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**Tom Sherman[_2_]** · August 5th 08, 02:20 AM posted to rec.bicycles.tech,alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent

wrote:
The key is to remember that aerodynamic resistance increases with the
square of the rider's airspeed. Therefore, for average club riders, both
upright and recumbent riders will be going slowly enough that rolling
resistance and mechanical losses in the drive train will dominate, which
favors the upright. However, with a professional level rider putting out
400W on a climb, speeds become high enough that aerodynamics does
matter, even on a relatively steep climb, and an upright rider out of
the saddle is not very aerodynamic. Is the aerodynamic advantage of the
recumbent at very high rider output levels enough to compensate for the
advantages of the upright? I do not know, and more importantly, neither
does anyone else.

Seems like the aerodynamic advantage is really a disadvantage during
training. So, the recumbent riders training for the race, would use a
method of reducing the aerodynamic advantage by adding wind
resistance, like putting up a small parachute/sail on the bike that
increased drag. Then, their physical reserve would be the same as a
diamond frame rider, by not having the drag of the sail during the
actual race. This would be like a runner training with a 40 lb. back
pack and then not having the back pack during an actual race.

If upright cyclists train with heavy bicycles, it is rare.

The important thing is to train with people who are slightly faster, so
you are always pushing yourself. This can be accomplished by finding
faster riders or a slower bicycle.

Riding with a pack of uprights on a Velokraft NoCom will not provide
nearly the workout as doing the same ride on a Sun EZ-1 SC.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
“Mary had a little lamb / And when she saw it sicken /
She shipped it off to Packingtown / And now it’s labeled chicken.”