weight and speed

In article <v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If I
was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my approximate
average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

Bill

My experience supports your theory. Except I was 190 and dropped to 176 and my speed went from 16
mph to 17.5-18 mph.

Burn more calories than you eat. Ride more miles.

--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

Using WISL's program of speed and power, and inputting 150 Watts as the power, I get the
following speeds.

1 current conditions 205 lbs. top speed 19.5 mph

2. new lighter you 180 lbs. top speed 20.02

Caveats: Assumes a level course. More variation would be experienced with hills. The extra weight
has to be hauled UP the hill.

Cletus D. Lee <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

In article <v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If I
was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my approximate
average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

Bill

My experience supports your theory. Except I was 190 and dropped to 176 and my speed went from 16
mph to 17.5-18 mph.

Burn more calories than you eat. Ride more miles.

Don't think it would be that much difference given the same engine. DOn't forget you "probably" did
a lot of exercise to drop to 176 and thus your engine was much stronger at that point.

If you're truly in the same shape and the course is flat, the weight difference should only matter
during acceleration. If your profile to the wind narrows because of the lost weight, that would
affect your speed. Why not do an experiment by strapping a 25 pound weight to the back of the seat
to see if that slows you down any? The answer should be there.

Chuck Davis

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03...

Quoted message said:

I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If I
was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my approximate
average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

Bill

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Burn more calories than you eat. Ride more miles.

Don't think it would be that much difference given the same engine. DOn't forget you "probably"
did a lot of exercise to drop to 176 and thus your engine was much stronger at that point.

It is simple math. It works out to about 50 calories per mile. I only increased my mileage by about
20%. Of course this is going to have a difference on strength gained.
--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Chuck Davis
[B]If you're truly in the same shape and the course is flat, the weight difference should only matter
during acceleration. If your profile to the wind narrows because of the lost weight, that would
affect your speed. Why not do an experiment by strapping a 25 pound weight to the back of the seat
to see if that slows you down any? The answer should be there.

Chuck Davis

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03...

Quoted message said:

I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If I
was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my approximate
average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

Bill [/B]

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Bill
I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If I was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my approximate average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

It depends on what you are pushing. For instance, I have visibly lost my excess circumference but I have lost no weight. My fat solidified into muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. According to my doctor, this is not a bad weight now that I have a more active body. The fat weight was bad. But the muscle mass is great.

So how does this matter?

Since building my muscle mass, my speed has significantly increased. Where as I cruised at 12.5 mph, I now cruise at 15-17 mph, depending on the group that I am with.

Bill,

There's more to it than mathematics. 11 years ago I lost 85 pounds, but in the final analysis I was
slower on hills and top speed because I went on a low-fat diet (Nutri/System) that caused me to lose
as much muscle as fat. You see, fat people tend to have bigger leg muscles anyway, since they carry
all that extra weight around. They say jogging (especially over-doing it) also causes you to lose
muscle mass and I did a lot of that too. Muscle mass and cardio-vascular endurance are at least as
important as body weight (barring morbid obesity, of course). Recently, after gaining most of the
Nutri/System weight back, I started doing Atkins and over the course of 9 months lost 40 pounds, but
thanks to the high protein diet and regular workouts, I was able to keep all my muscle and even bulk
up a little. My average speed is up to 19 MPH for a 30 miles ride (up from 16 or so a year ago).
Part of that increase is attributable to weight loss, but it's hard to say exactly how much.
Certainly losing 40 pounds means my heart doesn't have to work as hard at a given power output
level. Other factors contributing to this 3 MPH increase include Stelvio racing tires, a front
fairing, some bike modifications (26" front wheel and fork) resulting in a smaller aero
cross-section, and a heart rate monitor. The HRM made a BIG difference all by itself, because it
beeps at me when I'm getting lazy. If I lived in a hilly area, I imagine those 40 pounds would be
more significant. At least I know my rims (and hopefully my heart) will last longer.

Bill Anton 2001 Vision R-40 26x26 SWB OSS Lubbock, TX, USA

Bill <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03>...

Quoted message said:

I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If I
was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my approximate
average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

Bill

Bill <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03>...

Quoted message said:

I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If I
was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my approximate
average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

Bill

Bill, You would not be in the same shape if you were 25 pounds lighter. While all the engineers are
busy calculating this very interesting problem, I recommend that you get out and ride. And go for
distance. For what it's worth, 3 years ago when I got off my butt, and quit drinking, I weighed
197. Of course I was slow then. The next two years I was probably a bit over zealous in my new
found healthy life style, and shrunk to 138, which is really too light for my height. ( 6 ft) In
the past year I have gained weight--fat and muscle--165 pounds and I feel great. My point is that
you can be too light. One final comment: I gotten lighter,and have maintained fitness, by riding
more than 10 miles at a time! If you want to get fit, do longer rides. The speed will follow.

Gravity shouldn't be a factor (other than creating rolling resistance and bearing friction) as long
as you're on a level surface. See

glenbrook.k12.il.usu2l1d.htmlOpen ↗

Obviously, if you put too much weight on the bike and it collapses, that'd create a lot of friction.
8) I don't think that the 25 pounds I suggested would add that much friction and rolling resistance,
and it would give him an immediate answer without going through the weight loss part of it.

