Bicycle pedalling forces as a function of pedalling rate and power output

Eleven men with recreational bicycling experience rode a bicycle ergometer with instrumented force pedals to determine the effects of pedalling rate and power output on the total resultant pedal force, F_r, and the component of the force perpendicular to the crank arm. The force patterns were obtained at power outputs of 100 W and 200 W for pedalling rates of 40-120 rpm in intervals of 10 rpm. Data were not obtained at 40 rpm at the 200 W power output. The F, averaged over a crank cycle (F_ar) was lowest at 90 rpm and 100 W, a value statistically different (P < 0.05) from those at 40, 50, and 120 rpm. At 200 W, the F_r was lowest at 100 rpm, a value statistically different (P< 0.05) from those at 50, 60, and 70 rpm. The F_ar varied widely (range of 30% of mean for all subjects) for individuals at a given power output. The results suggest that pedalling at 90-100 rpm may minimize peripheral forces and therefore peripheral muscle fatigue even though this rate may result in higher oxygen uptake.