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Old 06-11-18 | 10:18 AM
  #150  
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DrIsotope
Non omnino gravis
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 8,552
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From: SoCal, USA!

Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu

Originally Posted by noglider
Hang on. How can more weight help going downhill? I don't get it.
Unless you're riding in the vacuum of space, I'm gonna go with gravity. Math isn't my forte by any means, but

Fnet = mg − fd(v)

where the total force accelerating the object downwards is the difference between the force of gravity and the drag force; in short, heavier things fall faster. The weight is (usually) enough to overcome the relative differential in drag-- that is, a lighter rider on a lighter bike produces more drag relative to the force gravity is exerting on them. In the real world, my rider + bike weight is about 50lbs greater than my wife's; unless she drafts me down a hill, I will just pull away from her the entire way down.
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