title: Cycling strategies of young and older cyclists.
abstract: This study concentrates on the cycling strategies of older cyclists (54-62year olds) in comparison to young cyclists (20-30year olds). While cycling in a safe laboratory set-up, controlled lateral perturbations are applied to the rear of the bicycle. Three possible strategies to keep balance are analysed for a young and older aged group: steering, lateral trunk movement and outward knee movement. Older subjects appear to rely more on knee movement as a control mechanism than young subjects. Furthermore, the frequency domain analysis revealed that the older adults need more effort to counteract high frequency perturbations. Increased inter-individual variation for the older adults subject group suggests that this group can be seen as a transition group in terms of physical fitness. This explains their increased risk in single-sided bicycle accidents (i.e. accidents involving the cyclist only). Therefore, older cyclists could benefit from improving the stability of cycling at lower speeds.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Vera.Bulsink@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: Vera E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Bulsink
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Design, Production & Management, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: H.Kiewiet@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: Hielke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiewiet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: D.vandeBelt@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: Dorien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van de Belt
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Design, Production & Management, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: G.M.Bonnema@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: G Maarten
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bonnema
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. Electronic address: H.F.J.M.Koopman@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koopman
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aging; Bicycle balance; Control strategy; Cycling safety; Perturbation study