Clever scientific answer needed....
12 May 2006, 02:24 PM
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Clever scientific answer needed....
When cycling with my mates, who are all quite a bit taller than me, I always seem to be struggling to keep up. Is there a scientific reason why shorter legs would require more effort to cover the same distance, or am I just not as fit as them? 
12 May 2006, 02:31 PM
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If you take two limbs, one shorter, one longer, that both have the same muscles then the shorter limb will have more mechanical advantage due to the principle of leverage. However, the longer limb will have more swept movement for a given muscle contraction.
What this essentially means is that your short **** legs are running in a lower gear. You have more mechanical advantage but your muscles must make larger movements in order to rotate the pedals.
Changing up a gear on the bike should counteract this effect.
The total energy expended should be the same for all of you, however. (Assuming identical bikes, weight, efficiency etc)
Then again you could just be an unfit sloth!
What this essentially means is that your short **** legs are running in a lower gear. You have more mechanical advantage but your muscles must make larger movements in order to rotate the pedals.
Changing up a gear on the bike should counteract this effect.
The total energy expended should be the same for all of you, however. (Assuming identical bikes, weight, efficiency etc)
Then again you could just be an unfit sloth!
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12 May 2006, 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Paul3446
When cycling with my mates, who are all quite a bit taller than me, I always seem to be struggling to keep up.
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