I have received word that Bicycle Sports is working on a new wind tunnel facility and plans to build their own wind tunnel especially for triathlon and time trial testing, with the rider onboard the bicycle (representing more accurately the aerodynamic conditions that one will face).
They will be able to test different bicycle components with the rider on the bike, to reflect the aerodynamic interaction between rider and bike, and what effects this has on components like wheels, frames, aerobars, etc.
I am hoping that they will make the data publicly available once the testing begins. This facility will be a first of its kind and will (IMHO) represent a new chapter in bicycle aerodynamic technology advances that will benefit us all.
It’s pretty cool that John is building a tunnel (and thanks for the info!), but Jeeze - Is john paying you to write this stuff, or do you just not know anything about wind tunnels/the testing that people have done/do now? The only thing john gets out of a new tunnel that he doesn’t get out of an existing one is time in said tunnel - which is pretty significant, by the way. All that other stuff you wrote is unadulterated BS.
… and, if you think he is going to give away the fruits of his efforts for free, you are getting better dope than I am.
OK, you’re stoked - but calm down a bit - you sound ridiculous.
Hopefully John will be willing to regularly inform us on all his aero findings and his reports will be unbiased. Probably he’ll do it as a pay site like Kraig Willet’s.
I read awhile ago that John was offering wind tunnel camps at another rented facility. For a mere $3500 or something you could have a full aero fit assessment done. Costs a lot to rent a wind tunnel. Once he gets his own wind tunnel I’d suspect the assessment still won’t be cheap.
This would be great, but I don’t see how its possible. I assume that Cobb is doing well, and I am somewhat ignorant about the specific cost involved, but aren’t wind tunnels 10s of millions of dollars? Some major univerities have them, some goverment facilities, and some major car manufacturers - somehow a bikeshop doesn’t seem to belong on this list.
I was there a couple months ago getting a bike fit and we talked about their new shop. They have opened a place in Tyler, TX with 2 endless pools with all kinds of toys to help with your stroke. They’ve got a dedicated fit room. I think they were going to have something to analyze your run as well. It sounded like they were going to try and branch out into coaching/weekend training camps.
There was talk about building a cycling specific wind tunnel at the site but when I was there, it was just their musings not a definite commitment. Since JC is trying to build his Blackwell brand name and since he makes so much money with his weekend wind tunnel camps it seems like this would be an investment that could pay for itself pretty quickly.
How many people currently pay $200 for an expert fitting? Now how much would those people pay for the same expert fitting + whatever time they need in the wind tunnel? Also factor in the amount of money you could make with those $3500 x 10 people wind tunnel camps if you didn’t have to pay for the wind tunnel.
I imagine the higher costs associated with wind tunnels used for aerospace research are related to the cost associated with installing/maintaining/running electric or turbine engine that have to turn a variable pitch the propeller(s) or ducted fan(s) with sufficient velocity to produce high subsonic wind velocities to test turbine powered aircraft aerodynamics!
with the rider onboard the bicycle (representing more accurately the aerodynamic conditions that one will face).
They will be able to test different bicycle components with the rider on the bike, to reflect the aerodynamic interaction between rider and bike, and what effects this has on components like wheels, frames, aerobars, etc.
I don’t know anybody serious about windtunnel testing who does all their tests without a rider on board. Some things, like front wheels, can easily done without a rider since there is no interaction but even then some tests would be run with a rider just to validate that assumption. But for rearwheel cutouts, seatpost shapes, downtube shapes, cranks, etc, most people do them with a pedalling rider on board.
Eluding to the post regarding the cost of a wind tunnel, seems to me I read a few years back that the Williams Formula One team built a new wind tunnel for the cost of around 15 million US dollars.
I also assume you could also build a simple facility in a long hall way with a large fan at one end but how accurate would it be?
This makes me wonder about the cost to build a decent bike specific wind tunnel. What is your estimate of cost for such a project.
Obviously you and Phil started trend where aerodynamics is going to become increasingly important. It makes me wonder if John is building a tunnel with the expectation of bike manufacturers coming to his facility for testing. If it was bike specific/friendly, it might make a lot of economic sense to bike companies since it would be cheaper than building their own.
It amazes me how a big company like Giant for example has never tested their TCR “Aero”.