Originally Posted by wfin2004
Do you guys,and ladies, get the speed out of those tandems by the fact that those bikes are a, no offense, "heavier mass"? I have been on some pretty steep hills and have a problem getting anything over 30 mph. But that is a mountain bike though. Maybe I need some bigger hills or carry some bags of concrete on the way down.
Greater mass + the same things that make a personal bike go downhill fast...
1. Tires with low rolling resistance will net you a few mph
2. Tight fitting, aerodynamic cycling apparel will net you a few mph
3. Big gears (54t x 11t) will propel you well into the 40+ mph range and net you a few mph
4. Heavier Mass will indeed help to a point** and net you a few mph
5. An aerodynamically efficient riding position + all of the above will net you a bunch of mph...
**If there's too much mass you miss out on the full aero advantage
6. And last but not least is having "the need for speed"... which is what separates the "insanely fast" descenders who only touch their brakes as a last resort, from the very fast descenders who cover the brakes, to the pretty fast descenders who sit-up and catch the wind and brake before each turn, from the folks who like having and use drag brakes.