Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Topic started by: токамак on 02 October, 2008, 03:16:46 pm

Title: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: токамак on 02 October, 2008, 03:16:46 pm
Go-faster bicycle wings (http://technology.newscientist.com/article/mg15721211.400)
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: gonzo on 02 October, 2008, 03:20:25 pm
They were first invented some while ago I'm afraid. I think it was John Cobb over on Slowtwitch who was telling me that they did make him a little faster when TTing.
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 October, 2008, 03:23:48 pm
As exclusively reported in Issue 52 of the BHPC Newsletter back in 1998.  Well, exclusively apart from The Times and New Scientist.  Curiously, the item in the former stated "typically the rider represented about 64 per cent of aerodynamic drag and the bicycle a mere 21 per cent".  I am at a loss to work out what causes the remaining 15% of the aerodynamic drag, but then I'm not a njineer.
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: токамак on 02 October, 2008, 03:27:14 pm
The original NS article is dated Feb. 1998. I think I've also seen old photos of some kind of plastic faring that looked ridiculous but did have an effect.
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: токамак on 02 October, 2008, 03:28:57 pm
the rider represented about 64 per cent of aerodynamic drag
but 100% of the power!
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 October, 2008, 03:36:03 pm
Yep, The Times article was from February 12th.
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: border-rider on 02 October, 2008, 03:36:14 pm
"typically the rider represented about 64 per cent of aerodynamic drag and the bicycle a mere 21 per cent".  I am at a loss to work out what causes the remaining 15% of the aerodynamic drag, but then I'm not a njineer.

Carradice longflap, mudguards & plus-twos of course  ???
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 02 October, 2008, 03:38:55 pm
Didn't somebody in the USA modify Zipper fairings with a Lycra tube that went around the rider's bum, effectively fairing the arms.  AFAIR that was in the 80s sometime and there were some point-to-point long-distance records taken with this arrangement.
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: border-rider on 02 October, 2008, 03:40:38 pm
So the old CTC boys with their capes actually were onto something
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 October, 2008, 03:41:37 pm
Didn't somebody in the USA modify Zipper fairings with a Lycra tube that went around the rider's bum, effectively fairing the arms.  AFAIR that was in the 80s sometime and there were some point-to-point long-distance records taken with this arrangement.

One Nigel Leaper had a similar setup on his (upright) machine in BHPC racing in the early 90's.  It was, natch, immediately dubbed "the sports bra".  Fabric fairings of one sort or another are fairly common on the Dark Side.
Title: Re: Wanna go faster? Get wings
Post by: Frenchie on 03 October, 2008, 05:42:54 pm
"typically the rider represented about 64 per cent of aerodynamic drag and the bicycle a mere 21 per cent".  I am at a loss to work out what causes the remaining 15% of the aerodynamic drag, but then I'm not a njineer.

Carradice longflap, mudguards & plus-twos of course  ???

Unless they were referring to form drag under the aero label, and the remainder, 15%, would be friction drag? The split wouldn't be silly.