Re: Science of cycling still largely mysterious

Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

On 5/21/2025 4:13 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:

zen cycle <funkmasterxx@hotmail.com> wrote:

 
A full suspension bike is far more efficient over rough terrain in terms
of speed and comfort.

 
I dimly recall an article in _Bicycling_ magazine (before it effectively
morphed into "Buycycling") that documented the measured increase in
downhill speed of a suspended bike compared to a rigid bike. At that
time, it was an unfamiliar concept.

By now the frame MTB frames geometry is quite different so it’s difficult
to isolate. Just tyres sizes, and MTB tyres are more variable in terms of
construction compared to other types.

 

Indeed doesn’t take a particularly rough gravel road for my MTB suspension
and tyres to make it a faster bike, vs the Gravel bike be that my times on
Strava or unfortunate Gravel riders on the Ridgeway etc.

And in the past few years, many people have realized that it takes very
little roughness to make wider, cushier tires valuable for increasing
speed. Bumping the rider about has serious energy costs.
 

Indeed hence Dylan Johnson and similar with the MTB tyres on a Gravel bike
for example!

Which is something even as a non racer I’m toying with the idea of, sadly
would require new bike or at least frame.

Roger Merriman