Guide To Bicycle Mass: Computing The Mass Of Your Bike
While many avid cyclists will be able to tell you the weight of a bike quickly and easily, they might be a little stumped if you ask about the mass. What is the mass of a bicycle? How do we figure out bicycle mass, and what effect does it have on the overall biking experience?
How to compute the mass of your bike
The best way to estimate the mass of a bike is to compute the weight of both the bike and the rider. So, first, you need to take the total weight of your bike and add it to your total body weight. The resulting number would be the total mass of your bike.
Why is bike mass significant?
The mass of a bike can affect the speeds the bike can attain. This is why some riders are more suited to heavy-weight bikes, while others are better off with lighter models.
In general, the more mass a bike has, the more energy a rider needs to exert because the bike’s mass correlates to the bike’s resistance to acceleration. Reducing the weight of a bike can reduce the mass, making it easier to accelerate.
Another reason why a bike with less mass can help you increase your speed is that less mass means less wind resistance, and this also makes it easier for the rider to accelerate and get more mileage for the effort they exert.
If you want to increase your biking speed, you should look into the weight of your bike and the mass. Try to figure out the best way to reduce the weight and thus reduce the mass.
Choosing a lighter bike can improve your speed, but so can reducing your body weight. Either way, bringing down the weight will reduce your bike mass, making it easier to accelerate and speedier, easier ride.