which were non-cycling controls, 36 were conventional pedal cyclists and 38 were participants using an e-bike (a bike fitted with an electric motor to provide assistance with pedaling), as part of a larger project (www.cycleboom.org). Participants took part in the study for an eight-week period, with cycling participants required to cycle at least three times a week for thirty minutes in duration for each cycle ride. Cognitive function and well-being were measured before and after the in...

La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar la movilidad ciclista de mujeres a partir del ensamblaje cuerpo-bicicletas-calle, a partir de sus experiencias, prácticas y estrategias, con el fin de identificar la relación entre el orden vial y el orden de género en las colonias Roma Norte, Roma Sur y Doctores en el período 2010 a 2019. La pregunta central de la investigación fue ¿Cómo construyen las mujeres lugares móviles a partir del ensamblaje cuerpo-bicicleta-calles y de qué manera se relaciona con la intersección entre el orden de género y el orden vial en el contexto de las colonias Roma y Doctores de la Ciudad de México?
La metodología adoptada fue cualitativa, complementada con datos cuantitativos, representaciones cartográficas y registros visuales para explorar la complejidad de la movilidad ciclista de las mujeres. Así se realizó un primer acercamiento y caracterización del campo a partir de revisiones teóricas, observación participante en conteos y eventos ciclistas; posteriormente se realizó una caracterización de la infraestructura ciclista a partir de revisión documental y un registro visual del viaje ciclista y finalmente se caracterizaron los viajes de mujeres ciclistas a partir de 10 entrevistas semi-estructuradas.
Dentro de los principales hallazgos, se encontraron los siguientes. El análisis geográfico reveló una desigualdad social y espacial en la implementación de la infraestructura, en particular, al analizar la distribución de las ciclovías y de las estaciones de Ecobici, la bicicleta pública, en las tres colonias, en una lógica que continúa las desigualdades socio-espaciales.
Las mujeres se configuran como sujetas ciclistas en un proceso caracterizado por obstáculos de género. En la niñez con restricciones espaciales y subestimación de sus habilidades. En la adultez, la bicicleta se retoma como una alternativa ante la ineficiencia de otros modos de transporte. Desarrollan habilidades corporales kinestésicas y proxémicas que transforman el miedo inicial en confianza, autonomía y capacidad de agencia. El apoyo de redes y grupos ciclistas es clave para la consolidación de este modo de movilidad.
Las mujeres ciclistas enfrentan un orden vial centrado en los automotores, que las subordina, las invisibiliza y las considera “estorbos”. Este orden se traduce en violencia vial que se manifiesta en rebases peligrosos, cierres de paso y violencia proxémica entendida como el uso de la distancia para intimidar.
Esta violencia vial se intersecta con la violencia de género, cuando las mujeres experimentan cotidianamente discriminación y violencia sexual, que se manifiestan en piropos, tocamientos y persecuciones, que cosifican e hipersexualizan sus cuerpos. El miedo y el enojo son emociones políticas que emergen de esta hostilidad y restringen su movilidad.
Dentro de las conclusiones, se encontró que el ensamblaje cuerpo-bicicletas-calles es un continuo que permite a las mujeres construir un lugar móvil más autónomo y placentero, que desafía el orden vial hegemónico, donde la infraestructura, con una distribución desigual interactúa con interacciones viales de violencia.
Palabras clave: movilidad ciclista, género, corporalidad, infraestructura ciclista

Objectives This study aimed at analyzing the cycling safety-related factors and the mental health indicators of elderly cyclists in comparison with other age groups. Methods For this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data of 911 bicyclists from two Latin American countries that have been experiencing a substantial growth of urban cycling during the last few years: Colombia and Argentina. Participants responded to an e-questionnaire on bicycling behaviors, mental health and cycling safety. Results Aging adults reported lower rates of risky behaviors and traffic crashes (around .38 in five years), and, on the other hand, more cycling protective behaviors, a higher risk perception and a better knowledge of traffic norms than both other adults (26–50 years old) and young cyclists (<26). Cycling behaviors and crashes were found to be significantly related to mental health indicators, the latter being higher in aging cyclists. However, this population remains more prone to distrac...

