Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Diurnal variations in cycling kinematics.

S Moussay1, N Bessot, A Gauthier

  • 1Centre de Recherches en Activités Physiques et Sportives (CRAPS UPRES EA2131), UFR Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, France.

Chronobiology International
|October 11, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Elite cyclists pedal faster and exhibit greater ankle mobility in the late afternoon compared to the morning. These findings suggest circadian rhythms influence muscle activation patterns during cycling.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis presenting as vitreous opacities].

Journal francais d'ophtalmologie·2026
Same author

Effects of videoconference-supervised exercise training program on physical and cognitive conditions, and mental well-being in older adults: A randomized trial.

Experimental gerontology·2025
Same author

Effect of a home-based videoconferencing exercise training program on circadian rhythms and sleep quality in healthy older adults.

Sleep medicine·2025
Same author

Exploration of sleep quality and rest-activity rhythms characteristics in Bilateral Vestibulopathy patients.

Sleep medicine·2024
Same author

Developmental factors associated with inappropriate coping strategies among sexual aggressors of children.

Child abuse & neglect·2023
Same author

Core body temperature varies according to the time of exercise without affecting orexin-A production in the dorsal hypothalamus in male rats.

Journal of thermal biology·2023

Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • Understanding preferred pedaling rate in elite cyclists requires considering physiological and biomechanical factors.
  • Circadian variations in these factors throughout the day may influence cycling performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diurnal variation of spontaneous pedaling rate and movement kinematics.
  • To assess how time of day affects ankle mobility and pedal velocity during cycling.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve male cyclists completed submaximal cycling tests at 06:00 and 18:00.
  • Pedal rate and kinematics (pedal velocity, ankle angle) were recorded during spontaneous, 70, and 90 rpm cadences.
  • Data were analyzed for diurnal differences in cycling mechanics.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Spontaneous pedaling rate was significantly higher in the afternoon (18:00) than in the morning (06:00).
  • Pedal velocity variation within a crank cycle was lower in the morning.
  • Ankle plantar flexion was greater in the afternoon sessions.

Conclusions:

  • Circadian fluctuations appear to influence muscular activation patterns during cyclical movements like cycling.
  • Elite cyclists' preferred cadence and movement kinematics exhibit diurnal variation.