Our understanding of handbike configuration is limited, yet it can be a key determinant of performance in handcycling. This study explored how fourteen handcycling experts (elite handcyclists, coaches, support staff and manufacturers) perceived aspects of recumbent handbike configuration to impact upon endurance performance via semi-structured interviews. Optimising the handbike for comfort, stability and power production were identified as key themes. Comfort and stability were identified to be the foundations of endurance performance and were primarily influenced by the seat, backrest, headrest and their associated padding. Power production was determined by the relationship between the athletes’ shoulder and abdomen and the trajectories of the handgrips, which were determined by the crank axis position, crank arm length and handgrip width. Future studies should focus on quantifying the configuration of recumbent handbikes before determining the effects that crank arm length, handgrip width and crank position have on endurance performance.
Funding
This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under Grant EP/M507489/1 & supported by the English Institute of Sport.
History
School
Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Published in
Ergonomics
Citation
STONE, B.W. ... et al., 2019. Elite handcycling: A qualitative analysis of recumbent handbike configuration for optimal sports performance. Ergonomics, 62 (3), pp. 449-458.
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ergonomics on 9 January 2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00140139.2018.1531149.