When on a long steady decent (let's say 1km) and tucked in all aero would you travel faster or further depending on the freewheel design?
As I remember from school noise = friction so all that buzzing must be slowing us down. Just supposing I took the chain off and used the same hill and same position would I go faster or travel further?
Would this difference be measured in centimeters or meters?
Guess what we were discussing after last night's ride 😁.
Hmmm.... not sure if the noise = friction is always true.
There's device on my wheels that can generate a lot of friction almost silently, except when it randomly decides to squeal. However they are generating heat 🤷♀️
If you took the chain off you'd go faster. There were a few seasons in Morzine where chainless downhill was all the rage. Riding the road 4km from Les Gets to Morzine and coasting, the guys without chains were always way faster. There's a surprising amount of drag in a freehub.
Oh yeah, didn't that craze start when a pro DHer snapped his chain at the start of a run and went on to win the race?
The chainless thing being faster on MTBs was due to how the suspension might work. It won't make a noticeable difference on a road bike, where you're doing 50kph and almost all your gravitational potential energy is being used to overcome wind resistance.
If it's all set up properly, the difference would be down at the level of experimental noise.
Most of the energy is in the bearing losses between different arrangements and compressing the pawl springs, which are amazingly feeble springs.
And if there was much difference, you'd probably have horrific issues with shifting and back pedaling too. Chain drop central!
Hmmm…. not sure if the noise = friction is always true.
There’s device on my wheels that can generate a lot of friction almost silently, except when it randomly decides to squeal.
Surely it's a one way thing: noise = friction but not (always) friction = noise?
Being a little loose with the definition of "equals" here.
Try it on your next ride?
My Tairin Silent Shogun spins for absolutely ages in the stand compared to a Hope Pro 4. It's has six retracting pawls. This video isn't an exaggeration.
I don't think it would be significant compared to the energy available (i.e. difference in potential energy of you being at the top of the hill vs. at the bottom, and wind resistance). You can stop a spinning wheel in the stand with a dab of brake using your little finger, compare that to moderating your speed and stopping on said hill.
However in technical terrain I do feel it makes me faster, as the peacefulness seems to help me think quicker and ride better. It feels slower but seems to be faster against the clock, although I'm not being scientific about it.
I may have to experiment and report back on my findings - how many uses can you get out of a quick link?
Removing the brakes will make you faster. Don't try it, you may die.
Just supposing I took the chain off and used the same hill and same position would I go faster or travel further?
On the moon, maybe. On Earth, most of your drag downhill is air resistance, then tyre drag. Wearing a skinsuit will make a bigger difference than taking the chain off.
Nice socks ^
