Believe it or not, I would like to offer the slowtwitch and triath- community something besides pure hate: an informative report on the aerodynamic state of the new vs. old in triathlon bikes. The medium will be the A2 wind tunnel in early March, and you will fund the research and the equipment requirements to facilitate same. If you won't/don't, hey, you know what, fuck you too...I'll keep it all to myself.
The bikes tested in both rider on and rider off configurations are as follows:
To clarify key items:
The quid pro quo for the GoFundMe is this:
And one last point. I personally do not care what the answer is. I do not care who wins. The bicycle that reigns the bicycle I will ride in 2017 -- and it may be the bicycle you ought to consider too.
Finally, I post this prior to cementing the protocol so I can crowd source opinions on that, even as I have my own thoughts and the thoughts of those who know much better. Looking forward to your own.
Here's the link to the GoFundMe thing
The bikes tested in both rider on and rider off configurations are as follows:
- 2013 (but really, 2008? 2007?) Felt B2. This bike will have the finest aerodynamic goods: market-leading aero rim brake, both front and rear; market-leading and tunnel-tested base bar; and best-practice nutrition/storage setup
- Diamondback Andean with every practical variable normalize -- group, cassette, extensions, wheels(?) -- except for base bar, which would be an integrative disaster on this bike
- Premier Tactical with...same as above except that it has proprietary base bar and extensions -- the former is acceptable, the latter is not, so we'll need to figure that one out
- [P5 / P5-X, outfitted with, same, if provided]
To clarify key items:
- This is not manufacturer sponsored testing in the monetary sense
- I fronted the money for the Andean, identical components vis-a-vis the B2, build, et al
- Dan Kennison of the Tactical jawn has committed to providing with identical setup and componentry to the aforementioned
- This will be as objective and precise and scientific as is realistically attainable, and there will be multiple third parties to ensure and verify, including Kennison
- X/Y tolerance shall be controlled to the nearest millimeter (if funded)
The quid pro quo for the GoFundMe is this:
- You crowd fund this whole shit with money, which buys:
- Tunnel time at A2
- Travel with multiple bikes and one mechanic to North Carolina, plus related expenses
- X/Y tool to verify tolerances
- You GoLendMe by providing what I cannot afford to furnish -- Enve 7.8 SES rim brake clinchers (2016-17), which is a match to the Andean wheelset I will test that has hub-disc rotors and +4 spokes on the front (whatup Tom A)
- You give feedback here as to best-in-class protocol, and all opinions are encouraged
- I issue a Coggan-like pompous, long-form scientific report that will be available to
- All backers, though if goal is unmet, then privately and with a confidentiality covenant (a la Friction Facts)
- All of slowtwitch, if goal is met
- I develop and offer for download a full-on Excel file/quant model that takes inputs from the testing and inputs from you (speed, distance, etc.) -- a poor man's Best Bike Split model, if you will -- and outputs an estimation of time losses (i.e. by being a triath-lemming and buying Jordan Rapp's all-new, slow bicycle with entirely unnecessary disc brakes and trash cans and shit)
- [The P5 or P5-X will only be tested if someone can provide me with a size that can match coordinates, with same components or set up in a way that could allow for transfer of equivalent parts]
And one last point. I personally do not care what the answer is. I do not care who wins. The bicycle that reigns the bicycle I will ride in 2017 -- and it may be the bicycle you ought to consider too.
Finally, I post this prior to cementing the protocol so I can crowd source opinions on that, even as I have my own thoughts and the thoughts of those who know much better. Looking forward to your own.
Here's the link to the GoFundMe thing