5 ms·
Bike stiffness is really interesting, especially when compared to skiing. I think its easier to understand with boot and ski stiffness which operate in similar
by soared 4y ago
Bike stiffness is really interesting, especially when compared to skiing. I think its easier to understand with boot and ski stiffness which operate in similar manners, where a stiffer boot allows you to convert more of your movement down to the ski instead of being absorbed by the boot!
I recently switched my indoor trainer from my aluminum frame to and old carbon frame and found it much more comfortable, which I think is from the less stiff old carbon allowing more movement.
I wasn't aware of bottom bracket stiffness, but seems to make sense that single speeds tend to feel better for me if the bottom bracket can be simpler and stiffer?
- arnejenssen 4y agoYes. Imagine rowing a boat with flexible oars. Then it is easy to understand how much force is lost.
- fluoridation 4y agoWell, not really. It's not like you'd be permanently bending the oars. When you complete each stroke you're going to get back nearly all of the energy that went into the elastic deformation. There's going to inevitably be some energy lost in warming up the oar, but it's not at all obvious that a slightly flexible oar would be perceptively or even effectively worse than a stiff oar.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]