short wheel base and uphill speed

[gbs]

A very experienced friend (both miles and variety of bikes owned) is convinced that, on a like for like basis, short wheel base bikes are faster uphill. He has experimented with obvious causal factors (overall weight, frame material and wheel sets) and is left with this conundrum that we cannot explain. Any thoughts?

 

[screenman]

On a short wheel based bike the front wheel is not so far in front of you, or should we say you are not so far behind it. This means you will arrive at the top of the hill earlier than you would on a long wheel based bike, as you would be sitting further behind the wheel.

He or she must have spent a lot of time and money coming to that exacting conclusion, personally I think there are lots of other factors involved off of the bike as well as the bike itself.

 

[Rob3rt]

Never heard that joke before

LMFAO!

 

[biggs682]

so does that make a swb tandem quicker than a conventional one ?

 

[avalon]

What about a unicycle?

 

[screenman]

I have just been out on the bike and rode it fast into the garage wall, this was to shorten the wheelbase by bending the forks back, should give me an advantage up the next hill.

 

[avalon]

I have just been out on the bike and rode it fast into the garage wall, this was to shorten the wheelbase by bending the forks back, should give me an advantage up the next hill.

Still won't be as quick as a unicycle

 

[Dusty Bin]

A very experienced friend (both miles and variety of bikes owned) is convinced that, on a like for like basis, short wheel base bikes are faster uphill. He has experimented with obvious causal factors (overall weight, frame material and wheel sets) and is left with this conundrum that we cannot explain. Any thoughts?

If he can't explain it, there's probably a reason for that. It certainly made me chuckle on a Thursday morning though...

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I suppose, if all the other details don't change, a shorter wheelbase would mean he was more upright when climbing on the hoods or tops. This could have some effect on opening up the diaphragm and getting more oxygen into the lungs. But I doubt that it would be a major difference.

 

[Dusty Bin]

I suppose, if all the other details don't change, a shorter wheelbase would mean he was more upright when climbing on the hoods or tops. This could have some effect on opening up the diaphragm and getting more oxygen into the lungs. But I doubt that it would be a major difference.

Don't make the mistake of taking such an utterly absurd proposition seriously...

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Don't make the mistake of taking such an utterly absurd proposition seriously...

It was the unicycle post that got me thinking: have you ever seen a unicylist out of breath? Well, have you?

 

[Rob3rt]

When I see people on unicycles I tend to look the other way!

 

[cosmicbike]

If the SWB bike is either a)red or b) more expensive, then it must be true..

 

[screenman]

It was the unicycle post that got me thinking: have you ever seen a unicylist out of breath? Well, have you?

No but I fell off of one and got winded that made me out of breath, but there again I would not have been on it but off of it at the time. So you have a very valid point.

 

[fossyant]