Congratulations Dr. Coggan,
Of all the people who have ever gotten on the cranks (I believe you have been on them once) you are the only one who has ever presumed that training with Powercranks wouldn’t change the way someone pedals a bicycle into a more “circular” pattern. So, let’s presume you are correct (you could be because Luttrell didn’t “measure the pattern of force application” so who knows what changes the PC’s caused.) So, then, how would you explain the Luttrell results? Are you proposing that six weeks of PowerCranks changed the muscle fibre type in these subjects, since we “know” this could improve efficiency (that is what Coyle presumed in his “study” of Lance Armstrong so it isn’t that far fetched, although that study went on for 6 years, not 6 weeks). Or, is there another explanation.
However, I am aware of people who have looked at EMG changes associated with PC use so people have demonstrated that PC’s do change the lower extremity coordination, from which we might be able to infer this changes force application but, of course, it isn’t proof to types like you. Dixon gathered this data but we won’t actually see it for awhile in a paper I am told. There is at least on other study just underway (and maybe another just finishing) in which EMG data is also being collected along with the metabolic and power data so we will see what this shows. Once one or two researchers show PowerCranks change pedaling style occurs will you accept that this is one of the things that PC’s actually do without each reasearcher reproducing this each study?
I must say, I think everyone who has ever trained with this device must be snickering at your objection here. Thanks for the chuckle.
Oh, and I am glad you can think of several studies that “addressed this very question”. Name one that measured pedaling style (or presumed a pedaling style, a la Luttrell) and efficiency, and then effectively caused the athlete to change pedaling style and then remeasured efficiency. I look forward to your reply.