Refreshing to see Patrick’s sponsors collaborate on cutting edge aero gains with his custom cockpit.
Kona’s gonna be interesting!
Reminded me of the aerobars Walser developed in the mid - late 90’s when Ullrich was riding one of their bikes in TT’s.
What is the word on bike power/overall improvement for Lange from last year Kona. Its one thing I’ve not really factored in how the race plays out. Can he keep the gap to the sanders wurf kienle train similar to last year? I was thinking probably not originally given pretty easy wind conditions on bike last year (mind you this year is looking very calm based on current weather patterns stuck in and around the big Island with light winds), but perhaps some gains have been made on his set up and bike fitness. Views?
“#betherecordbreaker”
No pressure, Patrick!
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Well, he already is, so no pressure indeed.
Except that Jan was riding them pointing down big time if I recall.
Those were sweet bikes. Couple of pro triathletes ride then as well. I want to say Lothar Leder and Timo Bracht?
nice bars I would say they look more like the xentis bars farris used to ride than the walser. bars but anyway they seem to fit fantastically well
i’d like to know the reason why his trisuit fits the way it does .
Oh, I thought you were saying he is on the Incremental gains plan that Sky is on. Then I open this thread and its about aerobars.
Interesting that they did all that engineering and testing w/o the garmin in place??
nice bars I would say they look more like the xentis bars farris used to ride than the walser. bars but anyway they seem to fit fantastically well
i’d like to know the reason why his trisuit fits the way it does .
Haha! True…wrinkles negate the cool extensions…
Are these the same bars?
you could start tribar investigation.com
Are these the same bars?
Do not appear to be so. This had foam the length and the profile was a lot different in the video of the tunnel.
Oh, I thought you were saying he is on the Incremental gains plan that Sky is on. Then I open this thread and its about aerobars.
Yes, that was an intentional homage to Sky’s use of 3D tech to optimize a TT cockpit.
Also found it intriguing in the sense that it says something about Patrick’s support system and related approach to improvement. Professional is a word that comes to mind. I find that inspirational.
There is more here than just aerobars.
Scott
Found a few better angles in static images here. Very Team Sky.
Oh, I thought you were saying he is on the Incremental gains plan that Sky is on. Then I open this thread and its about aerobars.
Yes, that was an intentional homage to Sky’s use of 3D tech to optimize a TT cockpit.
Also found it intriguing in the sense that it says something about Patrick’s support system and related approach to improvement. Professional is a word that comes to mind. I find that inspirational.
There is more here than just aerobars.
Scott
Or its just a Marketing stunt for the companies involved. While for Patrick it might be the most stupid thing he could do.
Why?
In any case it is a slight change in aero position during the late pre-Kona season. And we do know athletes who suffered heavily due to such late changes in the past. Prime example being Michael Raelert after the BMC change in 2012, where he dropped out of IM Frankfurt prior to the race.
So basically an additional risk for Patricks race performance.
What is the gain of such a change?
Let us assume Patrick saves 4 Watt due to this change. In sheer numbers that would save him about 5-6 minutes on the bike. Truth be told it will be a pack ride for Patrick, most likely for the whole bike part. Therefore the aero advantage might not even drop in at all. Instead it may ease the bike impact for his run. Meaning he may feel more fit on the run by maybe 1%. Yet it doesnt mean he is running faster, only that he may get up to race speed faster on the run and have it easier to keep race speed.
Yet Patrick already prooved he can do that in 2016 and 2017 - delivering a stellar run after the bike part.
Questions: Did Patrick take a risk? Was it really worth a risk taking late in the season - pre-Kona?
Let us assume Patrick saves 4 Watt due to this change. In sheer numbers that would save him about 5-6 minutes on the bike.
4 watts is around 85 seconds over 180km… it would take a 20 watt savings to see 5-6min over 180km
Let us assume Patrick saves 4 Watt due to this change. In sheer numbers that would save him about 5-6 minutes on the bike.
4 watts is around 85 seconds over 180km… it would take a 20 watt savings to see 5-6min over 180km
Taking Patricks weight into account at something like 62-63 kg the impact of 4 Watt is much higher than 85 seconds. (plain numbers, which do not 100% relay to race perfromance)
I think you are misinformed as to how this all works…
Let us assume Patrick saves 4 Watt due to this change. In sheer numbers that would save him about 5-6 minutes on the bike.
4 watts is around 85 seconds over 180km… it would take a 20 watt savings to see 5-6min over 180km
Taking Patricks weight into account at something like 62-63 kg the impact of 4 Watt is much higher than 85 seconds. (plain numbers, which do not 100% relay to race perfromance)
I think you are misinformed as to how this all works…
I think I simplified it to make a point obvious. It leads to nothing to include increasing drag at higher speed as well as crosswinds since we lack the numbers here. To make it obvious I believe taking 3.8 - 4.1 W/kg plausible and plain neglect increasing drag and any other factor we dont have numbers for. As well as a potential strategy of just staying at the planned race speed and maintaining it with less effort during the race due to such a change.
Apart from that it imho doesnt matter here simply since 85 seconds is an even less potential gain for Patrick from this optimization late in the season.
PS - Edit: Am not an aero expert and you for sure know more about it than me.
Oh, I thought you were saying he is on the Incremental gains plan that Sky is on. Then I open this thread and its about aerobars.
Yes, that was an intentional homage to Sky’s use of 3D tech to optimize a TT cockpit.
Also found it intriguing in the sense that it says something about Patrick’s support system and related approach to improvement. Professional is a word that comes to mind. I find that inspirational.
There is more here than just aerobars.
Scott
Or its just a Marketing stunt for the companies involved. While for Patrick it might be the most stupid thing he could do.
Why?
In any case it is a slight change in aero position during the late pre-Kona season. And we do know athletes who suffered heavily due to such late changes in the past. Prime example being Michael Raelert after the BMC change in 2012, where he dropped out of IM Frankfurt prior to the race.
So basically an additional risk for Patricks race performance.
What is the gain of such a change?
Let us assume Patrick saves 4 Watt due to this change. In sheer numbers that would save him about 5-6 minutes on the bike. Truth be told it will be a pack ride for Patrick, most likely for the whole bike part. Therefore the aero advantage might not even drop in at all. Instead it may ease the bike impact for his run. Meaning he may feel more fit on the run by maybe 1%. Yet it doesnt mean he is running faster, only that he may get up to race speed faster on the run and have it easier to keep race speed.
Yet Patrick already prooved he can do that in 2016 and 2017 - delivering a stellar run after the bike part.
Questions: Did Patrick take a risk? Was it really worth a risk taking late in the season - pre-Kona?
You are suggesting that the Ironman world champion and a team of expert engineers spent the day in a wind tunnel - and Patrick Langer came out less areo and slower as a result?
Cool story bro…
I think you have to give credit where its due - and these people are not going through that process to make Patrick slower. Sure its mainly about marketing, but come on. I think Patrick knows whats good for his Kona finishing time and whats not.