Weight variable in TT’s???

[allanw]

Assuming the event is a 40k flat TT how much advantage/disadvantage does weight play? Does a bigger rider (200lbs) have an edge on a smaller rider (140lbs) (opposite the hill scenario)?



I’ve heard pro’s (hill climbers) griping that the bigger guys have an advantage on the flats (TT), but I have never heard any physics explanation that would prove this.





I know someone on this board has some empirical or anecdotal info on this…

 

[BikingBrian]

Generally speaking, larger riders have an advantage on the flats because they can generate more power in relation to their body surface area than smaller riders can. However, there are exceptions, this is not a hard and fast rule....Lemond was an exceptional tt rider and as we all know, fairly small in relation to his peers. So I would say, don't worry about it....you can overcome body size by correctly training for TTs.