Fatter tires, worth the trouble?
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What are you an engineer? Oversimplification is the heart of physics.
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Clipless or not, a 55-65 pound (including load) long wheelbase commuter with 20-30 pounds in a rear pannier is not easily bunny-hopped, but is very well suited for commuting.
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Edit: Already pointed out.
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I would just like to point out that F=ma. In other words, a=F/m. Meaning, to achieve the same level of acceleration, more mass requires more force.
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This equation makes sense if you look at my FBD posted above:
a = g*sin(theta) - Fdrag/m + Fpedaler/m
The hard part is figuring out what Fdrag is. Air resistance, rolling resistance and other drag forces are fairly complex subjects and the mass has an effect on the rolling resistance and other drag forces. (Also, Fpedaler isn't really the amount of force the pedaler is transmitting into the pedals, but that's another complex subject.)
Disregarding resistances, yes, mass doesn't matter when maintaining velocity. Accounting for resistances... heck if I know.
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For maintaining a speed on level ground, weight doesn't matter, only surface area. At the same speed with two bikes identical in every way, except weight, the air resistance on each is identical, and that's the primary resistive force to be overcome.
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So then what's all this hubbub over rolling resistance about?
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The big problem with disregarding the extra effort of accelerating a heavy bike and rider up to speed is that unlike ideal machines used in force calculations, human legs have a nasty habit of experiencing fatigue and so that initial extra effort has a way of staying with you, especially in commuting situations where you stop and start a lot.
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It depends on how slow. I've been passed by a guy with a flat tire in a cyclocross race.
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Does no one else encounter brick roads or gravel on their way to work?
The fastest tire is the one that's right for the job at hand. In racing, a more narrow tire is suitable, though thay have gone from ~18c t0 ~25c in the past 30 years, so that's something. For commuting, the variables are endless and so the "fastest" tire (if that matters to you when commuting) will depend on the route you take to work.
The fastest tire is the one that's right for the job at hand. In racing, a more narrow tire is suitable, though thay have gone from ~18c t0 ~25c in the past 30 years, so that's something. For commuting, the variables are endless and so the "fastest" tire (if that matters to you when commuting) will depend on the route you take to work.
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