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How much energy do you save by losing 1 kg of the weight of your bike (or yourself)?
If it takes 9.8 joules to lift 1 kg 1 meter, does that mean I’d save 9,800 joules over 1000m of vertical climbing, which is only 2.3 kcals.
This seems a very small number, guessing my maths is totally wrong.
Trying to give myslef some motivation to lose a few KGs.
energy = mgh
1kg x 9.81 x 1000m = 9810 joules.
lets say you're climbing a 1:20 gradient = 20km.
let's say you climb it in 1 hour (20kph) = 3600 seconds
power = (energy / time) = (9810 / 3600) = 3watts
not a lot, about 1% extra effort for a fit rider.
enough for racers to worry about, - me? worried? not so much.
(i'm a skinny wretch, my gp told me to eat more chips)
actually muscles are only between 20 and 25% efficient, so the saving is roughly 4 or 5 times bigger 🙂 Figure about 1kCal per metre for a 100kg all up rider, bike & kit
This plug in at analytic cycling reckons you'll be .88 secs quicker; put the fork down and step away from the fridge...
http://www.analyticcycling.com/ForcesLessWeight_Page.html
weight off you - you'll feel better.
weight off bike - it'll feel better to ride (moreso if weight lost from wheels).
Actual difference - not significant for most of us apart from the above.
Guess I'll just have to look in the mirror for weight loss motivation 😯
BTW, where is that hill ?