Originally Posted by
PeteHski
The fact that some of the mass is rotating is not even worth talking about in respect of climbing performance. Only the total mass makes any real difference on a slope, governed by trivial Newtonian physics. Whether or not it is rotating is almost irrelevant in this respect.
If you are riding at a constant speed up the hill then the inertial energy stored in the wheels is also a constant (since they are spinning at a constant speed). So it's all really just about the total mass and gravity acting on it vs the pedal force. Lighter wheels help climbing simply because they are lighter, regardless of their rotational inertia.
Yes, Inertial energy is determined by the velocity (and mass) of the entire mass, but not a 'constant'...
why ? By Definition 'climbing' is a change in vector, hence 'Acceleration'
Mind Experiment (which could be done in 'reality).
So, maintaining same air and rolling resistance, same equipment/rider, you ride to a set velocity (speed) , on 'flat', stop pedaling, you will coast a certain time/distance...
same air and rolling resistance, same equipment/rider, you go on an up-slope and stop pedaling at the same velocity, you will coast a shorter time/distance...
going upslope is 'acceleration' - the inertial energy is dissipated/used faster, over a shorter time, which also determines distance... Gravitational acceleration.
The pull (acceleration) of gravity is a 'Constant' during all this, but when you 'climb' you are changing the 'vector' and now needing to overcome the 'acceleration of gravity'.
an example of calculation of this - lifting a 35kg object 1/2 meter... I'm lazy and the calculations are all done here:
How much work does it take to lift a 35 kg weight 1/2 m ?
I expect measurement or calculation of inertial stored energy will be spectacularly well below what is needed to climb 1 meter of road elevation.
rotational mass... is then also affected by gravity, - "
the rotational inertia of an object depends on its mass. It also depends on the distribution of that mass relative to the axis of rotation." more on this here: What is rotational inertia?
Anyway, differences in rotating masses are also involved in the gravitational effect.
Th
Yuri