Freeride Study Dates: July 29/30, August 12/13 Participants needed!!

[johnnystuntrider]

Hello all... I've postponed the study due to several factors, so the new dates will be July 29/30 and Aug 12/13. You only need to come out to one testing day (see original info below) Thanks!

The time has come!

I’m going to be conducting the second Freeride Physiology study on July 29/30 and Aug 12/13 (Saturday/Sunday) and need about 25 participants to make my statistics viable (each person only has to show up on one of the days). Testing will take place between 9am and 3pm, with participants scheduled every 15 minutes. The format will be similar to the previous study and will involve an ascent up Old Mountain Highway to Seventh Secret followed by a descent down Seventh, Leppard, Kirkford, Crinkum, Cedar, and Roadside Attraction. Total time commitment will be about 3 hours (depending on how fast you ride!).

The measures involved will be: continuous heart rate monitoring, pre-post grip strength, pre-post leg extensor strength (static squat), and pre-mid-post blood lactate. The blood lactate testing will involve a finger prick sampling technique and will need to be done three times (total). All of the testing procedures and protocols have been assessed by the University of Victoria Human Research Ethics Board.

I’m looking for participants with a minimum of 3 years freeriding experience, have ridden the proposed route, and have the technical ability to ride the involved trails and trail features in their entirety. You’ll also need to be between 19 and 50 years of age.

If you’d like to be involved, or want more info, please contact me via email at birtwell@uvic.ca.

Thanks,

Cam Birtwell

[mattj]

I can't make this one Cam but good luck with the study!


Ride for Cam everyone he's good people!


-m

[Bryce]

So is it a Fromme ride on Saturday and again on Sunday? I could do one day but I suspect I might end up in Whis for the other

[johnnystuntrider]

thanks Matt!

Bryce... it'd be great to have you come out - and it would only be for one of the days (sorry it's not clear in the original post).

[Neo]

i might be able to help as well. i always ride fromme at least one of sat or sun, sometimes both. i know those trails very well and can pretty much ride them blindfolded.

[sanrensho]

The measures involved will be: continuous heart rate monitoring, pre-post grip strength, pre-post leg extensor strength (static squat), and pre-mid-post blood lactate.

I'm just curious, but is there a reason for leaving out the mid grip strength and mid leg extensor strength? Is it just out of practicality?

[StefB]

Sweet.

Count me in.

One of of my favorite "pinn'er" trail combos out there. Email has/will be sent.

Stefan

[johnnystuntrider]

I'm just curious, but is there a reason for leaving out the mid grip strength and mid leg extensor strength? Is it just out of practicality?

Yes... I'd need to have a second leg extensor apparatus at the top as well as the bottom... grip strength is a little less of an issue but I'll be using an isometric quarter-squat (135* knee angle) for the leg extensors. If I can fabricate another apparatus and find another force gauge, I may be able to do the mid measures.

My intent is to look at the effects of the full ride (combined up and down) and my supervisor/thesis committee has persuaded me to focus on that goal instead of comparing the ascent to descent. That being said though, if I can do it, I will - I just won't tell my supervisor until after!!

[Dantes Inferno]

How do you judge the mental aspec?

My heart rate is less when im riding hard on a trail I know than when im riding quite conservative on something i havent seen before. Does that mean im getting a better cardio workout when im scared?

[johnnystuntrider]

How do you judge the mental aspec?

My heart rate is less when im riding hard on a trail I know than when im riding quite conservative on something i havent seen before. Does that mean im getting a better cardio workout when im scared?


...that's a really good question...:idea:

I'm not going to assess the effects of psychological variables on the heart rate response - but I'm hoping the measures that I do take will correlate with one another and indicate the amount of heart rate response due to exertion.

Since the trail route isn't super gnarly, and experienced riders will be participating, the impact of that "seeing a stunt for the first time freak out" should be minimized.

As far as getting a good cardio workout when you're scared, well, your heart definitely has to work harder, but all of the other adaptations that come from energy metabolism driven from actual physical work would not take place. So I guess your heart might get stronger from freaking out on a regular basis, but none of the other important adaptations would take place, minimizing the fitness effects...

Cam

[johnnystuntrider]

...Still need people!!! I only have one confirmed so far, so 24 spots are still available! The last group got some cool stuff from dizzy and made a big contribution to the science of mountain biking...:D

let me know if you're interested at birtwell@uvic.ca

Thanks!!

[mattj]

Cam try pinning a flyer on the bulletin board at the base of Fromme (second gate). I'm sure StefB would be willing and able to do the route 25 times over the two days if that's what you need...


-m

[LeeLau]

Sorry cam - will likely not be around on the weekend

[StefB]

Cam - put me down for Sunday as well. Is this going to be frowned upon by the scientific community? I promise to ride harder on Sunday and most likely supply two different set's of results. Any way we could start a bit earlier on Sunday?

23 spots left boys and girls.

