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Guest
This is something I have noticed on group rides. My lowracer seems slower on hills than the uprights
I am riding with. However I am convinced this is mostly due to differences in fittness levels. I
will usually ride with a moderately fast group if any group. This group I believe is in considerably
better shape than I am. The aero advantage allows me to easily keep pace on the flats and blow by
them down hills but up hills I lose that advantage. I am stuck trying to haul my overweight self up
the hill. Because I am much heavier (and more overweight) than most people I ride with and my bike
is also heavier, I lose ground. If I had the fittness level of the front runners I have no doubt I
could easily lead the pack for the entire ride.
Derek, The riding position of the Baron is much different than performance uprights, so the muscles
used are not identical and your fittness will not directly translate. Also you are correct that in
the mountains bents lose thier performance advantage because you combine long climbs (weight
dissadvantage bent) with high speed decents that require brakes to maintain control even on
uprights. In flat to rolling hills like most places in the Midwest and Atlantic coastal areas a
moderately fit person will spend more time at speeds where a performance bent is an advantage.
Craig Optima Baron
"Tom Blum" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Derek says lowracer not much faster than C4 Joker.
>
> This mirrors my experience also.
>
> Bob Bryant, RCN, says it best in the Bacchetta issue. http://www.recumbentcyclistnews.com/ to
> paraphrase: "Uprights are better at going slow". He than goes into the math of it. The time spent
> slaving up the hill is not made up by the speed tearing down the other side. Certainly, in
> Northern Ca, the hills are tremendous. Remember, mountain Bikes were invented in Marin county
> (sp??) Could it be they have mountains there???
>
> Obviously, stronger riders have less penalty going up, to the point that someone on a unicycle,
> dragging a bowling ball might be faster than Derek on his Joker Carbon.
>
> With all else equal, I can't argue with Derek's statement.
>
> But bents ARE fun for the comfort and shock value they have.
>
> AND, try to hang a tailbox on an upright. Coming soon: TEBCO Tailbox V1.0.
>
>
> --
> Miles of Smiles,
>
> Tom Blum Winter Haven, Florida (remove "nospam" to reply) Homebuilts: SWB Tour Easy Clone Speed
> Machine Clone
>
> www.gate.net/~teblum
I am riding with. However I am convinced this is mostly due to differences in fittness levels. I
will usually ride with a moderately fast group if any group. This group I believe is in considerably
better shape than I am. The aero advantage allows me to easily keep pace on the flats and blow by
them down hills but up hills I lose that advantage. I am stuck trying to haul my overweight self up
the hill. Because I am much heavier (and more overweight) than most people I ride with and my bike
is also heavier, I lose ground. If I had the fittness level of the front runners I have no doubt I
could easily lead the pack for the entire ride.
Derek, The riding position of the Baron is much different than performance uprights, so the muscles
used are not identical and your fittness will not directly translate. Also you are correct that in
the mountains bents lose thier performance advantage because you combine long climbs (weight
dissadvantage bent) with high speed decents that require brakes to maintain control even on
uprights. In flat to rolling hills like most places in the Midwest and Atlantic coastal areas a
moderately fit person will spend more time at speeds where a performance bent is an advantage.
Craig Optima Baron
"Tom Blum" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Derek says lowracer not much faster than C4 Joker.
>
> This mirrors my experience also.
>
> Bob Bryant, RCN, says it best in the Bacchetta issue. http://www.recumbentcyclistnews.com/ to
> paraphrase: "Uprights are better at going slow". He than goes into the math of it. The time spent
> slaving up the hill is not made up by the speed tearing down the other side. Certainly, in
> Northern Ca, the hills are tremendous. Remember, mountain Bikes were invented in Marin county
> (sp??) Could it be they have mountains there???
>
> Obviously, stronger riders have less penalty going up, to the point that someone on a unicycle,
> dragging a bowling ball might be faster than Derek on his Joker Carbon.
>
> With all else equal, I can't argue with Derek's statement.
>
> But bents ARE fun for the comfort and shock value they have.
>
> AND, try to hang a tailbox on an upright. Coming soon: TEBCO Tailbox V1.0.
>
>
> --
> Miles of Smiles,
>
> Tom Blum Winter Haven, Florida (remove "nospam" to reply) Homebuilts: SWB Tour Easy Clone Speed
> Machine Clone
>
> www.gate.net/~teblum