A Cycling & bikes forum. CycleBanter.com

Go Back   Home » CycleBanter.com forum » rec.bicycles » Techniques
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old July 22nd 05, 08:43 PM
Bruce W.1
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight? In other words, would
riding a bicycle that's five pounds lighter be the same as losing five
pounds off of your body weight?

There's an old Army saying; one pound on your foot (boot weight) is
equivalent to five pounds on your back. But I'm not sure what this has
to do with anything.

Thanks for your help.
Ads
  #2  
Old July 22nd 05, 08:48 PM
wle
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

there may be some difference between
rotating weight and non-rotating.

i e, wheels may matter more because they accelerate differently.

other than that, it should all be 'a pound is a pound'.

at least 1 lb more anywhere is a lb you have to move up a hill, and
accelerate from a stop.

no wait, i thought of another kind of weight - sprung [you]
vs unsprung [the bike].

if you get off the saddle for bumps, the bike will
'hit harder' if it;s heavier.

if you don;t get up, it;s all unsprung.

wle.

  #3  
Old July 22nd 05, 08:56 PM
Eric Hill
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

wle wrote:
there may be some difference between
rotating weight and non-rotating.

i e, wheels may matter more because they accelerate differently.


The rule of thumb that I've been told goes, "an ounce off the wheels
equals a pound off the frame."



other than that, it should all be 'a pound is a pound'.

at least 1 lb more anywhere is a lb you have to move up a hill, and
accelerate from a stop.

no wait, i thought of another kind of weight - sprung [you]
vs unsprung [the bike].

if you get off the saddle for bumps, the bike will
'hit harder' if it;s heavier.

if you don;t get up, it;s all unsprung.

wle.

  #4  
Old July 22nd 05, 09:13 PM
Bill Sornson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

Bruce W.1 wrote:
Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight? In other words, would
riding a bicycle that's five pounds lighter be the same as losing five
pounds off of your body weight?


Dead weight "weighs" more than live weight.

{pause}

That should keep Fogel busy all weekend!

eg


  #5  
Old July 22nd 05, 09:20 PM
Zog The Undeniable
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

Bruce W.1 wrote:

Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?


No. When climbing, possibly, but in handling terms a lighter bike is
always better. Taken to extremes, the heavy rider/light bike
combination is much easier to bunnyhop.
  #6  
Old July 22nd 05, 09:28 PM
Ron Ruff
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

Bruce W.1 wrote:
Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight? In other words, would
riding a bicycle that's five pounds lighter be the same as losing five
pounds off of your body weight?

The only time when a part of the bike weight is more significant is
when accelerating. Then the weight of rims and tires (and a fraction of
the spoke weight) is twice the effect of weight elsewhere. All other
weight in all other conditions can be considered the same (unless you
wish to be very precise). I'm just refering to locomotion... if you are
riding trials or technical MTB, then a light bike could be more of a
factor.

BTW, weight is quite important when climbing and accelerating, but not
on the flat at a steady speed.

There's an old Army saying; one pound on your foot (boot weight) is
equivalent to five pounds on your back. But I'm not sure what this has
to do with anything.

I don't know if that 5 to 1 ratio is correct (surely it would vary
depending on grade), but cycling is not the same as walking. When
walking you have to pick up your foot to take each step, and that
energy is lost, but when cycling the effect of heavy shoes/pedals
cancels out (the loss of picking one up is balanced by the gain of the
other pushing down).

-Ron

  #7  
Old July 22nd 05, 09:38 PM
Arthur Harris
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

"Eric Hill" wrote:

wle wrote:
there may be some difference between
rotating weight and non-rotating.

i e, wheels may matter more because they accelerate differently.


The rule of thumb that I've been told goes, "an ounce off the wheels
equals a pound off the frame."


Oh, it's getting even better! The old saying used to be: An ounce off the
wheels equals two ounces off the frame.

But it really isn't. For reasonable wheels and tires, and typical
accelerations, an ounce is an ounce regardless where it is. And yes, losing
5 pounds off your body is the same as getting a 5 pound lighter bike (but a
lot cheaper!).

Art Harris


  #8  
Old July 22nd 05, 10:12 PM
C
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

In article ,
Bruce W.1 wrote:
Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight? In other words, would
riding a bicycle that's five pounds lighter be the same as losing five
pounds off of your body weight?


Depends on where the 5 pounds comes off your body. If you lose muscle
as well as fat, then you are losing strength.
  #9  
Old July 22nd 05, 10:18 PM
Eric Hill
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

Arthur Harris wrote:
"Eric Hill" wrote:


wle wrote:

there may be some difference between
rotating weight and non-rotating.

i e, wheels may matter more because they accelerate differently.


The rule of thumb that I've been told goes, "an ounce off the wheels
equals a pound off the frame."



Oh, it's getting even better! The old saying used to be: An ounce off the
wheels equals two ounces off the frame.


Hey now, it's time for the new saying to take over. It's much more
impressive!

-eric



But it really isn't. For reasonable wheels and tires, and typical
accelerations, an ounce is an ounce regardless where it is. And yes, losing
5 pounds off your body is the same as getting a 5 pound lighter bike (but a
lot cheaper!).

Art Harris


  #10  
Old July 22nd 05, 10:54 PM
John Forrest Tomlinson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight?

On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 19:43:48 GMT, "Bruce W.1"
wrote:

Is body weight equivalent to bicycle weight? In other words, would
riding a bicycle that's five pounds lighter be the same as losing five
pounds off of your body weight?


Weight on your body can mean different things -- it can be muscle that
propels you or fat that you carry around and feeds you. Or even water
that is necessary for life.

JT

****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bicycleism Bicycleism Social Issues 1 July 19th 05 01:58 PM
Children should wear bicycle helmets. John Doe UK 516 December 16th 04 01:04 AM
Rec.Bicycles Frequently Asked Questions Posting Part 1/5 Mike Iglesias General 4 October 29th 04 07:11 AM
aus.bicycle FAQ kingsley Australia 4 December 15th 03 12:08 AM
Reports from Sweden Garry Jones General 17 October 14th 03 05:23 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CycleBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.