Bike Acceleration - Which material accelerates fast?
03-11-17, 06:38 PM
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Bike Acceleration - Which material accelerates fast?
Some bikes when you really step on the pedal you can feel the acceleration immediately. Some bikes when you really step on the pedal the acceleration is not there. Which bike materials have this immediate acceleration feeling? Which steel does and/or does not have this acceleration feeling? I am speaking of anything from road bikes to hybrid bikes to light touring bikes to touring bikes.
03-11-17, 06:41 PM
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My titanium Litespeed accelerates as fast as my 72 y/o legs can get it to go.
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I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
03-11-17, 06:42 PM
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I think your assumption that it is the "material" is incorrect.
03-11-17, 07:25 PM
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It is wholly dependent on the type of lube you use on your chain whip.
03-11-17, 07:27 PM
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03-11-17, 07:33 PM
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9 is the largest single digit number - bike with 9-speed cassette has a natural born advantage in acceleration effects. What was the question?
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03-11-17, 07:55 PM
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Tachyon composite material would be the fastest. But it would blow up even more than carbon.
03-11-17, 09:15 PM
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03-11-17, 09:42 PM
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Hitting the concrete street with my face has the greatest acceleration in my experience.
Probably my least favorite immediate acceleration feeling though.
Probably my least favorite immediate acceleration feeling though.
03-11-17, 09:44 PM
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Muscle accelerates faster than fat.
(Posted while sitting on the couch eating cookies.....burp)
(Posted while sitting on the couch eating cookies.....burp)
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03-11-17, 09:47 PM
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03-11-17, 10:16 PM
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Indeed. This is especially the case since your total "m" includes your body mass, not just the bike. I've lost 25 pounds since last January, which is equal to the entire weight of my bike.
03-11-17, 10:19 PM
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There are two components here: One is which material makes the frame lightest. That would be carbon fiber composite. The second is how efficiently the frame transmits your leg's force to the wheels. Again, carbon fiber would win that contest. There's a reason why the TdF guys ride carbon.
03-11-17, 10:39 PM
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Rocket fuel.....
And design, weight, stiffness, gearing....all that boring engineery stuff. I'll stick with rocket fuel!
And design, weight, stiffness, gearing....all that boring engineery stuff. I'll stick with rocket fuel!
03-12-17, 12:03 AM
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Some bikes when you really step on the pedal you can feel the acceleration immediately. Some bikes when you really step on the pedal the acceleration is not there. Which bike materials have this immediate acceleration feeling? Which steel does and/or does not have this acceleration feeling? I am speaking of anything from road bikes to hybrid bikes to light touring bikes to touring bikes.
But I'm a lightweight, so bike weight effects me more than it would a heavier rider. For the same reason, I've never felt any "flex" due to frame material, or any failure to transmit my power to the road. Total weight and tire rolling resistance is what I notice.
Bike weight matters even less for heavy riders.
Last edited by AlmostTrick; 03-12-17 at 12:06 AM.
03-12-17, 05:40 AM
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Anybody seen a bike computer with a self-contained accelerometer?
03-12-17, 06:40 AM
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Gearing and torque are what "accelerates" you
03-12-17, 08:35 AM
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Good point. And yes, I'm pretty sure everyone is only basing their opinion on "feel", not actual results. So yeah, not very accurate or scientific.