[OHPV-list] My Upright vs. Bent Experiment

[Jim Lester]

Hi Carolyn, et. al.,

I love this experiment - I've been wondering about this myself for some time.  A couple of suggestions:

o The cell phone idea is a good one but a sports watch with an interval timer would also work well, if you have access to one.  I think it would be easier to use a sports watch versus a cell phone, not that the cell phone would be that difficult.  A GPS unit would probably be an even better option if you have or can borrow one.
o I think you'll probably have to do each course on each bike at least three times to gather sufficient data.  Also, as with all good experiments, all other variables should remain the same.

As for predicting the outcome of this experiment, my first reaction was that you may not find a significant difference between the bikes.  However, after reading John Climaldi's prediction (see below), I would have a hard time disagreeing with him.  He's ridden many different bikes for many, many miles, and he's also built a bunch of bikes, so he's probably right about the TE coming out ahead.  Just to make it interesting, however, I'll stick with my original guess, and I'll wager three Food in Bloom chocolate chip cookies that the times will not vary significantly, i.e. they'll be within 1-2 minutes.

~Jim

John Climaldi wrote:

"I would like to wager 2 cookies and a power bar. My prediction, short  
and sweet. The Bridgestone is not much lighter then the TE, so the  
times will favor the TE by 4:00 to 8:00 minutes on a 25 mile route.  
Now if you were on a light Road bike (17 pound job) then you would be  
faster on it assuming there are a lot of climbs. Just My $.02.

BTW, bents climb just fine and do well on the flats when you compare  
apples to apples. A 17 pound bent will climb just as well as a 17  
pound df, even if you can't stand on the pedals!"

James F. Lester
Local: 503-781-5281
Toll-Free: 877-LESTER0
Fax: 503-492-4881
Pager: 8888411284 at myairmail.com 


----- Original Message ----
From: Carolyn Devine <helianthus at comcast.net>
To: OHPV-list at ohpv.org
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 5:35:37 PM
Subject: [OHPV-list] My Upright vs. Bent Experiment


hi Folks!
here's the scoop -
I'm going to answer for myself which I'm faster on, my 'bent or my  
upright on a loop that has a variety of conditions (hills, flats, city).
The route is 25+ miles, a conglomerate of 3 different commutes I've  
had since moving to PDX - so it's  tried and true and I don't have to  
think about where I'm going.

There are some big hills ( the cemetery and the zoo)
and some great cruising flats (Mult. Blvd, oaks bottom trail)

I'm going to do each route a few times in each direction on each bike  
(still figuring out how many replicates are required for good  
data...it may depend on how much I vary in time after a few trials)  
and intend on taking note of times at 3 or 4 points along the way  
(top of Sylvan Hill, top of Cemetery, etc.).
Or maybe it'd be better if I wasn't aware of how I am doing and just  
pushed myself the whole time...I'd like the data (am I really  
climbing that much slower on the 'bent? am I really going that much  
faster on the flats?), but don't want my psyching myself out one way  
or the other to skew things. any thoughts? maybe call myself on the  
cell phone w/out looking at the time so that i have a time stamp?

What's your guess on which bike will be faster? or will I average out  
to be about the same speed for the entire route?
My question to myself is:
If "recumbents can't climb" can I make up for it on the flats?

I understand that the conclusion will only be for me/my body on this  
particular route with these not necessarily comparable bikes (the TE  
weighs a lot more, for one thing!); the Bridgestone was marketed as a  
"sport touring" bike).
So while I'm not going to over extrapolate the data,
i'm just curious....are you? or do you think one will be faster as a  
foregone conclusion?

Carolyn

Not a perfect experiment:
I rode the TE 5,560 miles since May 1 2005; and the Bridgestone <50  
since April 1, 2006 --
but f it's "not about the bike" then I should be approximately the  
same speed on both, right?
wanna take some bets? cookies to the one who guesses closest? -- do I  
need to establish a line? ;*)







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