Anyone know of any wind tunnels in the Southeast US that work with cyclists? Who? Where? web link?
Thanks,
TAMU (Texas A&M) is the closest. You work with John Cobb. Price is reasonable as well, about 1/2 of Allied LSWT.
'Fraid of that. Not exactly right down the street from me. Do you set that up through John Cobb or through TAMU somehow?
Thanks, Rapp
I PM’d you
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Anyone know of any wind tunnels in the Southeast US that work with cyclists? Who? Where? web link?
If you own a powermeter, the nearest “wind tunnel” is as close as the nearest ~0.5 km stretch of very flat, wind-sheltered road. It’s extremely time-consuming and you can only test at 0 deg of yaw (which is why I stopped doing such tests), but over the long run might be just as valuable as a one-off trip to a wind tunnel.
Anyone know of any wind tunnels in the Southeast US that work with cyclists? Who? Where? web link?
If you own a powermeter, the nearest “wind tunnel” is as close as the nearest ~0.5 km stretch of very flat, wind-sheltered road. It’s extremely time-consuming and you can only test at 0 deg of yaw (which is why I stopped doing such tests), but over the long run might be just as valuable as a one-off trip to a wind tunnel.
Having done both, I would say it is.
With outdoor field-testing, you’re more likely to get a realistic assesment of how you hold a position in real life. It’s real easy to get nice and aero when your bike’s in a fixture (e.g. Gary’s position above) – but it isn’t quite real. You need to know what your drag is when you’re looking down the road to avoid obstacles, dealing with pavement irregularities, &etc.
I’ve tried a few variations where I could hold real good power in a stand, but the CdA shot up when I got over 300 watts on a real road (maybe because I was raising my head more to look down the road at higher speed, or because I was splaying my legs out more for balance over road irregularites). I would never have discovered this without field testing.
– jens
So the investment in a powermeter is probably smarter than the investment in wind tunnel time (since I don’t have a pm). Andrew, you’ve seen my times and I know you’re underwhelmed, but I think I’m on the up-side of the curve despite my age ('cuz this time trialing is a relatively new thing for me). Your reply here has reminded me that the basic principles of aerodynamics are pretty much known … get as low and narrow as possible in order to be aero (and apply all the angles and ratios and figure out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, etc.). What isn’t known for each individual is where the limits and the power compromises enter in. With a powermeter I’d be able to figure that out.
Still not cheap, but doesn’t involve the travel. 
Thanks,
So the investment in a powermeter is probably smarter than the investment in wind tunnel time (since I don’t have a pm). Andrew, you’ve seen my times and I know you’re underwhelmed, but I think I’m on the up-side of the curve despite my age ('cuz this time trialing is a relatively new thing for me). Your reply here has reminded me that the basic principles of aerodynamics are pretty much known … get as low and narrow as possible in order to be aero (and apply all the angles and ratios and figure out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, etc.). What isn’t known for each individual is where the limits and the power compromises enter in. With a powermeter I’d be able to figure that out.
Still not cheap, but doesn’t involve the travel.
Thanks,
definitely, it’s not a tenth as sexy as the wind tunnel, but it will improve your cycling a hundred fold more than the windtunnel
Andrew, you’ve seen my times and I know you’re underwhelmed
Not true. I just know that even Kent Bostick is no longer fast enough to have to worry about the 5 cm setback rule (unless he goes after some UCI record).
low and narrow as possible
Don’t forget air flow…
“Not true. I just know that even Kent Bostick is no longer fast enough to have to worry about the 5 cm setback rule (unless he goes after some UCI record).”
Does that mean Kent is no longer close to setting U.S. age group TT records (which also follow UCI equipment regulations) too?