Originally Posted by
john m flores
How exactly is a supple, planing frame supposed to "return power"? What exactly is "returning power"? Is the flexing of the frame resulting in the crank rotating? After all, rotating the crank is the only way to generate power that propels the bike and rider forward.
Also, in this age of marginal gains down to the height of socks and the size of helmets, don't you think if planing was a thing, that Ineos, Visma, UAE, and others would be incorporating it into their bikes ?
That's simply not true. Stand on the pedals with the front brake locked, lock the rear and get off the pedals. Now release the front brake then the rear. Bike travels forward because it stored energy.
Several bikes are known for doing this very obviously in corners. And that's just one way a spring (frame) can store energy and deliver it later.