Chuck Davis

"iLiad" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think you just answered a portion of this. Additional friction, rolling resistance, etc. If I am
incorrect as to gravity being part of that, then I digress.

Wouldn't

Quoted message said:

gravity be than the unbalanced force?

"Chuck Davis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Other than deforming the tires more and causing some amount of

additional

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

friction on the bearings, why would it take more power to keep an

additional

Quoted message said:

500 pounds moving at a constant speed on a level surface? Newton's

first

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

law says "An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in

motion

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction

unless

Quoted message said:

acted upon by an unbalanced force." What is it that would require more power to keep the extra
500 pounds moving?

Chuck Davis

"iLiad" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

??? So I could add, say 500 pounds to my bike, and as long as someone accelerated me to 20MPH
I would be able to keep that up. If only that were true. Of course weight makes a difference,
here on earth, with good old

gravity.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Chuck Davis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> If you're truly in the same shape and the course is flat, the weight difference should only
> matter during acceleration. If your profile

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the

Quoted message said:

> wind narrows because of the lost weight, that would affect your

speed.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Why
> not do an experiment by strapping a 25 pound weight to the back of

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

seat
> to see if that slows you down any? The answer should be there.
>
> Chuck Davis
>
> "Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03...
> > I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10

mile

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > flat ride is 19 mph. If I was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs
> > less, what would my approximate average

speed

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.
> >
> > Bill
> >
>
>

Other than deforming the tires more and causing some amount of additional friction on the bearings,
why would it take more power to keep an additional 500 pounds moving at a constant speed on a level
surface? Newton's first law says "An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion
tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an
unbalanced force." What is it that would require more power to keep the extra 500 pounds moving?

Chuck Davis

"iLiad" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

??? So I could add, say 500 pounds to my bike, and as long as someone accelerated me to 20MPH I
would be able to keep that up. If only that were true. Of course weight makes a difference, here
on earth, with good old gravity.

"Chuck Davis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

If you're truly in the same shape and the course is flat, the weight difference should only
matter during acceleration. If your profile to

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wind narrows because of the lost weight, that would affect your speed.

Why

Quoted message said:

not do an experiment by strapping a 25 pound weight to the back of the

seat

Quoted message said:

to see if that slows you down any? The answer should be there.

Chuck Davis

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03...

Quoted message said:

I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If
I was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my
approximate average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

Bill

Interesting. I stand corrected.

"Chuck Davis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gravity shouldn't be a factor (other than creating rolling resistance and bearing friction) as
long as you're on a level surface. See

glenbrook.k12.il.usu2l1d.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Obviously, if you put too much weight on the bike and it collapses, that'd create a lot of
friction. 8) I don't think that the 25 pounds I

suggested

Quoted message said:

would add that much friction and rolling resistance, and it would give him an immediate answer
without going through the weight loss part of it.

Chuck Davis

"iLiad" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think you just answered a portion of this. Additional friction,

rolling

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

resistance, etc. If I am incorrect as to gravity being part of that, then I digress.

Wouldn't

Quoted message said:

gravity be than the unbalanced force?

"Chuck Davis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Other than deforming the tires more and causing some amount of

additional

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

friction on the bearings, why would it take more power to keep an

additional

Quoted message said:

500 pounds moving at a constant speed on a level surface? Newton's

first

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

law says "An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in

motion

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction

unless

Quoted message said:

acted upon by an unbalanced force." What is it that would require

more

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

power to keep the extra 500 pounds moving?

Chuck Davis

"iLiad" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> ??? So I could add, say 500 pounds to my bike, and as long as someone accelerated me to
> 20MPH I would be able to keep that up. If only that were true. Of course weight makes a
> difference, here on earth, with good old

gravity.

Quoted message said:

>
> "Chuck Davis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> "]news:[email hidden]...
> > If you're truly in the same shape and the course is flat, the

weight

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > difference should only matter during acceleration. If your

profile

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the
> > wind narrows because of the lost weight, that would affect your

speed.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Why
> > not do an experiment by strapping a 25 pound weight to the back of

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> seat
> > to see if that slows you down any? The answer should be there.
> >
> > Chuck Davis
> >
> > "Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03...
> > > I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local

10

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

mile

Quoted message said:

> > > flat ride is 19 mph. If I was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs
> > > less, what would my approximate average

speed

Quoted message said:

> > > be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.
> > >
> > > Bill
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

??? So I could add, say 500 pounds to my bike, and as long as someone accelerated me to 20MPH I
would be able to keep that up. If only that were true. Of course weight makes a difference, here on
earth, with good old gravity.

"Chuck Davis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

If you're truly in the same shape and the course is flat, the weight difference should only matter
during acceleration. If your profile to the wind narrows because of the lost weight, that would
affect your speed.

Why

Quoted message said:

not do an experiment by strapping a 25 pound weight to the back of the

seat

Quoted message said:

to see if that slows you down any? The answer should be there.

Chuck Davis

"Bill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:v5Iib.757951$Ho3.194229@sccrnsc03...

Quoted message said:

I am 205 lbs and my best average speed on my Strada on a local 10 mile flat ride is 19 mph. If I
was in the same shape (same power in watts)and weighed 25 lbs less, what would my approximate
average speed be? My guess would be 20 mph to 21 mph.

Bill