Magnesium Oxide (MgO) Nanoparticles (Nps) synthesized by microwave-assisted coprecipitation method was added as a nanoscale filler together with sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) into poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) to form PEO-MgO/NaSCN Nanocomposite Polymer Electrolytes (NCPEs). The MgO Nps were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effect of the incorporation of MgO Nps and dispersion of NaSCN on the morphology and transport properties of Nanocomposite Polymer Electrolytes (NCPEs) were studied employing Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Optical Microscopy (OM) and ionic conductivity measurement. The FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the existence of strong interfacial interaction between PEO and MgO Nps as the pristine polymer matrix are uniformly interspersed with MgO Nps showing strong absorption bands for the polymer and the MgO NPs. The optical microscopy results showed that the microstructural evolution of pristine PEO polymer is as a result of incorporation and intercalation of MgO Nps and NaSCN proton donor respectively. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity of the NCPEs seems to follow an Arrhenius-type, thermally activated process with activation energies reducing

Ein Auto aber ist nichts weiter als ein Individual-Vehikel für den Kapitalismus: schon das traditionelle Auto: Benzin oder Diesel, ist ein Teil des Arbeitslohnes: denn ohne den Lohn kann der Arbeiter kein Auto kaufen. Bekommt der Arbeiter dann aber Lohn, kann er wieder ein Auto kaufen und nützt damit dem Profitsystem des Kapitalismus: Denn mit dem Auto kann der Arbeiter dann: • Selbst, also individuell zur Arbeit fahren • Selbst, also individuell in Urlaub fahrensich also reproduzieren • Selbst, also individuell in seiner Freizeit herumfahrensich selbst also reproduzieren • Selbst, also individuell seinen sozialen Status der Anerkennung erhöhen. • Und dergleichen mehr. Das Auto also hängt immer am Kapital, weil mit dem Auto der Arbeiter noch viel dichter ans Kapital gebunden wird. Er wird abhängig davon: weil mit dem Auto auch ganze Verkehrssysteme gebaut werden müssen: Busse oder Bahnen, die Arbeiter zur Arbeit bringen, brauchen viel weniger Verkehrswege. Aber im totalen Individual-Prinzip des Autos liegt, daß es den Arbeiter noch mehr abhängig macht vom Kapital: daß der Mensch sich ans Kapital noch mehr anbinden muß: Egal: ob dieses Auto mit Benzin oder Diesel fährt, oder mit Elektroenergie. • Die rein-ökologische Frage der Energie ist zweitrangig: Entscheidend ist die sozio-kulturelle Dimension, mit der der Mensch sich mit dem Auto vom Kapital und seinem profitorientierten Arbeits-System noch mehr in Abhängigkeit begibt als mit sonst etwas: Das Auto ist notwendiges Vehikel fürs Kapital: es stabilisiert das Profitsystem nachhaltig, weil mit dem Auto der Mensch individuell ans Kapital gebunden wird. II. Wenn die Öko-Linke heute also das E-Auto fordert, ist sie ledig allen Geistes: nicht ganz bei Sinnen.

This study was aimed to address the efficacy of pre and per/cooling strategies in professional cycling, from controlled environments in laboratory conditions, to indoor hot velodrome environments and variable conditions in time-trial events outdoors. The influence of aerodynamics in cooling were observed and ultimately an innovative engineered topical cooling cream was analaysed in comparison to other proven modern day cooling techniques. Using a controlled group of of professional cyclists in non-cooling to establish a baseline of overheating in performance, mitigating heat strain and heat stress index, during simulated professional cycling training, races on road and track cycling including the Olympic games Paris track omnium event. Activities varied in hot/humid environment representing the most extreme conditions during the track cycling and professional road cycling (25-38-C, 40-50% relative humidity).

