Happy New Year

Comments (3)

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  Eli Torgeson

  Jan, does the same reasoning hold true for suspension losses generated by the rider? An example might be climbing a steep gradient while in the standing position. The variability of force exerted during the pedal stroke by the rider is causing the hysteresis. Suspension losses might be low to minimal in such an instance? Another example might be during the early part of a sprint. Thanks. Eli

  January 3, 2019 at 4:46 am
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    Jan Heine, Editor, Bicycle Quarterly

    Suspension losses probably depend on the rider. I can imagine that a rider who pedals hard has different (lower?) suspension losses than a rider who coasts. After all, you feel the discomfort of vibrations differently, and the U.S. Army study showed that discomfort equals energy loss.
    As you mention, a rider who’s out of the saddle doesn’t vibrate as much. I never thought about whether this reduces suspension losses. It would be hard to test, as we can’t measure the suspension losses directly, and riding out of the saddle also increases wind resistance… but it would be interesting to compare power output at the same speed both sitting and standing, on the rumble strips and on the smooth pavement next to the rumble strips. With those four measurements, we should be able to get an idea.

    January 3, 2019 at 4:53 am
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  Oreste Drapaca

  Happy New Year to all at Compass Cycles, Bicycle Quarterly, and Off the Beaten Path !

  January 4, 2019 at 4:17 pm

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