The project aims to understand what kind of vibrations road bikes are exposed to on tarmac, gravel and cobblestones. Therefore, accelerations transmitted to the bike will be analyzed.
Surface-induced vibrations in cycling are linked to discomfort, pain and even traumatisms (Schwellnus & Derman, 2005). Also, findings for the effects on muscular activity and cardiopulmonary response (Vielllehner & Potthast, 2020 & 2021) suggest the additional loading due to vibration eventually compromises performance in cycling. Therefore, there is a great interest in reducing the vibra-tion exposure of the musculoskeletal system through technology. However, the vibrations that impact the bike on surfaces like tarmac, gravel or cobblestones are only partially described (Viellehner & Potthast, 2019) and data on the occurring frequencies and accelerations are largely missing. A better understanding of the vibrations that occur and how they are modulated by surface conditions con-tributes to defining the required technical specifications for gravel and road bikes.