Are fat people faster downhill?
09-11-14, 04:56 AM
#26
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Gravity works both ways...
I ride with my cousin...who is much heavier than I am. I am 6', 175...he is 6' 3", 250. He bombs downhills and I can't keep up with him, even when I'm spun out.
When the hill turns the other way however, I walk right past him.
it is what it is...
I ride with my cousin...who is much heavier than I am. I am 6', 175...he is 6' 3", 250. He bombs downhills and I can't keep up with him, even when I'm spun out.
When the hill turns the other way however, I walk right past him.
it is what it is...
09-11-14, 07:24 AM
#28
I got 99 problems....
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The good thing is that if you get passed by a bunch of fat people on a climb, at least you know there is a buffet waiting at the top.
09-11-14, 07:56 AM
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What about on the moon? Who will have the advantage on the upcoming Tour De Lunar?
09-11-14, 07:59 AM
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We can still get into why a 10 kilogram lead ball really will fall faster than a 10 kilogram foam ball, even in a vacuum. Or the fat guy on the moon having more rolling resistance and falling behind. Not that it would make him wrong about any of that.
09-11-14, 07:59 AM
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Solo, OTB. You ain't catching a group that's riding hard.
09-11-14, 08:10 AM
#33
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Laughed at the 2nd post.
I'll throw in my two cents that heavier riders have more momentum.
Two riders on identical bikes, are the same relatively the same size, but one weighs 50kg and the other weighs 60kg. Since it's harder to lose that momentum once gained from forces like drag. You maintain your speed whilst pedaling easier as well because you have more kinetic energy. Then... gravity tells you to slow down.
I'm 5'10 at 85kg (186lbs) of lots more muscle and bone than other rides at my height. I usually do the "catching up" routine.
I'll throw in my two cents that heavier riders have more momentum.
Two riders on identical bikes, are the same relatively the same size, but one weighs 50kg and the other weighs 60kg. Since it's harder to lose that momentum once gained from forces like drag. You maintain your speed whilst pedaling easier as well because you have more kinetic energy. Then... gravity tells you to slow down.
I'm 5'10 at 85kg (186lbs) of lots more muscle and bone than other rides at my height. I usually do the "catching up" routine.
09-11-14, 08:34 AM
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Most Champions are 145 to 170lb.
So there ya go.
I don't race officially but everytime someone tries to pass me its on ...
Road riding/racing is power vs weight, at 265 i wont be winning any "Major Awards".
FWIW in 9th grade football i weighed 200lbs and wore mens size clothes.
Last edited by CNC2204; 09-11-14 at 08:41 AM.
09-11-14, 08:45 AM
#35
aka Timi
Are fat people faster downhill?
Gets to the point where the fat guy is so wide the air resistance is insurmountable!
Oh, and the reaon we skinny guys don't pass you going down hills is 'cos you're blocking the whole darn road!
Oh, and the reaon we skinny guys don't pass you going down hills is 'cos you're blocking the whole darn road!
09-11-14, 01:56 PM
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a bicycle is a machine, it's not the same as falling
09-11-14, 03:19 PM
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Sean Yates was an amazing descender. Many times, he was able to make up deficits lost on the climbs. I think turns and twists equalizes many of the advantages gained by being heavier.
09-11-14, 03:43 PM
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Not that there won't be someone coming here to note that all things fall at the same rate (in a vacuum) therefore this can't possibly be true. Then I'll be forced to show the math showing a heavy person will indeed fall faster than a lighter person. People will then utterly fail to understand the math (most won't even look at it and half of those who do won't understand because: algebra) and argue non-stop that feathers fall at the same rate as a hammer on the moon, which, of course, is a total non sequitur because air resistance is the whole reason why things top out at a terminal speed rather than accelerate faster and faster and faster and faster and thus to leave it out is like leaving the sausage out of a hotdog or the beef out of a hamburger: you don't have a hotdog or a hamburger anymore, you just have bread.
Curious to know how aero vs. weight factors. Basically, can someone skinnier attain a higher speed by aerodynamic properties?
09-11-14, 04:26 PM
#39
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Can we be more politically correct and change the title of the thread to read "Are pleasingly plump people faster downhill?"
