The search for speed branches out to some unlikely places.
Trek in the tunnel with their World Cup Downhill racers
Like the aero number plate!
I’m not surprised. The average speed for these guys is generally well above what folks TT at, so aero has to be a factor. I keep waiting for some guy to show up in a skin suit (of sorts, since obviously they need the armor) and kick everyone’s ass. But things like deep section rims, maybe some aero tubing, and a bit more attention to detail on the clothes could be huge. These races are decided by fractions of seconds.
I’m not surprised. The average speed for these guys is generally well above what folks TT at, so aero has to be a factor. I keep waiting for some guy to show up in a skin suit (of sorts, since obviously they need the armor) and kick everyone’s ass. But things like deep section rims, maybe some aero tubing, and a bit more attention to detail on the clothes could be huge. These races are decided by fractions of seconds.
Johnny T was using full-body skinsuits for DH years ago.
I also believe that there was a “rider revolt” a few years back against the use of skinsuits in DH that ended up in them being banned from competition (not so sure about that though…the banned part, that is)…IIRC, the biggest complaint was that skinsuits didn’t “fit the image” that DH’ers like to project
edit: I was right about both the ban and the source of it. Unbelievable…
http://www.bikeradar.com/...ke-competition-19021
Atherton wasn’t happy that Moseley used a skinsuit, which being much more aerodynamic than loose clothing, would have given her an advantage.
“Fair enough to Tracy if she wants to do that to win, but for the sport and the longevity of the sport, to wear cool race kit and to make an image for yourself is more important than the odd win here and there,” said Atherton.
Agreed. I bet all the engineers at the wind tunnel found it funny that they were testing aero rims for a rider with baggy shorts, shirt and visored helmet.
I’m not surprised. The average speed for these guys is generally well above what folks TT at, so aero has to be a factor. I keep waiting for some guy to show up in a skin suit (of sorts, since obviously they need the armor) and kick everyone’s ass. But things like deep section rims, maybe some aero tubing, and a bit more attention to detail on the clothes could be huge. These races are decided by fractions of seconds.
I am quite certain that the UCI has banned skin suits for DH racing. But a few years back it was ok. See Johnny T below
Yeah, skin-suits are banned. Just like in snow-boarding…
Yeah, skin-suits are banned. Just like in snow-boarding…
The ironic thing about that is BOTH sports basically started with the attitude of “doing whatever you want”…but, heaven forbid if you don’t show up looking like a baggy-trousered slacker 
Yeah, skin-suits are banned. Just like in snow-boarding…
The ironic thing about that is BOTH sports basically started with the attitude of “doing whatever you want”…but, heaven forbid if you don’t show up looking like a baggy-trousered slacker
What about a suit that was “baggy” but shaped:
If you shaped your jersey legs and arms like airfoils, you could actually end up with “big” clothing that was way faster. That’s what I’d like to see. Really loose airfoil pants. That’d be wicked.
As some people said in the bike rider comments, how do they define “loose.” Imagine you end up with clothing that is so big it makes you into a virtually fully-faired recumbent?
Skinsuits are banned for UCI events, this is the first year for it. JT was the first one to bring them in back in the day, and people have used them off and on since then. While the some of the riders hated the, the main push for the ban came from the clothing manufactures who wanted guys racing in their baggy stuff. Fox…TLD and the like have no interest in making skinsuits.
Personally I hated wearing skinsuits on a race run, it never felt right. You spend the weekend practicing in loose clothing them you put on the thing and it feels all wrong and tight. Some courses the probably make a difference on, other not so much because they’re slow and really technical.
The visors use to come off back in the late 90s and early 00s, but there is a gentleman’s agreement to leave them on now that everyone follows.
DH is using the same basic rules as BMX now on the clothing, you have to be able to pull a certain amount of loose fabric up on your forearms and thighs.
As to the looking cool thing, its part of the sport and group of people that race it, and if everyone is under the same rules you’re not losing speed.
Skinsuits are banned for UCI events, this is the first year for it. JT was the first one to bring them in back in the day, and people have used them off and on since then. While the some of the riders hated the, the main push for the ban came from the clothing manufactures who wanted guys racing in their baggy stuff. Fox…TLD and the like have no interest in making skinsuits.
Personally I hated wearing skinsuits on a race run, it never felt right. You spend the weekend practicing in loose clothing them you put on the thing and it feels all wrong and tight. Some courses the probably make a difference on, other not so much because they’re slow and really technical.
The visors use to come off back in the late 90s and early 00s, but there is a gentleman’s agreement to leave them on now that everyone follows.
DH is using the same basic rules as BMX now on the clothing, you have to be able to pull a certain amount of loose fabric up on your forearms and thighs.
As to the looking cool thing, its part of the sport and group of people that race it, and if everyone is under the same rules you’re not losing speed.
Geez…do they award you “style” points too that reduce your run time?
So silly…it’s a friggin’ race.
Yeah, it’s a race, but if everyone has to play by the same rules then how is it any different? Fastest one down still wins, so guys would rather do it in baggy cloths.
While you could engineer a garment that would have baggy airfoil properties I’m 99% sure that this guy has foam or plastic wedges on the backs of his legs. I seem to recall seeing a video about guys getting ready for speed skiing events and shoving wedges up the back legs of the winds suits was one part. From the looks of it this is also one of the suits that was banned by the FIS cause its nearly impermeable (read latex) and was causing some overheating problems for athletes. Bode and crew have to wear suits that release heat better and are therefore colder.
But why stop at airfoils on the backs of the arms and legs, why not design the front of the jersey to fall into the open space between a rider’s arms and torso voiding it out?
The FIS regulates the crap out of what you can wear in FIS events specifically alpine. There are regs for the skis, boots, and skinsuits.
That pic is from a speed skiing run. They pretty much have no rules other than fastest wins and get the record. There are wedges behind the legs, the even are putting aero cones on top of the poles now to try and bend the wind better around the upper body.
Would like to get a closer look at those rims…deep carbon???
Looks like full carbon. I know a couple companies out there are claiming they can make a super strong fill carbon rim since they don’t need to take the braking surface into account on them. Edge Composites is making a really nice all mountain rim which is just a step behind a full DH rim. Bontrager is making a XC carbon rim so they could be in house trek wheels. I know back in the day when HED made some DH carbon rims they were built like the jets on Sun rims.