Weight - effect on speed
Discussion
Morning,
I am still being nagged by my failure to complete my commute to work in under an hour.
Extreme measures are required. I am presently 90kgs, or 14 stone, which is probably too many. When I was a runner I was around 12 st 10lbs or 80 kgs.
My question would be what is 10 kg costing me in time per hour ? assume an average speed of 20 mph.
Any rough guides ?
Weight doesn't effect top speed, don't forget, it only effects acceleration (ignoring the fact that you may be bigger when heavier).
So it depends how much stopping and starting you're doing (and therefore how much accelerating from 0) that your weight will effect.
I've recently lost 5.5kg simply by eating slightly less. Same foods, just not quite as big portions. And I started off at 76kg, so it's not like I was big. Try that, you may see your times tumble
So it depends how much stopping and starting you're doing (and therefore how much accelerating from 0) that your weight will effect.
I've recently lost 5.5kg simply by eating slightly less. Same foods, just not quite as big portions. And I started off at 76kg, so it's not like I was big. Try that, you may see your times tumble
"Numerous studies have been performed to show just how much weight effects a cyclist. Bicycling Magazine published the results of a study from James C. Martin, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of exercise and sport science at the University of Utah. Using the calculations from a 160-lb. rider on a 5 kilometer, 7 percent grade, he concluded that for every 5 lbs. added to a rider, it would take him an additional 30 seconds to ascend a steep climb."
So you can see from that roughly what it might cost you up hill...However on the flat your weight is much less relevant. Which is why many TT riders can afford to be a bit bigger compared to road riders.
It will be more effort to get your weight moving each time, but when at speed, to hold the speed will be no different really.
How far is the commute?
So you can see from that roughly what it might cost you up hill...However on the flat your weight is much less relevant. Which is why many TT riders can afford to be a bit bigger compared to road riders.
It will be more effort to get your weight moving each time, but when at speed, to hold the speed will be no different really.
How far is the commute?
okgo said:
How far is the commute?
Commute is 21.3 milesone way - and around 600 ft ascending on the way in, about double that on the way home... So the effect on climbing speed is pretty significant.
I should imagine the aero effect of the size of my (expensively acquired, beer gut) to be relatively small ?
Gargamel said:
Commute is 21.3 milesone way - and around 600 ft ascending on the way in, about double that on the way home...
So the effect on climbing speed is pretty significant.
I should imagine the aero effect of the size of my (expensively acquired, beer gut) to be relatively small ?
Could the beer gut have aero advantage? I mean a slab front as opposed to a nicely rounded front must be less aero.So the effect on climbing speed is pretty significant.
I should imagine the aero effect of the size of my (expensively acquired, beer gut) to be relatively small ?
Gargamel said:
daz3210 said:
Could the beer gut have aero advantage? I mean a slab front as opposed to a nicely rounded front must be less aero.
I always assumed greater mass meant faster top end speed when descending davepoth said:
Surely air resistance comes into play here if you're really bulky?
Boardman was on the Olympics the other night saying that 80% of a cyclist's effort was spent punching a hole through the air. I tend to believe Chris Boardman, I think he knows a thing or two about cycling.okgo said:
How rural is the route? Many start stop points?
No I am lucky in this respect, I live out in the surry hills not far from Hindhead, so commute into Woking on the back roads. Only four sets of Traffic lights (all in the last 500 yards) I stop timing at the railway bridge in Woking as I don't want to take big risks through town.
Only two junctioned right turns - one in Elstead and one in Normandy
I often cycle the whole thing without unclipping.
My feelingis I lose the times on the climbs, I really burn the house down on the long straights into Woking (Normandy to Worplesden) There it is definitly legs - on the climbs it is lungs !
Gargamel said:
daz3210 said:
Could the beer gut have aero advantage? I mean a slab front as opposed to a nicely rounded front must be less aero.
I always assumed greater mass meant faster top end speed when descending Anyway weight has a slight EFFECT on top speed, because it AFFECTS the rolling resistance. I would think the effect on your climbs is far more relevant though. Look how much effort people go to knock 1kg off the weight of their bikes, never mind 10! I like the above idea of sticking 10kg in a ruacksack, and see how much time it adds to your route.
Also as above, I would be very happy with 20 miles in an hour on the flat, never mind a hilly route!
from the end - yes I know it doesn't really. Speed is often confused with energy. What boardman said it right. But at these speeds c/da (drag) is not such an issue. And 10kg won't change your body shape that vastly really, especially not if its all in your belly.
Hmm, should be possible? Would you mind posting the route? I used to live in Tilford, and would be interested to see which way you go. Very lucky to ride around there, bugger all traffic and a great mix of terrain.
As dangerous said, its likely that you just need to improve fitness and power.
Hmm, should be possible? Would you mind posting the route? I used to live in Tilford, and would be interested to see which way you go. Very lucky to ride around there, bugger all traffic and a great mix of terrain.
As dangerous said, its likely that you just need to improve fitness and power.
okgo said:
Hmm, should be possible? Would you mind posting the route? I used to live in Tilford, and would be interested to see which way you go. Very lucky to ride around there, bugger all traffic and a great mix of terrain.
I think this should work http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&am...
Route comes up a little shorter as I have only put the start line as The Crossways in Churt
Doesn't feel lucky when you are slogging up the hill to Hindhead ......
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