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09-11-14, 04:26 PM
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09-11-14, 04:29 PM
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FWIW, my road racing experience is quite limited. But back in the late 90's I was in a Cat IV road race in California where I decided to do a one person breakaway because 'things felt slow'. This worked for about 5 miles when the peloton caught me. And I somehow failed to catch the wheel of anyone in the peloton, so there I was trying to catch up (and failing).
A few miles later we ran into a moderate climb (I was a decent climber by Cat IV standards) and I was within a few hundred yards of the back of the peloton approaching the end of the climb (non-trivial downhill next). I was passing a really big guy quite close to the peak (this guy was BIG - not fat - BIG). On going by him he said "grab my wheel - those guys have no idea. So I slowed down and caught his wheel. I was amazed at how quickly we caught the folks ahead of us.
dave
A few miles later we ran into a moderate climb (I was a decent climber by Cat IV standards) and I was within a few hundred yards of the back of the peloton approaching the end of the climb (non-trivial downhill next). I was passing a really big guy quite close to the peak (this guy was BIG - not fat - BIG). On going by him he said "grab my wheel - those guys have no idea. So I slowed down and caught his wheel. I was amazed at how quickly we caught the folks ahead of us.
dave
09-11-14, 04:30 PM
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09-11-14, 04:33 PM
#43
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The correct title is not "pleasantly plump" or "BMI Challenged" or "Fat" or "Big" the correct title is "Gravitationally Gifted"!
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09-11-14, 04:39 PM
#44
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FWIW, my road racing experience is quite limited. But back in the late 90's I was in a Cat IV road race in California where I decided to do a one person breakaway because 'things felt slow'. This worked for about 5 miles when the peloton caught me. And I somehow failed to catch the wheel of anyone in the peloton, so there I was trying to catch up (and failing).
A few miles later we ran into a moderate climb (I was a decent climber by Cat IV standards) and I was within a few hundred yards of the back of the peloton approaching the end of the climb (non-trivial downhill next). I was passing a really big guy quite close to the peak (this guy was BIG - not fat - BIG). On going by him he said "grab my wheel - those guys have no idea. So I slowed down and caught his wheel. I was amazed at how quickly we caught the folks ahead of us.
dave
A few miles later we ran into a moderate climb (I was a decent climber by Cat IV standards) and I was within a few hundred yards of the back of the peloton approaching the end of the climb (non-trivial downhill next). I was passing a really big guy quite close to the peak (this guy was BIG - not fat - BIG). On going by him he said "grab my wheel - those guys have no idea. So I slowed down and caught his wheel. I was amazed at how quickly we caught the folks ahead of us.
dave
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Birth Certificate, Passport, Marriage License Driver's License and Residency Permit all say I'm a Fred. I guess there's no denying it.
Birth Certificate, Passport, Marriage License Driver's License and Residency Permit all say I'm a Fred. I guess there's no denying it.
09-11-14, 04:39 PM
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09-11-14, 06:18 PM
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Not that there won't be someone coming here to note that all things fall at the same rate (in a vacuum) therefore this can't possibly be true. Then I'll be forced to show the math showing a heavy person will indeed fall faster than a lighter person. People will then utterly fail to understand the math (most won't even look at it and half of those who do won't understand because: algebra) and argue non-stop that feathers fall at the same rate as a hammer on the moon, which, of course, is a total non sequitur because air resistance is the whole reason why things top out at a terminal speed rather than accelerate faster and faster and faster and faster and thus to leave it out is like leaving the sausage out of a hotdog or the beef out of a hamburger: you don't have a hotdog or a hamburger anymore, you just have bread.
09-11-14, 06:23 PM
#48
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09-11-14, 06:28 PM
#49
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Sure. Just be sure to pre-set it at the top, before the ride. That way you don't have to carry it up the hill.
09-11-14, 06:35 PM
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I hit 49 going down a monster hill in Tennessee. I’m not fat but I’m not skinny either and I’ll whoop y'all's ass with gravity on my side.
Up the hill… I’d be fine, just toss me some tissues and a few baby wipes on the way by.
Up the hill… I’d be fine, just toss me some tissues and a few baby wipes on the way by.