Experimental methods for the mechanical characterization of cycling short pads

Abstract

In cycling, non-traumatic injuries affecting the genitourinary tract have been the most extensively studied considering their effect in reducing the quality of life. The employment of saddle with specific geometries and of cycling shorts with pads can contribute to reduce the pressure on the perineal area and to increase the level of comfort. The aim of this study was to develop a method to quantify the mechanical properties of pads which can influence the cyclist's perineal protection and its level of comfort. The proposed method consisted of both a laboratory and a field test component. The laboratory part included an accelerated fatigue test of 300,000 cycles performed with an hydraulic actuator. Loads employed were derived from pressure data collected on the saddle of a professional cyclist who pedalled both on asphalt and crossing potholes at a constant speed. The measurement of cylinder force and displacement allowed to calculate the damping and the stiffness over time for the pads tested. The field test allowed to collect the acceleration at the seatpost of the bike and at the back of the cyclist by means of two accelerometers. A transfer function (H(f)) allowed to quantify the vibration transmissibility of the pads. The application of our method characterized the pads tested concerning damping, stiffness and vibration transmissibility. This method could be useful for the manufacturer in the choice of density and thickness of foams, to obtain the desired level of protection, comfort and long-time efficacy of pads.

A field study investigating sensory manifestations in recreational female cyclists using a novel female-specific cycling pad

“…Close-fitting garments are important in sports (Brisbine et al, 2020). Padding in cycling shorts is considered fundamental for soft tissue protection (Mellion, 1991;Marcolin et al, 2017). With the purpose of designing a novel pad for female cyclists that would not A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t diverge excessively from existing cycling pads, we developed a pad with less conventional padding in the crotch area while padding in the sitting-bones area remained unchanged.…”

“…Padding in cycling shorts are designed to provide comfort and aid against overuse injuries such as e.g. chafing in the perineal area (Mellion, 1991) and is considered a fundamental piece of accessory for the cyclist (Marcolin et al, 2017).…”

Design for ergonomics in the bicycle industry: an engineering design concept

“…The perceived comfort of a given bicycle is primarily driven by two key design elements; compliance, relating in particular to the vertical stiffness, of the bicycle's frame structure and components, and the geometry of the bicycle with respect to how well the contact points (saddle, handlebar, pedals) align with their optimal position for a given user. Either parameter set can be described mathematically, yet the difficulty in quantifying the perceived comfort of a cyclist has been well documented in the literature (Petrone and Giubilato, 2013;Ayachi et al, 2018;Marcolin et al, 2018;Richard et al, 2015). The components that make up a complete bicycle provide a structural arrangement akin to springs of varying stiffness, placed in series.…”

Design for ergonomics in the bicycle industry: an engineering design concept

“…The perceived comfort of a given bicycle is primarily driven by two key design elements; compliance, relating in particular to the vertical stiffness, of the bicycle's frame structure and components, and the geometry of the bicycle with respect to how well the contact points (saddle, handlebar, pedals) align with their optimal position for a given user. Either parameter set can be described mathematically, yet the difficulty in quantifying the perceived comfort of a cyclist has been well documented in the literature (Petrone and Giubilato, 2013;Ayachi et al, 2018;Marcolin et al, 2018;Richard et al, 2015). The components that make up a complete bicycle provide a structural arrangement akin to springs of varying stiffness, placed in series.…”