On Physics

  It's the peak of cycling season, the spandex-clad gladiators are battling in the mountains of France as I write. As a bike-riding fan, it seems only appropriate to give some love and attention to my favorite cross-training method. 

One of my favorite aspects of cycling is the fact that so much of it is a pure physics equation. Gear ratios, watts per kilogram, aerodynamics, rolling resistance, it all sends me back to high school physics class. The physics of cycling adds a million factors to every race that define every move a rider makes. Of course, the best athlete will usually win no matter what, especially at lower speeds, such as on a mountain, but even then, weight and watts still matter greatly. This is very visible in the equipment that cyclists use. Every piece of clothing and gear is designed to be as light and as aerodynamic as possible. Some might point to the fact that improvements in equipment push cycling towards a “pay to win” sport, much like running has been pushed in that direction by shoe technology. That is absolutely true, but the physics element of cycling also leaves space for ingenuity and creativity. The team or rider with the bigger budget and better gear still has the better odds, but a big enough brain and a few tools can also go a very long way. 

Take Chase Wark, a controversial figure in gravel cycling who I personally see as a hero. He has conceded that he is simply not as talented as his competitors and would more than likely lose in a pure FTP battle. Knowing that, he employs his knowledge of aerodynamics and bicycles to create absurd contraptions meant to maximize his speed through the air. Everything from disk wheels to covered water bladders that minimize air resistance. This is someone who is using the mechanical aspect of cycling to gain a marginal advantage over people he might not be able to compete with normally. Like Greg LeMond’s aerobars, there’s magic in the mechanical. 


The importance of physics in cycling extends beyond the mechanical and defines much of the tactics inside the peloton. The best example of this is drafting, an essential strategy in cycling. Drafting can save 40% of a rider’s energy while benefiting both the pulling and following athlete. 


In running, the impact of aerodynamics and drafting are less extreme, but very much still present. Lowering wind resistance can save several minutes during a marathon, like when Eliud Kipchoge ran with a flying V around him to break 2. If you’ve ever done a workout with a partner on a track or even gone for a group run, that effect is tangible. You let the other person or people eat the wind while you float along effortlessly. But there’s another aspect of the critical mass effect in running that might be even more pronounced than in cycling. The mental aspect of following a teammate, or even just running beside someone, cannot be understated. Especially if that person is a reliable pacer with a finely tuned internal clock, it is a magical thing to turn off the brain and float along through space and time guided by your mate.

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