Bicycling Downhill

We’ve been talking here and here about the effects of weight, speed, and grade on climbing hills on a bicycle.  Now, let’s reverse direction and think about coasting down a hill. 

More Bicycling Uphill

Last time we looked at how weight and speed and grade affect the power requirement for a bicyclist climbing a hill.  Today, we’ll reverse the question and assume that the cyclist has a fixed amount of power to deliver.  How will that affect climbing speed?

Bicycling Uphill

Not long ago I was huffing and puffing on my bicycle up a very steep hill and another cyclist blew by me with apparently little effort.  Now, in addition to looking younger, stronger, and having a better bicycle, he appeared to be carrying significantly less excess, ahem, baggage.  So I got to wondering how much difference one’s weight (or to be charitable, a loaded backpack) makes when ascending a hill on a bicycle.