If you neglect the opposing frictional forces, which you really can't, the energy input is Watts times time. The energy gained in going uphill is MgH where M is the total mass, person, plus bike frame plus wheels, g is the acceleration of gravity and H is the difference in elevation. Big wheels versus little wheels doesn't make any difference, it's the total mass that counts.
LeeH
Right- The mass on the wheels counts extra when you're asking how hard it is to accelerate, not how hard it is to go uphill. Mike W.
(published on 11/04/2011)
