Originally Posted by
Brian Ratliff
This is a bit tougher problem because there are significant secondary effects. On first glance though, at the same speed/same corner, a heavier person needs proportionally more cornering force as the lighter person. However, the heavier person has proportionally higher traction as well. First order estimate: it's a wash.
That said, a heavier person is also less affected by surface irregularities while the lighter person doesn't have to "groove" as hard into the corner (they can change their cornering path more easily) because they have less momentum. The heavier person doesn't bounce around as much and can push closer to the edge of traction. Whereas the lighter person's wheels will start chattering as they approach the edge of traction, the heavier person's wheels will be stuck to the ground right up until they wash out.
All in all, I think it will be the case that the heavier person can corner somewhat faster, but the lighter person has somewhat more margin for error.
your "heavier = more traction" doesnt make sense. In all motorsport, being heavier does not mean you can go around corners faster. In the bicycle world, being light means I can brake later than a heavier rider and with the right tire pressures, have the same traction as a heavier rider because its not the riders weight that makes the traction between tire and asphalt, its the cornering force and speed that creates this force.
Even if I am getting the terminology wrong here, in all motorsports, lighter is faster. Faster braking, faster accelleration and faster in cornering--think of it this way, in all forms of motorsport, including motorcycle racing, if what you think is true then teams would be making heavier MotoGp motorcycles or heavier F1 cars, but this just isnt the reality.
if I weigh 50lbs less than you, I can go into a corner faster and end up with the same traction as you going around X kph slower, simply because all your mass is working against you.
your thinking makes me think of people who think their heavy suv will stop or corner better than a light car, they have the same impression as you, but its not the case.