Apples fall

me + tandem + 6 yr old daughter + trailer + 3 year old daughter + 5.8% incline = 532 watts

 

Yes dear friends you read correctly, I did ride the tandem with a 6 year old stoker, 2 panniers and a baby trailer with a 2 1/2 year old in it.

I knew it would be a tough climb up Westburn Road and into the hospital, not that any of us were ill, no we were just out for a ride.

It got me thinking why is it so hard, why does a small change in the gradient have such an acid producing effect in the thighs?

Well being the sad Aspie’esque type that I am I hunted for a model of cycling power. There are plenty, just google “bicycle power calc”. After much analysis putting data in and reading results, and playing with excel I established that gravity is to blame.

Simple, the more your fight against gravity the more work is required. If you are worried you wont make it to the top, then slow down. If you want to protect your knees from high torque, change into a lower gear and spin.