Everyone who ever rode downhill behind an experienced cyclist will confirm that they can be very hard to catch up with .
Why are they so fast ?
Sofisticated suspension ? no , they have rigid frames .
Wide , grippy tires ? no , their tires are only 1/2 inch wide .
Lean angle ? never seen a cyclist with knee pads .
Horse power ? their legs devellop a meagre 1 ( one ) HP .
the answer must be weight !
In every fysical equasion involving mass (m ) and velocity (v) there is a factor 2 .
Acelleration , decelleration ,centrifugal force ...
Twice the mass means 4 times the kinetic energy , so the advantages of reducing weight are not linear but exponential .
It will considerably reduce the stress on every part of the bike : engine , clutch ,gearbox , chain , frame , tires , brakes ...
Look at this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3GfxShA ... re=related
Now , imagine this guy had a tiny 5HP engine to assist him on the short streights...,
So , if you want to be fast in the mountains , Loose weight !!
