C
Cletus D . Lee
Guest
Yesterday on my way home from work, I stopped of for groceries. I had me Giro with 3 panniers.
Coming from work I had one loaded as usual with clothes (about 8 lbs) Also on board were two empty
panniers on the rear rack. They were flat. About the best speed I could manage was ~18 mph. After
visiting the grocery, I filled the two rear panniers (40L) with what I estimate was about 40 lbs of
Milk, canned goods and fruit and vegetables including a Cantaloupe. The bike was noticeablyy heavier
as I rolled it from the bike rack into the parking lot. I turned in to the street filled at rush
hour. Traffic was moving at about 40 mph. I had one lane out of three so, I was not concerned with
the bumper to bumper 40 mph traffic. I cranked the Giro up to cruising speed and could feel the load
on the bike. I glanced at my speedometer and noticed that I was cruising almost effortlessly at 23
mph. Not only that, with the additional mass, I could pretty much hold 23 mph all the way home.
Why was the heavier bike faster? Same bike, same engine, maybe even a little less aero with the
full panniers.
--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager http://www.clee.org
- Bellaire, TX USA -
Coming from work I had one loaded as usual with clothes (about 8 lbs) Also on board were two empty
panniers on the rear rack. They were flat. About the best speed I could manage was ~18 mph. After
visiting the grocery, I filled the two rear panniers (40L) with what I estimate was about 40 lbs of
Milk, canned goods and fruit and vegetables including a Cantaloupe. The bike was noticeablyy heavier
as I rolled it from the bike rack into the parking lot. I turned in to the street filled at rush
hour. Traffic was moving at about 40 mph. I had one lane out of three so, I was not concerned with
the bumper to bumper 40 mph traffic. I cranked the Giro up to cruising speed and could feel the load
on the bike. I glanced at my speedometer and noticed that I was cruising almost effortlessly at 23
mph. Not only that, with the additional mass, I could pretty much hold 23 mph all the way home.
Why was the heavier bike faster? Same bike, same engine, maybe even a little less aero with the
full panniers.
--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager http://www.clee.org
- Bellaire, TX USA -