Pedalling analysis is the new Elite-developed feature that analyzes a cyclist power output across the whole pedalling arc, exclusive for owners of home trainers with internal power meter (Avanti, Drivo, Drivo II, Justo, Justo 2, Direto, Direto X, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura).
This function lets the cyclist display the power output change during the whole pedalling arc, the pedalling coordination as a result of the combined work of extensors and flexors muscles and, ultimately, pedalling roundness and the mechanical efficiency of his / her athletic action.
For pro and amateur cyclists alike this translates into a real performance improvement as it's the best way of effectively channeling the effort on pedals.
The aforementioned home trainers contain a very accurate internal power monitor that reads power
output with a high degree of accuracy based on an optical sensor technology that measures home trainer axis torsion.
While using the home trainer the axis spins and is subject to torsion, measured via two optical sensors, caused on one hand by the power output from the cyclist and on the other hand by the home trainer braking power.
The very high rotation speed for the axis with sensors provides hundreds of data points for each pedalling stroke - for instance, with Drivo at 60 rpm and 20 km/h speed you have 220 data points on each pedalling stroke.
This huge amount of data was key to develop the Pedalling analysis function, which displays power output over multiple points (24, placed 15° from one another for the Avanti, Drivo, Drivo II, Justo, Justo 2, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura and 12 points at 30° for the Direto, Direto X) to have an accurate representation of pedalling efficiency.
A single pedalling stroke is the result of the sum of the forces applied by each leg which, placed at 180° from the other leg, completes a whole 360° revolution.
Cycling has a closed kinetic chain, indeed each time a revolution is completed, a foot finds itself in the same place it was when it started.
By using Drivo, Drivo II, Direto, Direto X, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura home trainers with the Elite cadence sensor connected to the proper connector, it is possible to analyze pedalling defined as the sum of a single stroke from the left and right leg and display how the traction and push phases are progressing.
The Elite cadence sensor is not compatible with Avanti, Justo and Justo 2 home trainers, however there will still be possible to view the development of the pedaling, without being able to distinguish which leg is really doing the thrust.
Even in case of using a wireless cadence sensor (ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart), it won't be possible to identify which is the leg that is giving the pedal stroke.
Several app screens display how force is applied during the pedalling stroke in real time.
On the first screen you can find a Cartesian chart with the Watt value of power output on the Y axis and the rotation angle of the crank on the X axis.
Drivo, Drivo II, Direto, Direto X, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura:
Avanti, Justo and Justo 2:
The two spike points display max power output during the pedalling stroke from the right and left legs.
In Drivo, Drivo II, Direto, Direto X, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura home trainers, the left leg is directly indicated by the SX indication on the screen.
In Avanti, Justo and Justo 2 home trainers this difference is not carried out.
When these two spikes are similar the pedalling movement is balanced in terms of power.
The low points are the dead spots of the pedalling movement and the higher the power is on these points, the more efficient the pedalling movement is.
The second screen displays the polar view, which is more appropriate to analyze pedalling symmetry and efficiency.
Drivo, Drivo II, Direto, Direto X, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura:
Avanti, Justo and Justo 2:
Each point in the polar diagram is defined by an angle and a distance (angle=angular position of the crank; distance=power).
Power values that are displayed over a pedalling arc have been so defined:
- in 24 points, each 15° distant from the previous one for the Avanti, Drivo, Drivo II, Justo and Justo 2, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura
- in 12 points, each 30° distant from the previous one for the Direto, Direto X
The classic portrayal of an 8 figure identifies in the 2 round shapes the left and right pedalling stroke.
The narrower central part of the 8 figure identifies the transition points between the thrust and pull phases of the pedalling stroke.
In Drivo, Drivo II, Direto, Direto X, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura home trainers, the left leg and the right leg are directly indicated by the SX and DX indications on the screen.
In Avanti, Justo and Justo 2 home trainers this difference is not carried out.
As pedalling efficiency increases, these areas distance themselves.
The third screen displays data of every single pedalling stroke:
_ average power - Watt
_ min power - Watt
_ max power - Watt
_ pedalling cadence - rpm
_ speed - km/h
_ heart rate - bpm
_ uniformity index - efficiency %
_ exercise duration - time
The uniformity index is the percentage ratio between Average Pedalling power and Max Pedalling power.
It is never possible to get to 100% uniformity, a real good value is about 65%.
On all three screens there's also a comparison in terms of power [Watt] and cadence [rpm] for the last 3 pedalling strokes.
It is possible to set this number from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 3 and edit the color for each of them so you can rapidly compare the power output of the latest pedalling strokes.
The settings page also lets you accurately set the cadence sensor position so the analysis is even more accurate in home trainers where the Elite cadence sensor is compatible (Drivo, Drivo II, Direto, Direto X, Direto XR, Direto XR-T, Kura).
In Avanti, Justo and Justo 2 home trainers this setting is not present as the Elite cadence sensor is not compatible.
Data for each pedalling stroke is saved and can be exported and/or consulted for a subsequent accurate analysis of each pedalling stroke.
Pedalling analysis can be purchased in-app both on the desktop version (macOS - windows) and the mobile version (Android - iOS).