Flywheel effect

zeroseven

For endurance riding is a heavy tyre good because it acts as a flywheel or bad because the unsprung weight takes more effort to move?

nicklouse

Weight is bad.

the flywheel effect also makes it harder to turn.

Marjory Stewart BAxtor

harder to start a wheel than it is to stop!

zeroseven

But once moving and up to speed the inertia would make sustained momentum easier wouldn't it?

Thats why i mentioned endurance riding

Northwind

It just won't store an awful lot of energy, with the low weight and relatively low speed... Think how easy it is to stop a spinning wheel.

zeroseven

Thanks all.....

cougie

Boardmans Hour Record was broken by a bloke (since done for drugs) with heavy wheels.

I'd imagine they are great for down hill, but most rides I know do have some uphills.

dave_hill

Unsprung rotating mass is the worst sort. Not only does it slow acceleration and increase rolling resistance, it also makes direction changes harder because of the gyroscopic effect of the wheels.

The lighter the wheels the better, balancing weight with durability of course.

zeroseven

For general riding, yes of course. But my question relates to endurance. Cougies answer was interesting.... I'll look into it.

Torres

My tuppence...
For moving downwards heavy wheels should be more stable. But thats the only advantage i can think of, as soon as the ground points upwards then it's gonna be hard work. I wouldn't fancy hauling a huge rotational weight around for 12 plus hours...

supersonic

At constant speed, on rough terrain, two identically weighted bikes but one with heavy wheels, the other with lighter will take the same energy to keep moving. The bonus of the flywheel effect is cancelled out by the effort to keep it rotating when constant speed.

It does require more energy to accelerate to that speed, and they will roll a little better through bumpy sections.

Not worth it, lighter wheels are desirable for all people as long as strength isn't compromised.

zeroseven

Yep agree - it doesn't work. Good for training though, my legs pumped up in no time at all.

Train all week with the heavy tyres and then race with the light ones......

Thanks all....