Originally Posted by
Bob Dopolina
Ok. Now tell me where this 'potential energy' is stored on the climb? In my waterbottle? In the Tesla thingamgiggie I have in my seat tube? In my laterally stiff but vertically compliant frame? Where?
Oh yeah, what happened to the wind resitance theory you mentioned?
This is gibberish.
Again, sir, you are laughing at something which you simply fail to comprehend.
If you would be so kind as to do some research about the subject "potential energy" before mocking me about it.
Funnily, "potential energy" is often taught in highschools by using the example of a bike and a hill
Potential energy and wind resistance isn't the whole story, ofcourse.
Obviously climbs can slow a person down by such a rate that one climb can take longer than the whole course would take when flat.
In that case it is indeed impossible to make it up on the descent regardless of air resistance.
This is dependent on the climb itself and on the maximum aerobic (and especially anaerobic for short steep climbs) power output of the rider.