Originally Posted by
BlazingPedals
My experience parallels downtube's and steamer's. If a bent rider can keep up with the uprights on climbs, it's because he's stronger; and as a consequence riding with uprights means loafing on the flats and riding the brakes on downhills. If the bent rider merely 'keeps up' with uprights on flats, he's probably weaker overall, in which case he'll get dropped on climbs. Same-strength means loafing a little to stay back with the uprights on the flats, and working hard and probably getting gapped on climbs (but hopefully catching up before the next climb.)
The hillier the terrain, the more the bent rider will be alone.
This.
Assuming a good climbing 'bent, that means if he matches on the climb up, he'll not working too hard on the flats and really riding the brakes on the way down. If it isn't a good climbing 'bent, this difference only gets worse.