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06-08.-2007, 03:44 AM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 243
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Do long legs give an advantage?
Just wondering if there is an data to suggest having long legs (i.e. levers) is beneficial. It seems like when I get passed by guys they are pretty big dudes just stomping on the pedals with their long legs. Thanks
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06-08.-2007, 04:08 AM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Rome, Italy
Posts: 3,870
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
Well don't tell Paolo Bettini that!
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06-08.-2007, 07:42 AM
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 205
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
Seeing how the average pro is 5'8" - 140 lbs, I'd say not really.
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06-08.-2007, 09:01 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WA State
Posts: 1,271
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
From what I understand its not long legs per say - its more that you have a more efficient lever, than you have a longer one - and that means having longer femurs (thighs) than average for the size of the rest of your leg. Even people who are relatively short can have a good ratio of femur to tibia to foot. (I've also heard that having a long foot is less efficient and can offset a long thigh)
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06-08.-2007, 09:22 AM
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#5 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MA
Posts: 35
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
i would say no. It takes more energy to push a long leg so its not an advantage. i'm getting myself confused but i think a shorter leg can produce more torque. its kinda like if you put a weight at the end of your arm it is harder to hold up than if its in the middle of your arm, leverage. A shorter sprinter can accelerate faster than a tall one but the tall one may have the higher top speed if any advantage at all. But bikes have gears so the top speed thing doesn't apply. Since bikes have gears, an average height is really the best i'd say. I don't see why being tall would give any advantage on a bike...
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06-08.-2007, 10:34 AM
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#6 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 243
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
Quote:
It just seems like the Bettinis, Di Lucas, and Liepheimers (little guys) are poor men's Indurians, Bassos, and Ullrichs (tall guys). Pantani is probably the only small guy to have won the Tour in the past 20 years. |
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06-08.-2007, 07:20 PM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 33
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
long legs weight more ...
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Bianchi SL3 Reparto Corse |
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07-08.-2007, 12:44 AM
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#8 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 243
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
Quote:
In some cases yes, but I bet McEwen's legs weigh more than Rasmussen's sticks. The issue is more about physics than weight I think. I'm sure a lot of us learned in high school that the longer the wrench, the easier it is to turn a screw. I thought maybe the longer the leg, the easier it is to turn the pedals...    |
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07-08.-2007, 01:06 AM
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WA State
Posts: 1,271
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
Yeah - that's totally true when your talking about a simple lever - the longer the lever the easier to use, the more weight you can move with it, but your leg is a pretty complex lever - it has pivot points at 3 places - ankle - knee- hip, so each of those lengths and how they work together make a big difference too.
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09-08.-2007, 07:57 PM
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: victoria, Australia
Posts: 100
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
Quote:
When talking about mountain rides power to weight is all that matters. If you look at the pros the climbs are small builds( Lance and Indurian are freaks in a good way) TTs (which are usally flat) it come down to maximum power over the duration of the coarse Ullrich was good, Lance was better, but Indurain was amazing. All three guys are average to tall. Whats most important to be a good rider is heart. |
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09-08.-2007, 11:46 PM
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#11 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 54
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
Dont have much data to prove but im just over 6ft and 62 kgs (137) pounds. Where am i going with this, i have massively long legs in ratio to the upper half of my body, and ride high cadence. My dad is around the same height, yet has a real slow cadence compared to me at the same age. Im a climber, he was good at TT. Testament to the variation in 2 people who have very similar geometry. I dont think it comes down to length, more to the muscle fibre makeup of the legs. Although as said with the climbers they are generally shorter, id put it down to the fact that shorter people are normally lighter, giving a better watt per kg advantage
Last edited by DirtTurtle : 09-08.-2007 at 11:53 PM. |
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10-08.-2007, 07:38 AM
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#12 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 172
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Re: Do long legs give an advantage?
Lance Armstrong, Bernard Hinault, Stephen Roche, Greg Lemond, Eddy Merckx, Pedro Delgado, Paulo Bettini, Michele Bartoli, none of them huge guys. I think Indurain is the only set of long levers to have achieved major success.
Weight and power output, that's what you need. Long levers make no difference. Besides, why worry about it? I don't think leg transplants are a serious option for the dedicated cyclist. Just train well, consistently, then you'll be passing the long-legged guys with no problems! |
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