Hej kamrater Lugnt på listan. Är alla sönderblåsta eller vad? Efter diskussionen vem som var snabbast nedför med liggcykel så kommer jag med något tvärtom. Uppför med vanlig cykel! Byke Kultuur Never är roliga som vanligt och har en test! Hur bra det är att pendla sidledes stående i uppförsbacken! Jag klippte in det här nedanför men läs gärna mer på http://uk.geocities.com/bykekultuur/never.html

Kul hälsningar

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Jan-Inge Ljungberg webmaster@liggister.org www.liggister.org

Cycling Science 1 An experiment to determine the optimal motive input necessary to cycle uphill optimally. Backgound Out on cycle ride not so recently, with a ‘roadie’ pal, I found myself bemused by his uphill technique. First he’d stand up on the pedals , presumably exerting his full body weight upon the pedals, later he’d start to ‘throw’ the bicycle from side to side as he’d struggle his way to the top. I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t just use a lower gear. At the tea stop I asked him about his hill-climbing technique, something I’ve seen hundreds of roadies do over the years, and he explained that it made it easier to get uphill. I thought perhaps he’d misunderstood what I was on a bout but he added that it was a technique favoured by professional road cyclists in such races as the Tour de France. I then realised he had made a mistake, misinterpreting effect for cause and decided to create an experiment to show him his error. My roadie aquaintance thinks he looks like Lance Armstrong. Speculation 1 (roadie) Pro-cyclists ‘throw' their bicycles from side to side to make it easier to go uphill. Speculation 2 (me) Pro-cyclists appear to throw their bicycles from side to side as they go uphill as a physical reaction to the large forces they are exerting upon the pedals (the same thing happens in sprint fineshes). Apparatus A road bicycle, roadie volunteer, 2 *ahem* helpers, a big hill. Method The roadie volunteer was asked (later forced) to cycle up the hill using the following modes of propulsion;

1. Sitting on saddle whilst pedalling. 2. Standing up whilst pedalling. 3. Throwing the bicycle around whilst pedalling. 4. Throwing the bicycle around without pedalling.

Results

1. The roadie got to the top of the hill after several minutes panting, sweating and with a raised heart rate. 2. As above. 3. As above. 4. (a) The first time we tried this, our roadie immediately lost his balance and fell over to the right, cursing loudly and grazed his knee. (b) After a little persuasion from my helpers, our roadie had another go. This time my helpers held him upright until he had a steady rhythm going and then let go. This time he fell to the left and rolled several feet, sustained substantial grazing, a cut knee and a rather nasty cut on his elbow (so much for cycle-helmets). (c) In the interests of a ‘fair test’ we insisted upon a third attempt in spite of our roadie volunteer turning nasty; at first shouting and swearing at us before whimpering, whining and then collapsing to the ground, curling into a foetal position and crying. After what’s colloquially known as, “a bit of a kicking,” from my two ‘helpers’ our roadie volunteer was ready for another go. Snotty-nosed with tears in his eyes he mounted his bicycle. This time we pushed him some way up the hill before letting go. Down he went, right side again, straight onto the deck. That gravel must have really hurt (next time we’ll use a road with a smoother surface), right palm cut up, other elbow and right knee. Later, when questioned by the police (though I can’t think why as my two helpers and I were somewhere else at the time with witnesses to prove it), we found out he’d also fractured his wrist.

Conclusion

* Throwing the bicycle provides no motive propulsion whatsoever when cycling uphill * The only worthwhile method of propulsion is one which makes the cranks go around. * To make it easier, use a lower gear or perhaps an engine or maybe a ski-lift.