"Colorado Bicycler" <
[email protected]> wrote in
news:
[email protected]:
> Thanks for the input.
>
> But, even going down familiar hills, where I am not pedaling, the whole
> thing goes slower! I know this because I keep pretty good track of my
> coasting downhill speeds.
>
I've got a 4% grade hill on one end of my circuit and a lower 3% on the
other, and I've noted a general decrease in top speed going down the taller
hill where the effects of air resistance would be most pronounced. About
29mph where 32mph was normal, in a repeatable manner. That's about 10%.
That's in ~40 degree vs ~80 degree temperatures, pedalling all the way,
with intermediate points showing about the same for both temperatures
(i.e., I pass the 10mph, 21mph points about the same place regardless of
temperature). I go over a 1.44 mile circuit for multiple laps, but even
then the differences seem to be beyond normal variability. When the
temperatures drop I rarely get over 30mph by the bottom, while 32mph is
routine. It's a 30mph zone so I don't feel too bad being +/- 10% of the
limit, and that's why I notice the speed.
I'd also submit that the effect of slight breezes are more pronounced.