| Does the distribution of total weight between a bicycle and its rider matter?
Yes it matters. The lower the center of gravity is to the ground, the more stable the bike will be. However the closer the weight is to you (on your back or in your body) the more "feel" you will have and thus control over it.People will dispute the logic but lighter bikes are more maneuverable and easier to climb with. Add the weight to your bike and the bike will feel more solid (stable), but it will handle more sluggishly. Other things come into play like steering geometry.Another thing that adds or detracts from stability is wheels/tires. The rotating mass acts as a gyroscope (just like the one you played with as a kid). The faster and heavier the spinning mass, the more stable it will be. Smaller and lighter will be easier to flick around....so heavy tires and wheels = stability, lighter tires and wheels= maneuverability and feel. |