Tour de France

[Tormod]

Gotta love it - cycling is as much science as anything.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/more/specials/tour_de_france/2004/07/11/bc.cyc.tourdefrance.ap/index.html


Tormod

[Tormod]

For those not in the know, I am Norwegian...

Tormod

[eric l]

Strange that this tread is so short. Of course, I was not around at the time you posted it, ( )and I'm affraid that for Americans a bicycle is more of a toy than anything else.
Still we had some very interesting and entertaining discussions about cycling on the Belgian radio science show some years ago.
One of the questions raised was : why do tandem bicycles perform better on flat terrain than solo bicycles, but not uphil.
An other question was "Is it true that if two or more riders are riding in single file, then the first rider also can go faster than when riding alone"
It would be great to expand on the different "resistances" involved in cycling, and how they change with speed.
As far as I know, the resistances are :
-

• wind resistance
• internal friction (parts of the bike)
• friction between wheels and road (+ deformation of tyres)
• accelaration and/or differences in level

I do not hope we will have acces to a wind tunnel, but it must be possible to find some people experience and/or ieas about this "physics of cycling"

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by eric l

As far as I know, the resistances are :
-

• wind resistance
• internal friction (parts of the bike)
• friction between wheels and road (+ deformation of tyres)
• accelaration and/or differences in level

• competitor's tendency to use doping

[eric l]

Originally Posted by Tormod

• competitor's tendency to use doping

Well, this resistance is important when you want to win races. The others are important when you use your bike for commuting to school or work, or for excercise, or even just for fun.
And I was not intending to expand on the medical or fysiological aspects of bbicycle racing.