Validation of a model and a simulator for road cycling on real tracks

In this study, methods for data acquisition, analysis, modelling, and simulation of performance parameters in road cycling on real tracks were developed and evaluated. A simulator was designed to facilitate the measurement in a laboratory environment. The simulation included real height profiles and a video playback that was synchronised with the cyclist’s current virtual position on the track, and online visualisation of course and performance parameters. Field data obtained on mountain tracks in this study were compared with the state-of-the-art mathematical model for road cycling power, established by Martin et al. (J Appl Biomech 14: 276–291, 1998), which accounts for the gradient force, air resistance, rolling resistance, frictional losses in wheel bearings and inertia. The model described the performance parameters accurately with correlation coefficients of 0.96–0.99 and signal-to-noise ratios of 19.7–23.9 dB. It was shown that the mathematical model could be implemented on an ergometer for simulating rides on real courses, providing similar quality measures when comparing field and simulator measurements.