Where are all of the people who are always talking trash about how "ghey" shuttling is?

Come out for a good cause and stay for the free swag!

[johnnystuntrider]

Ha ha... hey Stef... I don't think I can use you for both days, but thanks for the offer! I'm going to have my bro put up some posters on Fromme and Seymour to see if we can attract some more interest that way...

Mods, can we sticky this so I don't have to keep bumping it up? Thanks a million

Cam

[Neo]

email sent Cam. shuttling is ghey.

[Lurch]

I have only actually done "freeriding" for about 3 months, but I am positive I can ride everything on the course. I would need to pre ride the course to know where I am going, (I have a general idea), and the big kicker, I am awaiting surgery on my knee so dont know if I will make it on the pedal up so I may have to walk.
So, if you are REALLY desparate for more participants, I could come out, but like Stefan said, I would like to go earlier if possible.

[Couch_Surfer]

July 29/30... you mean Crankworx weekend? That might be a hard dance card to fill on this board.

[johnnystuntrider]

yeah... not my first choice for a testing weekend, but I had to go with one that I could get the equipment on...

For those interested, I'm still in need of more participants, either for this Saturday (running it only on this day, not Sunday) or for August 12/13...

Those of you who have expressed interest before will get a follow up email tonight...

happy trails

Cam

[johnnystuntrider]

Hello all...

Still looking for some more people for this Saturday... Forget Crankworkx!!! You can watch it in the videos, and hey, it'll only be another year til it comes around again..... hahaha :rolleyes: :agree:

[Neo]

went fairly well today, good run to do for a first lap. too bad i broke my chain on my way up, just past the 4th switch and lost some minutes. but you can really rip down those trails. pretty nice riding weather too. trails are a bit dry though.

[taprider]

ascent up Old Mountain Highway to Seventh Secret followed by a descent down Seventh, Leppard, Kirkford, Crinkum, Cedar, and Roadside Attraction. ... The measures involved will be: continuous heart rate monitoring, pre-post grip strength, pre-post leg extensor strength (static squat), and pre-mid-post blood lactate.

why is that route freeride? its a common XC race course. Maybe there should be a trials-like competition on the bigger hucks and skinnies to qualify as a freerider first? Or maybe compare those that identify themselves as XC racers with those that identify themselves as Freeriders on the same course (my guess is that the XC'ers would have better cardio, lactate response and strength to weight ratio, and the freeriders would have more absolute strength. whereas DH racers would likely have good cardio, lactate response, absolute strength, but lower strength to weight ratio than XC)

[johnnystuntrider]

Yeah it was good to have you out Blaine... and even with the broken chain, a couple of spills, and taking the wrong route back to the tents, I'm pretty sure you had the fastest time!!!

Thanks to all the other guys who came out and rode (Joel, Bill, Jamie, Cliff)... you all bled very well for us .... hahaha :agree:

[johnnystuntrider]

Maybe there should be a trials-like competition on the bigger hucks and skinnies to qualify as a freerider first? Or maybe compare those that identify themselves as XC racers with those that identify themselves as Freeriders on the same course (my guess is that the XC'ers would have better cardio, lactate response and strength to weight ratio, and the freeriders would have more absolute strength. whereas DH racers would likely have good cardio, lactate response, absolute strength, but lower strength to weight ratio than XC)


Well, I figure "freeride mountain biking" is really in the mind of the rider when it comes down to it... it may be epic big mountain rides, all mountain rides, lift-accessed rides, or a climb and descent like in the trail route for this study. If you're referring to what you would typically see in a "freeride entertainment" vid (Disorder) then maybe qualifying by doing sick stunts would be in order...

Comparing DH and XC riders is like the old apples and oranges deal... basically the body becomes what it's trained to do - since these two categories of riders are at almost opposite ends of the task continuum, you would expect different capabilities... but what do you mean by "(better) lactate response"?

[taprider]

OOPS! actually "(better) lactate" is misleading since if both an XCer and a DHer are racing down the course then both should be near the limits of their own abilities, its just that the DHer would be faster. Although I supose if a DH racer follows an XC racer downhill and doesn't try to pass, then the DHer would have less lactate in blood at the finish.

[johnnystuntrider]

Hey gang...

Last chance to get in the Freeride Study for this coming weekend - need as many people as can make it out!! Saturday or Sunday are the options and email me (birtwell@uvic.ca) to sign up for times etc.

thanks!

Cam

[Knnn]

looking forward to seeing some results ...soon?

[johnnystuntrider]

Just finished putting all of the data into my laptop ... I'll hopefully have some time tomorrow to run some stats, and if I can, I'll post some preliminary stuff by the end of next week (after that, it's road trip vacation time!!)...

So far, the numbers look interesting... but I won't presume anything until the stats gods agree...

Cam

[stillgoing]

Hey Cam...

How did the study go? I wouldn't mind seeing the results - especially to compare myself against others.

ps - still got my jacket hanging around somewhere?