> Force cannot be stored, only energy.
> 
> Search for "energy stored in spring".
> 
> Hope this helps.

Yes, it does and thank you.

According to:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/pespr.html
I need a spring with a constant of 16,286 N/m if it will be displaced a
maximum of 1 meter and store around 8143 joules.

I can find the size and type of coil spring required to deliver that, but I
can't seem to find anything on what sort of leaf spring would be needed. I
can find leaf springs that are rated to a specific load weight, but how does
that get me to amount of energy stored?

Again, the point here is to try to reduce the amount of weight you have to
add to the bicycle to enable the storage of start/stop energy. If the spring
can be made part of the frame of the bike, you get not only energy storage,
but also suspension without (much) increase in weight. Imagine mounting the
rear wheel of the bike at the end of a leaf spring and then bending that to
absorb and store the energy normally used in stopping.

---
James.
 

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