The effect of bicycle seat height variation upon oxygen consumption and lower limb kinematics

VO2 was obtained for 10 women bicycling on rollers at 3 saddle heights (SH), 95, 100 and 105% trochanteric height. Kinematic patterns described by the hip, knee, ankle and foot were discerned from one pedal cycle at each of the 3 SH. Subjects cycled on a Fuji Dynamic 10 10-speed bicycle, at 60 rpm, (a work load of 799 kpm/min was applied by a tensioning belt from a bicycle ergometer) until they reached steady state. Expired air was then collected and cine films were taken during gas collection. The 100% SH was most efficient, mean values for 95, 100 and 105% SH were 1.69, 1.61 and 1.74 lit/min, respectively. Kinematic patterns showed no variation in the range of motion (ROM) at the hip, values at the dead centers (DC) did change. The ROM at the knee varied from 69 to 82.9 degrees, 95 to 105% SH, values at the DC varied also. Plantar flexion (PF) at bottom dead center increased by 10% from 95 to 105% SH. Foot angle showed no significant variation with increasing SH. The major adaptations to increases in SH are found at the knee and in ankle PF.