Considering the current pandemic period, people's interest in health, outdoor sports and nature is increasing day by day. Based on this perspective, the interest in cycling, which is one of the physical activities performed outdoors, is significantly higher than in the past [1, 2]. Factors such as lack of knowledge in cycling like it is the case in all types of physical activity, choosing the wrong bike and material, not knowing the important basics of this sport well, and not being physically ready might cause non-traumatic injuries in cyclists as well as affect cycling performance [3, 4].
Performance in cyclists depends not only on the physical characteristics of the individual but also on the compliance of the bicycle to the individual [5]. The effect of increased muscle strength, which is one of the physical characteristics, on driving, duration, and performance was reported in previous studies. On the other hand, the science of cycling is constantly updated to determine the optimum bicycle compatibility criteria and develops in the relevant technological areas [6].
Recreational athletes mostly consist of individuals who do not have sufficient physical fitness, with no sufficient knowledge of the sport, and who participate in the sport more than a certain age. This causes performance losses, injuries, and ultimately the inability to continue physical activity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate factors such as prevention of biomechanical errors, elimination of deficiencies of the musculoskeletal system, prevention of incomplete information and incorrect applicationsand adaptation of the bicycle to the individual, which are determined to protect public health and maintain physical activity.
In endurance sports such as cycling and running, success depends not only on aerobic capacity but also on muscle strength and related sports performance [7]. For this reason, studies conducted to increase performance in cyclists focused on the effects of various aerobic and strength training exercises. Swart et al, reported that high-intensity aerobic exercise improved cycling performance [8]. Laursen et al, stated that the physiological adaptations of high-intensity intermittent exercise are more effective [9]. In the exercise training provided with a trainer, when the effects of training in different bicycle cadences, as well as the intensity, were evaluated, it was reported that low cadence training is more effective than high cadence [10]. It is already known that increasing the athlete’s cardiovascular endurance, as well as muscle strength and endurance, are effective on performance. It was reported in a study that investigated the effects of an 8-week strength training in cyclists that maximum strength training increased maximum aerobic strength and exhaustion time [11].) Also, lower extremity strength training and increased leg lean mass had positive effects on performance [12]. In addition, in another study in which individualized intermittent resistance exercise training and sprint training were compared, none of these exercise types was found to be superior to each other [13]. Unlike other sports, in cycling, performance can change with the adaptation of the bicycle to the individual, as well as the physiological characteristics of the individual. Previous studies show that bike fitting increases riding comfort and reduces injury, pain, and fatigue[1, 14]. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of bike fitting and exercise training applied on cycling performance to recreational cyclists.