and composites thereof, preferably with carbon (C), show favorable lithium (Li) storage properties at low potential, and thus hold promise for application as anode active materials in the energy storage area. However, the high theoretical specific capacity of Si afforded by the alloying reaction with Li involves many challenges. In this article, we report the preparation of small-size Si particles with a turbostratic carbon shell from a polymer precoated powder material. Galvanostatic charge/discharge experiments conducted on electrodes with practical loadings resulted in much improved capacity retention and kinetics for the Si/C composite particles compared to physical mixtures of pristine Si particles and carbon black, emphasizing the positive effect that the core-shell-type morphology has on the cycling performance. Using in situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry, pressure, and acoustic emission measurements, we gain insights into the gassing behavior, the bulk volume expansion, and the mechanical degradation of the Si/C composite-containing electrodes. Taken together, our research data demonstrate that some of the problems of high-content Si anodes can be mitigated by carbon coating. Nonetheless, continuous electrolyte decomposition, particle fracture, and electrode restructuring due to the large volume changes during battery operation (here, ∼170% in the voltage range of 600-30 mV vs Li + /Li) remain as serious hurdles toward practical implementation.

This project explores how aluminium 6061 can be enhanced to compete with carbon fibre in triathlon bike frames. Using CAD design, wind tunnel simulations, TIG welding, and real-world testing, the study shows how aerodynamic modifications improved efficiency and speed, highlighting aluminium’s potential as a cost-effective, sustainable alternative for high-performance cycling.

Background: Physiological markers such as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 Max), lactate threshold (LT), and peak blood lactate (PBL) are critical for understanding the aerobic and anaerobic adaptations that influence athletic performance. However, their combined assessment across different sporting disciplines is limited.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare VO2 Max, LT, and PBL between power and endurance athletes and to explore their interrelationships among these variables within each group.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparative design was employed involving 60 athletes aged 18-21 years (30 power athletes and 30 endurance athletes) with a minimum of three years of competitive experience. VO2 Max was measured via graded exercise testing, Lactate Threshold through serial capillary blood sampling, and Peak Blood Lactate with three minutes post-exercise. Independent t-tests and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used for data analysis (p < 0.05).
Results: Endurance athletes exhibited significantly higher VO2 Max and LT values, reflecting superior aerobic capacity and delayed lactate accumulation, whereas power athletes showed significantly greater PBL, indicating enhanced anaerobic glycolysis and metabolic acidosis tolerance. Strong positive correlations were found between VO2 Max and LT in both groups, where LT and PBL were not significantly correlated.
Conclusion: Distinct metabolic profiles characterize power and endurance athletes, underscoring the importance of sport-specific training interventions and comprehensive physiological assessments to optimize performance and conditioning strategies.

Die Automobilindustrie befindet sich in einem Transformationsprozess. Die Wertschöpfungsnetzwerke und Produktionsprozesse werden durch die Elektrifizierung der Antriebe, die Einführung autonomer Fahrfunktionen oder das Aufkommen neuer Mobilitätsdienstleistungen tiefgreifend verändert (vgl. Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz 2022). Gesetzliche Vorgaben ändern sich in Folge von Klimaveränderungen. Für diese werden Treibhausgas-Emissionen mitverantwortlich gemacht. In Deutschland werden rund ein Fünftel dieser klimaschädlichen Emissionen durch den Straßenverkehr verursacht (vgl. Umweltbundesamt 2022). Deshalb sind Automobilhersteller von der Europäischen Union verpflichtet worden, klimaschädliche Emissionen ihrer Flotte stufenweise zu minimieren.

Exercise is one of the most common triggers of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), with less trained athletes showing more symptoms. Exercise-induced bronchospasm is a common and frequent problem among elite athletes with obvious implications on competing performance, health, and quality of life. Classical pathways in the development of EIB in this population include the osmotic and the thermal theory as well as the presence of epithelial injury and inflammation in the airway. Moreover, neuronic stimulation has been suggested as a potential modulator of EIB in elite athletes. In this category of population, the diagnosis of EIB is a serious challenge, especially as spirometry before and after bronchodilation is not diagnostic and specific tests are required. To date, there is no organized screening in asymptomatic elite athletes to detect EIB. This review aims to summarize the pathophysiology, clinical manipulations, and therapeutic approach of EIB in elite athletes. We searched fo...

The electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and on CNT (carbon nanotube) cathode with a palladium catalyst, palladium-coated CNT (PC-CNT), and palladium-filled CNT (PF-CNT) are assessed in an ether-based electrolyte solution in order to fabricate a lithium-oxygen battery with high specific energy. The electrochemical properties of the CNT cathodes were studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Palladium-filled cathodes displayed better performance as compared to the palladium-coated ones due to the shielding of the catalysts. The mechanism of the improvement was associated to the reduction of the rate of resistances growth in the batteries, especially the ionic resistances in the electrolyte and electrodes. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectroscopy were used to analyze the products of the reaction that were adsorbed on the electrode surface of the battery, which was fabricated using palladium-coated and pall...

This short psychological visual reflects the positive effects of cycling on mental well-being, using Amsterdam as symbolic backdrop. The text highlights how cycling stimulates endorphin production, reduces stress, and enhances mood and focus. Designed in poster format, this academic-creative expression bridges public health psychology with urban design.

Este artigo explora as relações de gênero e a dominação simbólica no ciclismo feminino, tendo como foco a análise de 30 entrevistas concedidas por ciclistas participantes das edições de 2022, 2023 e 2024 do Tour de France Femmes ao projeto documental Femmes du Tour. A partir dos conceitos de habitus, campo e violência simbólica, analisamos como as estruturas sociais e culturais moldam as trajetórias das atletas. O estudo mostra que essas trajetórias revelam a mediação masculina como via de ingresso ao esporte e a migração de modalidades associadas à feminilidade tradicional, evidenciando a persistência de normas de gênero. Desse modo, concluímos que o Tour de France Femmes é um palco de disputas simbólicas, onde avanços e limites coexistem, exigindo políticas institucionais para transformar as estruturas de poder no esporte

Urban greenspaces connect issues ranging from personal place attachments to abstract problems like climate change, making them interesting research objects for cultural and political sociology. Existing qualitative studies have successfully drawn on Laurent Thévenot's sociology of engagements. Developing an exploratory survey methodology for the Danish context (n = 1,130), we seek to complement this literature through a comprehensive mapping of the cultural patterning in urbanites' engagements in local urban greenspaces. We coin the term engagement compositions to designate different (and sometimes opposing) combinations of familiar, planned, and justificatory engagements. We find that planned engagements follow two main dimensions of cultural preferences, yielding in the end four different engagement compositions, each combined in specific ways to place attachment and moral evaluation. Most notably, what we call the calm nature composition is associated with both familiar and green justificatory engagements, while a hitherto ignored social park composition reflects young urban lifestyle engagements.

Solid state batteries can be built based on thiophosphate electrolytes such as β-Li3PS4. For the preparation of these electrolytes, various solvent-based routes have been reported. For recycling of end-of-life solid state batteries based on such thiophosphates, we consider the development of dissolution and recrystallization strategies for the recovery of the model compound β-Li3PS4. We show that recrystallization can only be performed in polar, slightly protic solvents such as N-methylformamide (NMF). The recrystallization is comprehensively studied, showing that it proceeds via an intermediate phase with composition Li3PS4•2NMF, which is structurally characterized. This phase has a high resistivity for the transport of lithium ions and must be removed in order to obtain a recrystallized product with a conductivity similar to the pristine material. Moreover, the recrystallization from solution results in an increase of the amorphous phase fraction next to crystalline β-Li3PS4, which results in a decrease of the activation energy to 0.2 eV compared to 0.38 eV for the pristine phase.

PEO 16 -LiClO 4 -ZnAl 2 O 4 nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (NCPE) films prepared by hot-pressing method have been investigated. In order to compare with the hot-pressed NCPEs, the NCPE films have also been prepared using the conventional solution-casting method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), conductivity ( ) and interface property studies have been carried out on above two kinds of films. The results show that the NCPE film prepared by hot-pressing method has smoother surface, higher interface stability, lower crystallization and melting temperature values than that prepared by solution-casting method. An all-solid-state lithium polymer battery using the hot-pressed NCPE film as electrolyte, lithium metal and LiFePO 4 as anode and cathode respectively, shows high discharge specific capacity, good rate capacity, high coulombic efficiency, and excellent cycling stability as revealed by galvanostatical charge/discharge cycling tests.