Silly question(s) about the bowl

[benVFR]

So if you were riding your bicycle around NHIS... what line would you take through the bowl to maximize speed and minimize how much power you needed to shoot back up the hill?

I'm signed up for an 18-lap race this weekend there. I figure the locals get to bicycle the track fairly regularly AFAIK so there will be someone to pick up the line from... but bicyclists are usually pretty bad about lines, and it does seem like the bowl is one of those places where the right line can save energy.

The finish is at the top of Turn 4 which is interesting & good for me.

[Degsy]

I would say come out of turn 3 and head up turn 4, crossing over to the right hand side of the track. Head for the bowl tight on the right and zip down to the apex at the very last minute. That would give you a downhill start for the big climb through 7 and 8.

[benVFR]

You think that would be better than going around the outside trying to minimize elevation change?

I would expect if the wind is right I'll only be hitting the bowl at like 35mph max? (Maybe I'm misjudging and it's 40+ mph but I doubt it)

What do the guys who race 50s and other teeny motorcycles do?

[Awesome]

ask for advice and reject it. Exactly why I didn't make a reccomendation.

[benVFR]

Originally posted by hessogood
ask for advice and reject it. Exactly why I didn't make a reccomendation.

Comment and add no information, exactly as I expected.

Seriously... the elevation change is a real concern. When you go down a hill and then back up on a bicycle you don't end up with the same amount of energy, going up the hill is a much more severe penalty than on a motorcycle, as you have less weight so you don't accelerate as hard down the hill.

It's bad enough that when you're going up a 10%+ grade at 5mph that when you come to a hairpin you end up riding around the outside of it taking the far longer line, as it saves you a few percentage points on the grade.

Again just curious if the 50cc or vintage racers take a different line.

[Paul_E_D]

The lighter the bike, the wider the line. I haven't actually gone over to watch the bicycles line in the bowl, but the track is wide and I'm sure the distance penalty for following the edge of the track would be significant.

I think Degsy has a good idea for entering fading from left to right, but I wouldn't drop all the way into the apex as the climb out is steep! If you hang wide as you exit, you can almost run down into turn 7.

[Kip]

I don't think you need to worry about what line is the fast line on a bicycle. I'll give you some better advice. Pedal the bike as fast as you can and if you pedal the fastest you will win.

[Rye]

Originally posted by benVFR
So if you were riding your bicycle around NHIS... what line would you take through the bowl to maximize speed and minimize how much power you needed to shoot back up the hill?

I'm signed up for an 18-lap race this weekend there. I figure the locals get to bicycle the track fairly regularly AFAIK so there will be someone to pick up the line from... but bicyclists are usually pretty bad about lines, and it does seem like the bowl is one of those places where the right line can save energy.

The finish is at the top of Turn 4 which is interesting & good for me.

Interesting Ben. I would say turning is not a time killer...not carrying enough speed into hilly sections is gonna munch the time. If not in a hilly section I'd stay right on the race line.

[LM954RR]

18 laps???........I think it's gonna be irrellivent after a few laps. It'll be nothing more than a stamina race.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by Kip
I don't think you need to worry about what line is the fast line on a bicycle. I'll give you some better advice. Pedal the bike as fast as you can and if you pedal the fastest you will win.

[Nikon]

Originally posted by Kip
I don't think you need to worry about what line is the fast line on a bicycle. I'll give you some better advice. Pedal the bike as fast as you can and if you pedal the fastest you will win.

[benVFR]

Hehe.. that is funny, you are right.

The problem is I'm not racing against people like you guys. It's a bunch of people who are almost exactly the same size/shape/fitness as me. So all the other things come into play. Drafting, teamwork, taking the correct lines, anything you can do to take advantage of the situation.

Even blocking people in sometimes.

[Nikon]

stay inside and when someone tries to pass in tbe bowl, "stretch out your leg" cause you're getting a cramp...oops...someone went off the track...one less person to worry about

[benVFR]

Nah if you stick out your leg your power drops... we usually just reach over and push or punch.

[OreoGaborio]

Originally posted by benVFR
Nah if you stick out your leg your power drops... we usually just reach over and push or punch.

FLYING ELBOW

[KevinB]

So how this race go, did your line through the bowl make a difference?

Kevin