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Old 08-22-08 | 07:40 PM
  #101  
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Road Fan
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Ann Arbor, MI

Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8

Originally Posted by BSLeVan

I think it would be an interesting experiment to factor muscle mass into crank arm length and power output..... along with inseam size and perhaps even different lengths between the upper leg and lower leg. I'm also trying to get my mind around the idea that a longer lever allows one to do more work with less expenditure of energy and figure out how this relates to the other simple tool of wheel and axle.
BSL, how would you structure such at experiment, or model? Probably better to look at factoring strength rather than muscle mass? or try to estimate the efficiency of a large muscle rather than a small muscle?

I find a longer lever (recently switched up from 170s to 172.5s) feels more efficient, but after a while my knees don't like the extra pressure. I'm better off spinning.
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