gpelpel

Just read this article about aerodynamics from the Bicycling website.

https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/.../revenge-nerds

Very interesting especially paragraph: ANY OTHER TRICKS OF THE TRADE YOU'D CARE TO SHARE?

Philipaparker

Cool article, thanks.

SesameCrunch

Thanks for the link!

I was really blown away by this comment in the article - "And wearing gloves in a time trial will slow you down more than using a nonaero front wheel. "

johnny99

Remember that a lot of these aero tricks only apply at 25mph and above. Until you can ride at least 20 miles in one hour, you should work on your fitness and technique instead of worrying about your aerodynamics.

rokphotography

good read!

SesameCrunch

Good point. Guess I don't throw away my gloves just yet

Having switched to recumbent riding recently, I have become very aware of the difference in lower aero profile. At a steady pace, I'm cranking out about 25% less power, but going 1.5-2 mph faster on the flats with my Bacchetta recumbent compared to my road bike. Same rider, different aero profile.

Speaking of aero equipment, here's my latest acquisition, which should arrive in a couple of weeks:

gpelpel

Do you have aero shoes?


Wow! What's that? No pedal, no chain, no brake... Sounds like a kamikaze downhill bent. Looks cool though.

x136 

How does it fold?

SesameCrunch

I'll let you know if I crash it into a tree...

SesameCrunch

Yeah, it's a grown up version of the Skuut



Allright, if you insist, here's picture of a previous one he made for another customer. This one has a tailbox, which I'm not getting 'cause there's just too much cross winds around where I ride.

RChung

How old is that article? Mark Cote has been working at Specialized (in Morgan Hill) for a little while now.

It's possible to measure aero and rolling drag with field tests if you're pretty careful and can find a wind-protected road.

Jeff Wills

+1. It's amazing to see the guys at the local 10-mile TT wheezing their way to 27-minute times on carbon-fiber wunderbikes. Of course, it's far easier to buy a new bike than it is to develop the fitness to improve your TT by one minute.

Jeff Wills

Ooohhh... pretty. Any chance you could bring it up to Portland next May: https://www.ohpv.org/HPC/index.html ?? We have participants from up and down the West Coast.

BTW: this is my latest acquisition. I got it ready (barely) for the last edition, and I'm trying to make time to work out the kinks:

RChung

-1.

Aerodynamics applies whenever you've moving at non-zero speed and not in a vacuum.

SesameCrunch

Jeff:

I will definitely consider participating next year. My friend Phil Plath, who is responsible for me getting into this cycling while lying down business is a regular at your annual gathering.

Jeff Wills

Cool! It's pretty low-key. A lot of "fun" racing and a lot of socializing. With luck it won't rain all that much.

uspspro

Cool Alan!

But... front wheel drive?

SesameCrunch

Yup, I like FWD. Helps with climbing. I have a rear wheel drive 'bent also. Guess you could call me a bi-cyclist

Spiduhman

"-1.
Aerodynamics applies whenever you've moving at non-zero speed and not in a vacuum."

Well, almost - when relative windspeed is non-zero, hence not a vacuum, on account o' vacuum does not have wind (unless somebody farts).

)

Hey, I was so pleased when first broke 27 mins for a 10 mile (road bike).

...and noted, with glee, that all the "B" folk with aero bikes who regularly placed ahead of me, by a minute or two, were all, ALL behind me when the weekly tt was Merckx only.

It makes a difference.

Furthermore, stretchy helmet cover gives about 2-4 seconds/mile (and warmer head).

By far the biggest aero factor is... fairing and positioning of one's bawdy body, of course.


All the bits mentioned in the article have been repeated for quite some time now. The gloves bit - does depend on the glove to a great extent - point being that the plume of "dirty air" from the hands, bar ends, head, i.e. the protruding parts, make a big difference.

"big"

heh

VNA

At 20mph: 80% of the power to the pedals is to push against the air mass!