Dr Jeremy Groves is an idiot

[accountantpete]

He seems to have a crazed notion that old fashioned steel bikes which weigh a ton are somehow the equal of a nice lightweight modern bike.

see link here.

 

[Theseus]

When commuting your average speed is determined by the number of traffic lights you encounter.

 

[John the Monkey]

A commute on my SCR2.0 is about 1-2mph quicker than a commute on my Surly Long haul Trucker.

I'm now going to present my experience as an ironclad rule of cycling, and get published by the Daily Mail.

 

[downfader]

If his journey is mostly downhill gradients and short climbs it may be that a heavier bike imparts more momentum over a given period, too.

I dont think one bloke means evidence. There are so, so many factors to take on board. My personal experience of carbon is not that its about speed but comfort (where the carbon absorbs some of the road shock, interestingly steel does this quite well too, but aluminium not so great)

 

[ColinJ]

There are so, so many factors to take on board. My personal experience of carbon is not that its about speed but comfort (where the carbon absorbs some of the road shock, interestingly steel does this quite well too, but aluminium not so great)

My steel-framed Basso is no more comfortable than my aluminium Cannondale - they are both very uncomfortable on rough roads if I pump my tyres above 100 psi and acceptable if I don't. Admittedly, the Basso tubing is over-size (for steel) so it is probably stiffer than most steel frames, though nowhere near as laterally stiff as the Cannondale.

 

[downfader]

My steel-framed Basso is no more comfortable than my aluminium Cannondale - they are both very uncomfortable on rough roads if I pump my tyres above 100 psi and acceptable if I don't. Admittedly, the Basso tubing is over-size (for steel) so it is probably stiffer than most steel frames, though nowhere near as laterally stiff as the Cannondale.

At times that can depend on geometry and steel type used, too. The top end steel frames I've seen are VERY nice. I dribble at the prospect of an Enigma or Hewitt steel frame for that very reason.

 

[mgarl10024]

If his journey is mostly downhill gradients and short climbs it may be that a heavier bike imparts more momentum over a given period, too.

oh - now you've stumbled into a world of physics that I don't fully understand.
As I see it, a heavier (let's say cyclist, not bike) cyclist, will reach the bottom of a hill at the same time as a skinny cyclist (think of the weight and the feather hitting the surface of the moon at the same time).
However, the larger cyclist speeding down and then at the bottom of the hill will have more momentum and more kinetic energy (even though will be travelling at the same speed).

Therefore, he wont get home any quicker because his bike is heavier and it's going down a hill.

If anything, his legs can only supply so much energy, and given that a lesser mass takes less energy to get moving, on the flat, the same energy applied to a lighter bike will mean that he'll go quicker.

(cue jimbolee to correct my physics... )

 

[ColinJ]

oh - now you've stumbled into a world of physics that I don't fully understand.
As I see it, a heavier (let's say cyclist, not bike) cyclist, will reach the bottom of a hill at the same time as a skinny cyclist (think of the weight and the feather hitting the surface of the moon at the same time).

Absolutely incorrect!  The reason that works on the moon is that there is no atmosphere. Once there is air, you get the concept of terminal velocity. The terminal velocity of a feather is very low, that of a cannonball isn't!

The force acting on a bike plus its rider down the slope of a hill is proportional to their combined mass, whereas the main force slowing the combination down is wind resistance which is proportional to their combined frontal area. As a cyclist gets heavier, his/her surface area increases only slightly for large increases in mass, therefore heavier cyclists can naturally go downhill faster. (I'm talking about simple fast descents, not technical ones where skill is required.)

I've been proving that on forum rides over the past couple of years. We have hills round here up to 6 miles in length and I can't keep up with skinny CC riders going uphill but I can often overtake them on descents without even pedalling!

A great example of that was on a holiday on the Costa Blanca a few years back. I was grovelling up a huge hill when a skinny female cyclist shot past me about a kilometre from the summit. When I finally got to the top, I could see her way ahead of me on the descent. I set off in pursuit and caught her up by the time she was half way down. I overtook her at 50 mph, barely even pedalling. I looked back and her legs were spinning round at a ridiculously high cadence and she couldn't get close to me. When the road flattened off, I slowed down and she finally caught up and asked how that was possible. She'd been spinning out in her highest gear. I asked how much she weighed and her weight was 7 stone. I weighed about 13.5 stone at the time...

 

[downfader]

Actually I was meaning he's gonna find it harder to brake going downhill. Mwahaha!

 

[Paulus]

Why was this article by a cycling doctor, about bikes, and not medical issues published in the BMJ anyway. This article has nothing to do with medicine, science or anything that could be tried or tested on his own?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

That's quite a good article. And the important bit is:

"Which do I enjoy riding most? Well, after the trial I have to go for the steel bike. I get there as quickly, and it is more comfortable, better value, and has more 'character.'

Personally, I find modern bikes ugly and utterly uninteresting, and would go for an old fashioned steel thing every time. If the man enjoys riding his fifty quid steel hack more than his £1000 tupperware rocket, that's great. After all, enjoyment's what it's all about.

 

[downfader]

That's quite a good article. And the important bit is:



Personally, I find modern bikes ugly and utterly uninteresting, and would go for an old fashioned steel thing every time. If the man enjoys riding his fifty quid steel hack more than his £1000 tupperware rocket, that's great. After all, enjoyment's what it's all about.

Reminds me of what Mike Rubbo said about sit up and begs.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Reminds me of what Mike Rubbo said about sit up and begs.

'Oo's 'e?

 

[dellzeqq]

don't we know this chap?

 

[Coco]

When commuting your average speed is determined by the number of traffic lights you encounter.

+1 or that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it