At the start of the evaluation session, mass of the participant and shoes were measured (Secca scales)
and self-reported age, week training hours and average speed at self-selected racing events were recorded.
A stationary cycle ergometer (SRM TrainingSystem, Schoberer, Germany) was used to conduct the
experimentations. The ergometer saddle was set to participants’ preferred saddle height and reach as
measured on their own personal training bicycles. Handlebar position was set to preferred ‘posture length’
so that the horizontal distance between the saddle and the handlebar varied for each cyclist trial. ‘Posture
length’ conditions of the cyclist was defined as the preferred saddle horizontal position, backward
position of the saddle (i.e. maximal backward position), intermediate position (+ 5 cm), and forward
position (+ 10 cm). Participants performed a 5-min warm-up of submaximal cycling at a fixed cadence of
90 rpm and a free-selected power output on the stationary cycle ergometer using their preferred ‘posture
length’.