Hello everyone, is there any good explanation or research/data on the allegedly very good aerodynamic performance of the non-horizontal top tubes on the Look 596 and the Specialized Transition? Specialized data says its better than a P3, and Look says its 595 is 10% less drag than a 496.
How can this be? Could it be that there is something to it, when you put a rider on the bicycle?
It is certainly not intuitive (just as in the old days, it was not intuitive that a water bottle on your downtube reduced drag with respect to no bottle on the downtube).
On the other hand Specialized has gone stretch horizontal again, so to speak, with the Shiv.
I am researching a triathlon frameset for my wife, 5’2", age group winner, 45-49.
Thanks!
Bill
because 1000 things influence the drag of a bike and top tube orientation is just one of them.
the specialized has a couple aero features the P3 does not.
as such it shouldn’t be a mystery how it manages to do about the same in the tunnel despite having a non optimal top tube orientation
Hello everyone, is there any good explanation or research/data on the allegedly very good aerodynamic performance of the non-horizontal top tubes on the Look 596 and the Specialized Transition? Specialized data says its better than a P3, and Look says its 595 is 10% less drag than a 496.
How can this be? Could it be that there is something to it, when you put a rider on the bicycle?
It is certainly not intuitive (just as in the old days, it was not intuitive that a water bottle on your downtube reduced drag with respect to no bottle on the downtube).
On the other hand Specialized has gone stretch horizontal again, so to speak, with the Shiv.
I am researching a triathlon frameset for my wife, 5’2", age group winner, 45-49.
Thanks!
Bill