Mostrar menúAs you know, air is this omnipresent and invisible enemy that keeps us from moving inside it. With a self-propelled by an engine vehicle there is no problem. Needed power to defeat air resistance grows exponentially with speed. We use more than the 95% of power to go through the air (yes, more than 95%). Car, plane, motorbike or similar device´s engines moves us effortlessly and, in spite of that most of the work is spent to beat air, there is still enough left to move the whole mass easily.
In the case of cyclists, it is the same but different. Cyclist´s power output is that and there is nothing else. It is not easy to increase it but through detailed training, controlled nutrition and time ahead. It happens the same with weight. The cyclist and its impedimenta cannot get lighter indefinitely. On one side it is the logic and required efforts that need of a muscular and skeletal mass. On the other side is the U.C.I. that says that racing bikes cannot weight under 14.9 pounds.
So, how can we scratch some seconds to the chrono? Right. Optimizing our aerodynamics. That is the reason why interest in this particular made bike and accessories makers to work their hearts out when it comes to hide cables, shape tubes, helmets, rims, shoes, etc. If all of this work makes you to take up 15 seconds of a time trial, you must think that sometimes they are won by hundredths of a second. We are talking about significant time gaps that sentenced Tours.
We already have an aerodynamic and light bike, light and aerodynamic componentry and a light and as powerful as possible cyclist. Put it all together.
Our cyclist is sat on the bike. The overall is moderately aerodynamic. If we change his/her position for he/she to be much more aerodynamic, we can get to a situation in which air penetration is clearly favored, but that goes against racer performance or health. We will reduce the overall frontal surface as much as we can but not at the expense of its optimal operation. This requires reaching a delicate balance through many tests. We will change the position and frontal surface and performance are to be measured. And thus as many times as needed.
The position on the bike can be changed as simply as modifying components position such as saddle, handlebar, cranks, etc. When it comes to obtain a frontal surface to be taken in account as a variable on our side, it is not that easy. So far, and not always, you used to take a picture of the cyclist from the front side and on his/her bike. A photo editing software determined the frontal area with an acceptable accuracy but though a slow and messy process.
The diligence and accuracy of this procedure have been drastically improved with a SPORT LAB in collaboration with fotografiacientifica.com designed proprietary device.
It is an enormous panel that gives out a special light, cause of its high price, in front of which a rack has been installed to attach the bike solidly and accurately enough to reject errors coming from placing the cyclist-bike unit in a different position in every measurement. A thick black curtain covers all of this structure so that we can eliminate the light dispersion that could distort measurements.
In front of this structure there is an exceptionally precise in its adjustments tripod and a camera with a lens that allows manual focusing and fixes it. The camera is connected to a computer with a special software that, instantly and with a unknown precision in our activity, can feature an exact frontal area measurement. Any change can be detected, nothing escapes the camera, nothing.
Is it that bad? Yes, definetly yes. The accuracy level is astonishing. We have carried out measurements prior and after changes that could be discarded because of its apparent irrelevancy. No matter how incredible it seems, what you are about to read is reliable and scientifically checked. It is not a supposition, nor intuition nor it is influenced by any opinion, but it reflects what coldly analyzed data say.
With this premise firmly consolidated in our mind, the difference between the yes and no is quantified in frontal area percentage according to the following terms:
– Shaved legs: +/- 2%-4%.
– Shaved arms: +/- 1%-2%.
– Front wheel properly aligned, that is, correctly tight by the skewer in the fork dropouts. If it is not properly aligned, this parameter variation could mean:
- 0.1 degrees misalignment (imperceptible by the human eye): +/- 0.17%.
- 0.5 degrees misalignment: +/- 0,85%.
- 1 degree misalignment: +/- 1.71%.
– Open elbows due to a narrow handlebar: +/- 1%-5%.
– Open legs when pedaling: +/- 1%-5%.
– Close little and ring finger around the handlebar: +/- 0.1%-0.2%.
In other words, if we shave arms and legs, if we hold the front wheel correctly in its attachment, if we do not open elbows and legs and if we wrap our fingers around the handlebar, we can reduce our frontal area up to an 18%.
Spoke number and shape, shoe and its buckles, pedal, frame, levers, handlebar and so on are also shapes to study with aerodynamics as a goal for its bigger negative impact. Needless to talk about helmet, clothing, position, the cyclist itself, ect. because, for what we saw, it is easy to imagine the brutal influence of these elements due to size reasons. Therefore, when we see that pro cyclists are (or should be) extremely careful with these variables, don´ t you think that is for no reason.
At SPORT LAB you can know immediately and with annoying precision the changes in your frontal surface and its influence on the use of cyclist´s performance. If it is not enough, the results coming from the invented by SPORT LAB device could be conveniently interpreted by some calculations and substitute with dignity a wind tunnel that costs about 2.000€ per hour, if there is any available nearer than 400 miles from home.
Of course, nothing happens at random. In addition to the investment made in this device, and that exceeds the one you need for a car, you are to invent, design, make, and try/error it, all of them required to put at your disposal a powerful tool that allows you to reach an accuracy level inaccessible for some and needed for others.
Come to see it.
In figure 1 you can see the cyclist integrated in the structure that holds him and in the 2 the frontal surface depurated by the system.
Fig. 1
Fig.2.
