Bicycle Sport

BICYCLE SPORT, the use of a bicycle for exercise in riding at various speeds and over various distances (touring, racing, etc.) or as a means of transportation during outings and even longer or round-the-world trips (tourism). The bicycle is propelled by the work of the legs. Maintaining balance and controlling the bicycle is achieved through coordinated movement of the hands, torso, and legs and aims to keep the center of gravity. Riding a bicycle, which requires work of the entire organism and, during fast and prolonged riding, causes strong, often excessive strain, can be used as a means of improving health and overall physical development, strengthening the neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems and exercising the function of balance (static feeling) only when observing a number of hygienic rules. The bent and immobile position of the torso when seated on a bicycle, especially of racing and semi-racing types, with shoulders brought to the torso, limits the respiratory excursion of the chest, makes deep and complete breathing difficult, leads to insufficient and improper development of the chest and changes the shape of the spine (stooping, round back). The significant muscular work during fast riding on a bicycle places increased demands on blood supply and the cardiovascular system, the work of which, due to impaired ventilation of the lungs, proceeds under particularly unfavorable conditions and often, with excessive enthusiasm of beginners and excessive strain in racers, leads to pathological changes in the heart muscle and blood vessels. The predominant load on the muscles of the lower extremities (legs and lower part of the lumbar region) leads to one-sided exercise and development of them. Riding a bicycle, despite seeming easy, causes significant changes in the body. These changes, as medical observations show, are acute in nature: during fast riding even over short distances, body temperature rises to 40°, pulse sharply increases; riding over long distances is accompanied, in addition, by significant weight loss; therefore, training in this type of sport should be cautious and gradual and its progress should be evaluated by the results of medical observation of the body's condition not only immediately after work but also in a state of rest (heart size, functional test, etc.). Rational engagement in B. s., taking into account the individual characteristics of athletes (age, sex, state of health and strength of physical development), associated with being in the fresh air, with changing surroundings, with physical exertion (which is especially valuable for mental workers), etc., promotes increased metabolism, strengthening of the nervous, muscular and cardiovascular systems, exercise of muscular feeling and development of general body endurance. Engagement in B. s., in accordance with individual characteristics, should be dosed in terms of total riding time, speed of movement, and observance of rest during riding. For beginners, it is necessary in the first period, associated with excessive muscular work when riding a bicycle due to insufficient coordination of movements, to limit riding time (not more than 1½ hours), not to abuse fast riding (not more than 15 km per hour) and not to get carried away with racing, striving to reduce their B. s. activities to systematic, non-tiring walks. Women during the menstrual period are not permitted to ride a bicycle. To prevent one-sided influence on physical development from B. s. activities, it is necessary to persistently recommend simultaneous engagement in other types of physical exercises—gymnastics, rowing, handball games, etc. Preparation for participation in speed competitions (for various distances from 30 to 100 km) and in long trips (star runs, journeys, etc.) should be carried out under constant medical supervision, and participation in them may be permitted only to fully physically developed and healthy people. During long bicycle runs and trips, special attention should be paid to the rational nutrition of participants, drinking regimen, distribution of work and rest time and creating the most favorable conditions for using rest. A narrower meaning is bicycle sport using velodromes (special structures for bicycle and motorcycle races, consisting of a wooden, cement or asphalt straight track with specially designed turns and stands for the public).