The issue of biomechanics associated with well-being on a bike is ever-present. Our position on the bike and how we sit on the saddle have an exponential effect on the balance of our whole body, from bottom to top and vice versa.

Bici.Pro interviewed Alessandro Mottola, an internationally renowned biomechanist, who contributed to the development of the concept Ergo Shape by Repente.

What is Ergo Shape?

It is a very simple concept. It is based on some factors that the world of cycling and biomechanics have neglected, or have considered as secondary. Ergo Shape aims to leave greater freedom to the hamstring and hamstring muscles. They are those muscle compartments of the inner thigh which often do not have the necessary space to move naturally. The block, or the abnormal and prolonged crushing of these muscle groups, can lead to loss of strength and tension in the knee. In addition to the comfort and pleasure of riding a bike, the goal is to free these muscles, the protagonists in the gesture of pedaling.

How was the Repente Ergo Shape born?

The protocol was born from an idea and collaboration with the Repente company, the result of a study that combines the characteristics of the human body and how it interacts with the saddle product. Furthermore, Ergo Shape wants to give greater consideration to the subjective points of support of the cyclist, going beyond current standards. We biomechanics, but also the end user, whether he is a top-level athlete or an occasional practitioner, must take advantage of a simple and easy-to-apply technology. Ergo Shape is an understandable tool, a solution for the shape of the saddle, which is born without too many complications and with results that become tangible immediately.

On the practical side, what does this mean?

In front of the ischium there is a series of muscles and nerve endings, essential for an optimal gesture. To date, few biomechanics and saddle manufacturers have considered and evaluated how much the blocking of these muscles can affect, due to the incorrect dimensions of the saddles. Thanks to the development of Ergo Shape, saddles leave freedom of movement in the inner and front section of the thigh, for a smooth and overload-free pedaling. All this regardless of the width of the saddle, even if the width is a fact that must always be taken into consideration. I can also say that the shapes of the Ergo Shape saddles embrace 80% or more of cyclists, but the protocol is still evolving.

Freedom of pedaling, overloads and width: is everything connected?

They are all interrelated factors. A saddle that is too wide and blocks the leg leads to imbalances during pedaling, muscle and joint overloads and loss of performance. Determining the right width of an athlete's ischium is crucial. The weight of the cyclist and his flexibility also play a primary role. For example, the more flexible a cyclist is, the more his ability to take advantage of a flat saddle, but we must allow his leg to move free. If a cyclist rides on a saddle that is bulky and collides with his way of pedaling we force him to go against his nature. The rider will move forward abnormally, lowering in an incorrect way. This will close the corners of the knee and ankle, creating pressure first of all on the knee. The first negative feedback is the loss of efficiency, first when cycling on the flat. But the negative effects are also reflected on the arms and torso, in the lumbar area, back and on the trapezius muscle. In addition, the rider becomes less effective in terms of aerodynamics.

Read it on Bici.Pro