6 ms·
Conceptually you seem correct but your numbers are a bit off. Down a steep hill on my road cycle I can easily get to 45-50mph. Rolling resistance doesn't chan
by ubertakter 7y ago
Conceptually you seem correct but your numbers are a bit off.
Down a steep hill on my road cycle I can easily get to 45-50mph.
Rolling resistance doesn't change that much with speed[1].
Rolling resistance energy balance at 18mph is on the order of 10-15W[2]
Drag increases with the square of velocity (D=0.5 * <drag coefficient> * <representative cross sectional area> * <air density> * <velocity>^2).
The drag energy balance (plus some rolling resistance) at 10, 20, and 30mph is on the order of 10, 100, and 300W, respectively[3].
[1]https://www.schwalbe.com/en/rollwiderstand.html https://www.schwalbe.com/en/rollwiderstand.html (see section "what exactly is rolling resistance")
[2]https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews
[3]https://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/aerodynamics1.html https://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/aerodynamics1.html (see the calculator)