THE INSTITUT CATALÀ DEL PEU TAKES PART IN THE 4TH WOMEN’S CYCLING CLINIC ARRANGED BY THE CATALAN CYCLING FEDERATION.

On Saturday 21^st October, Fitmetric, the Department of Sporting Biomechanics of the Institut Català del Peu, gave a training of cycling biomechanics in the 4^th women’s cycling clinic. The Institut Català del Peu and the Catalan Cycling Federation have a collaboration agreement, for which, Fitmetric, the Department of Sporting Biomechanics of the Institut Català del Peu, carries out different tasks, as in this case, to give a training about biomechanics to those present in the 4^th women’s cycling clinic arranged by such federation. The Catalan Cycling Federation invited us to give a course in this cycling clinic for women which has been arranging since 4 seasons ago. In this clinic are developing different activities like routes, training about technique, mechanics, physical training, nutrition or biomechanics, among others. Fitmetric, by the Institut Català del Peu, carried out a training about biomechanics, which mainly involved reporting about the most usual injury mechanisms in cycling, due to a wrong position on the bike, as well as to detect some upsets or lesions very usual in women, and how they can be tackled in order to avoid or to overcome them. The most important on this biomechanics training entailed speaking about lesions or recurrent upsets which some sportswomen have, and to advise about possible changes to carry out on bike, in order to improve them, although the best piece of advice is to visit a specialist. In this training there was a feedback by the cyclists, where opinions or personal experiences were contributed about some upsets which they could not overcome. Some upsets were common to several cyclists, so this is also a way to share those experiences which, sometimes, frustrate, are not talked about, therefore, they are not detected yet, and, occasionally, they give up cycling or they do not enjoy cycling, as expected. In this way, a solution can be given, although it is only as an information, it can alleviate this possible frustration which can feel oneself or to listen similar cases about those upsets and lesions from whom has overcome them. One of the maximum premises of the cycling biomechanics is that cycling must not be an unpleasant sport. Therefore, it is important to spread this knowledge to all those people who are initiating cycling. The initiative of the Catalan Cycling Federation to rely on with Fitmetric by the Institut Català del Peu to talk about biomechanics and prevention of lesions is a key factor, both for cyclists who are initiating and for those cyclists who do not know about how biomechanics is helping in the prevention of lesions.