DISRAELI DOCUMENTS
This is the sixth of six articles in which Paul de Vivie considers the ‘enemies’ of the cyclist.
The title line includes the expression: P(0.01+p)+0.003V2. ‘P’ is the all up weight of bicycle and rider, ‘p’ is the gradient and ‘V’ is the velocity. The first part of the formula represents something to do with rolling resistance and gravity, the second part of the formula is concerned with air resistance.
The particular ‘enemies’ that this article focusses on are the built in inefficiencies of the bike and, perhaps more importantly, of the rider. Cue a decent discussion of transmission and gearing systems.
A particularly choice quote refers to derailleurs as Whippets:
“Le whippet ou dérailleur du chaîne est le système préféré du dilettante...” (The whippet or derailleur is the preferred system of the dilettante).
(Source gallica.bnf.fr/ Bibliothèque nationale de France)
