Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghostt
So if one rider weighs 120 lbs, and another weighs 260 it doesn't make a difference??
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I fat thumb'd the thumbs up, but it's a good learning opportunity.
Eric is dealing with terminal velocities, not acceleration. So all else the same, a difference in rider weight doesn't really factor into the equation. Obviously there's limitations to that statement because the bike does have to accelerate within a reasonable distance before the timing zone, but still. The only factors in terminal velocity calculations are tractive force (power transferred to the road) and resistance to movement (bearing friction, rolling resistance, aero drag etc etc). Rolling resistance IS a function of weight, so technically weight does come into play, but rolling resistance and bearing friction are so small in comparison to the aero drag, that for the sake of our discussion, weight can be dismissed as a concern.