Illusion of "aero" bike frames
#51
bike whisperer
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,545
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1527 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times
in
510 Posts
Refuse to believe people think aero bikes look good, regardless of them working or not. Smh. Any time I see one of those UCI-illegal tri-bikes, I'm thankful that for all the bad the UCI has done, they at least spared us from those monstrosities.
What's next, Softrides and Y-frame Treks having cult followings? Nah, that'd never happen.
What's next, Softrides and Y-frame Treks having cult followings? Nah, that'd never happen.
__________________
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
#52
Senior Member
I bought 'aero' way back in ~1980 because of 'beauty'! I still have this frame and all of the components. The pic shows Campagnolo pedals but some super lightweight Vittoria pedals were put on it for the 'Nth' degree of weight savings. (get your hands off my donut!) Unfortunately, the rubber covers for the Modolos have perished. I will try to figure a way to make repros.
Likes For Shrevvy:
#53
Senior Member
I believe he works for Airbus (in aerodynamics) so he's probably better qualified than anyone here.
#54
Senior Member
#55
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,609
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
This one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8TZwJGrvFY
I believe he works for Airbus (in aerodynamics) so he's probably better qualified than anyone here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8TZwJGrvFY
I believe he works for Airbus (in aerodynamics) so he's probably better qualified than anyone here.
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
Enve wheels are pretty fast without dimples.
#57
bike whisperer
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,545
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1527 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times
in
510 Posts
That's one way to take a pic with your toeclip pedals right side up...
__________________
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Likes For Kimmo:
#59
Super Modest
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 23,466
Bikes: Trek Emonda, Giant Propel, Colnago V3, Co-Motion Supremo, ICE VTX WC
Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10963 Post(s)
Liked 4,620 Times
in
2,123 Posts
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,515
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
Likes For seypat:
Likes For sheddle:
Likes For Lemond1985:
#63
Newbie racer
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,406
Bikes: Propel, red is faster
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
974 Posts
This one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8TZwJGrvFY
I believe he works for Airbus (in aerodynamics) so he's probably better qualified than anyone here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8TZwJGrvFY
I believe he works for Airbus (in aerodynamics) so he's probably better qualified than anyone here.
He had a huge wheel shootout topic on Slowtwich that went dozens of pages deep and all sorts of weird stuff happening.
I can't say I can follow his stuff after watching that topic unfold.
#64
Senior Member
#66
Newbie racer
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 3,406
Bikes: Propel, red is faster
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1575 Post(s)
Liked 1,569 Times
in
974 Posts
Exactly. My point being that everyone goes downhill at some point. So you can go really really fast (air speed, not ground speed). Meaning, the weakest rider imaginable can have measurable times spent in rides at speeds where aero matters a LOT.
I remember my commute to and from work when I traveled to France for 3 weeks. Luckily, the way to work was all downhill into the river valley from Nancy. So no sweaty worker showing up. But, with flappy work clothes I couldn't nearly hit the speeds I could in a race fit kit. Also, it was my cross bike and not my roadie. So slower still. It was also straight enough most parts you could have gone faster.
One morning a pure roadie in road kit caught me going downhill and in one part I was having to put out appreciable power while that guy wasn't even pedaling!
Of course the way home was all uphill. Lol. That took a bit longer.
I remember my commute to and from work when I traveled to France for 3 weeks. Luckily, the way to work was all downhill into the river valley from Nancy. So no sweaty worker showing up. But, with flappy work clothes I couldn't nearly hit the speeds I could in a race fit kit. Also, it was my cross bike and not my roadie. So slower still. It was also straight enough most parts you could have gone faster.
One morning a pure roadie in road kit caught me going downhill and in one part I was having to put out appreciable power while that guy wasn't even pedaling!
Of course the way home was all uphill. Lol. That took a bit longer.
#67
The dropped
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 2,144
Bikes: Pake C'Mute Touring/Commuter Build, 1989 Kona Cinder Cone, 1995 Trek 5200, 1973 Raleigh Super Course FG, 1960/61 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne "thrift" 3 speed, by Hercules (sold) : 1966 Schwinn Deluxe Racer (sold)
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1739 Post(s)
Liked 1,014 Times
in
696 Posts
No one mentioned headwinds yet.
#69
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 2,397
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1104 Post(s)
Liked 1,824 Times
in
878 Posts
You are correct. That IS Greg Lemond in the final stage of the 1989 TDF; a time trial. I'll give you three guesses who he made time on and beat; winning the overall victory. He gained those seconds with aero bars and an aero frame (pictured).
Hence the photo of Greg and my comment to ask Laurent Fignon if the aero advantage is real or imagined. (Which is the subject of this thread)
Later that year, Greg snatched the World Professional Road Race gold medal from Laurent (his former teammate). Laurent has since passed on and when I spoke to Greg in June of this year he spoke highly of him.
In my opinion, the 1989 TDF was one of the best in history and ushered in the aero advantage on a much larger scale then ever before.
Hence the photo of Greg and my comment to ask Laurent Fignon if the aero advantage is real or imagined. (Which is the subject of this thread)
Later that year, Greg snatched the World Professional Road Race gold medal from Laurent (his former teammate). Laurent has since passed on and when I spoke to Greg in June of this year he spoke highly of him.
In my opinion, the 1989 TDF was one of the best in history and ushered in the aero advantage on a much larger scale then ever before.
Last edited by nomadmax; 10-04-19 at 07:07 PM.
Likes For Cyclist753:
#72
bike whisperer
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,545
Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1527 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times
in
510 Posts
Didn't someone figure out that if Fignon had tied his hair back he'd have won?
__________________
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
#73
Senior Member
Likes For asgelle:
#74
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,617
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1068 Post(s)
Liked 781 Times
in
503 Posts
You are correct. That IS Greg Lemond in the final stage of the 1989 TDF; a time trial. I'll give you three guesses who he made time on and beat; winning the overall victory. He gained those seconds with aero bars and an aero frame (pictured).
Hence the photo of Greg and my comment to ask Laurent Fignon if the aero advantage is real or imagined. (Which is the subject of this thread)
Later that year, Greg snatched the World Professional Road Race gold medal from Laurent (his former teammate). Laurent has since passed on and when I spoke to Greg in June of this year he spoke highly of him.
In my opinion, the 1989 TDF was one of the best in history and ushered in the aero advantage on a much larger scale then ever before.
Hence the photo of Greg and my comment to ask Laurent Fignon if the aero advantage is real or imagined. (Which is the subject of this thread)
Later that year, Greg snatched the World Professional Road Race gold medal from Laurent (his former teammate). Laurent has since passed on and when I spoke to Greg in June of this year he spoke highly of him.
In my opinion, the 1989 TDF was one of the best in history and ushered in the aero advantage on a much larger scale then ever before.
Last edited by OldTryGuy; 10-06-19 at 03:51 AM.
Likes For OldTryGuy: