2020/06/29 by Len Bos, Bos, Len, Michael A. Slawiński +3
Medicine · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #FOS: Physical sciences #Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph) #Sports Performance and Training
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2006.15816
openalex publication_date 2020/06/29 · openalex created_date 2022/07/26 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The velocit `a ascensionale media (VAM) is measurement that quantifies a\ncyclist's climbing ability. It depends on both the ground speed of a\nbicycle-cyclist system and the slope of an incline. To maximize the ascent\nspeed, the solution to the brachistochrone problem determines that the optimal\ncurve for the incline is a straight line, which is a hill with a constant\nslope. The maximum obtainable VAM value by a cyclist increases monotonically\nwith the slope of the incline, but is limited by the maximum sustainable power.\nThese properties -- which are theorems stemming from a standard mathematical\nmodel to account for the power required to propel a bicycle -- constitute a\nmathematical-physics background upon which various strategies for the VAM\nmaximization can be examined in the context of the maximum sustainable power as\na function of both the gear ratio and cadence. Recently established records\nprovide an empirical support for these analytical results, which are based on\ntheoretical considerations.\n