Originally Posted by
unbreakable
so i am getting started in cycling and dont really have anyone to bounce ideas off of yet...
OK so here are a couple of questions:
If your body only has so much energy for exertion available and an increase in speed is an exponential increase in wind drag then wouldnt it be most efficient to exert the most energy in climbs because you are going slower hence a more efficient use of energy available? so its better to hit hills harder and downhill not so hard in the general sense?
I dont really understand power vs position - if you are on the bars then more power is available then in the drops? So if you have a strong wind on your back like your doing 20mph and cant feel much wind resistance... then you should be on the bars to increase power and maximize the wind hitting you in the back?
I'll try to answer these questions as best as I can.
On your first question, while that would make sense, that's not necessarily how it goes. As one poster already stated, you have to account for the increase of force required when going up inclines. Also, wind resistance becomes increasingly negligible as your speed decreases, which is almost always the case when climbing. If you've ever (or will ever) watch a professional bike race, you'll see that in a road race, with the exception of the solo or small breakaway, there is a mass of riders grouped together until the very finish,
except on the climbs.
On your second question, you have it a little mixed up. A rider's position does not necessarily increase or decrease power; it changes how it's used. A large factor for this plays into your first question; a "flatter" back when going "at speed" (let's say about 20+ mph) significantly helps "cheat" the wind by creating a better aerodynamic profile, decreasing wind resistance and decreasing power output. On the other hand, a more relaxed position creates something of a wall moving against the wind, meaning that the rider will need more power to "fight" it.
BTW, I think that it's good to think about these questions, especially if you get more serious into the sport. These, among many others, are issues that pose challenging problems, especially for those that race. If you really want to learn more specifics about cycling, then take a look at how the geometry of a frame affects the rider or the comparisons between cycling materials. The latter might lead you into an introduction of materials science, which is a great study.
Have fun!