Aerodynamic Question

[Veronica]

How much energy is David Millar (http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/09/road/2010-vuelta-a-espana-stage-14-a-graham-watson-gallery_139930/attachment/the_break) saving by being in this position rather than in the drops?

I spent some time riding like this today. It takes a lot of core strength, a smooth pedal stroke and of course you can't shift. I've noticed a lot of the really great time trialists riding in this position in all three Grand Tours. It's pretty comfortable.

Veronica

[SadieKate]

Hey, V, long time . . .

Anything that makes you narrower is going to be more aero, just like a TT position. This position is also one of the reasons for the new flat top road bars.

[Veronica]

Hey SK! How have you been?

V.

[SadieKate]

Fishing a lot!

This has been the Year of Little Crick Stick Fishing*. :)

And, hopefully, some steelhead this weekend.

And some nice Idaho rainbows, and maybe a brown or two, next week.

*As in little waters need little fly rods.

[Gowest]

sweaty palms and a bump in road means down I go - not for me! Reminds me of watching the pros descend with their "junk" on the top tube. But given the amount of wind tunnel work they do - I am sure there is an advantage.

Kids - dont' try this at home! seems appropriate.

debi

[SheFly]

I've actually used this position A LOT this season, both in road riding/racing and in MTB races. It does save you energy based on your position. However, before attempting something like this, one should be VERY comfortable in a TT position - as mentioned, the bike handling is more challenging given that quick access to shifting/braking is not there.

This position also affords a break for my hands when I am tired ;).

SheFly

[Veronica]

Thanks for the reply Shefly. I was thinking it would be a good alternate race position. I'm not sure I want to put aero bars on my race bike and this seemed like it would be a good alternative. There are a lot of fairly straight flat sections on my HIM and by the time you get to them, you are pretty much alone. Plus drafting is illegal in tri so, you're really not suppose to be close anyway.

Veronica

[SheFly]

No problem, V! so for a tri, I would think it would be fine for you to use this position in some places. You definitely don't want to use it climbing or descending (not that I really NEEDED to say that ;)), but for flat, straight sections, it will provide you a good aerodynamic position without adding the bars.

At our club TT this season, I saw a guy who had actually taken his arm rests/pads off his aero bars, and was using shoe inserts taped to his forearms to rest his arms and get himself into a lower position. Seemed to work well for him, and he said it was comfortable.

When's the race? Good luck with it!

SheFly

[pll]

Has anyone tried the 3T "Zefiro (http://www.3tcycling.com/products.aspx?i=Aerobars&p=zefiro&d=LTD)" bars? They look like mutant bars, but intriguing. It seems the bar extension can be removed. I've been tempted to fall into that position sometimes, but I'm afraid a bump in the road will make me lose control of the bike.

[smilingcat]

zefiro bar. looks very intriguing but is it legal for race? thinking of classics/road.

probably not.

I do rest my forearm on the bar bur never thought of taping a shoe insert on my arm... The position helps to rest my wrist. And changing ride positions during long ride helps with fatigue.

+1 if you can do it safely.

"junk" on the top bar?? not sure about this position. Going down steep hill, I'm at a disadvantage, small and light weight back then, I would scoot off the seat and rest my stomach on the seat and let my butt hang just above the back wheel. My arm would be stretched out my thighs would be tucked up next to the body and this helps with drag. Also very dangerous because weight distribution is really poor. This position is good only on steep descent since you can't really pedal. and also not good on technical descents with lots of (sharp) turns. Using this position has allowed me to hit just over 60MPH (~100Km/hr). these days my top speed is about 40MPH.

[Veronica]

When's the race? Good luck with it!

SheFly


It's the one I do at the end of July. This year with only 700 miles on the bike I took off 17 minutes and averaged just under 17 mph for the 56 miles. Next year, I'd like to get that up to 19.

The pro female who won the overall avergaged 23 mph!

Veronica

[pll]

zefiro bar. looks very intriguing but is it legal for race? thinking of classics/road.

probably not.



3T claims it's UCI, USA Triathlon and Ironman legal. There's a review here (http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/3T_takes_the_shorty_bar_forward_891.html)-ii already was used in pro races by Team Garmin and, supposedly, Carlos Sastre in Cervelo.

[pll]

It's the one I do at the end of July. This year with only 700 miles on the bike I took off 17 minutes and averaged just under 17 mph for the 56 miles. Next year, I'd like to get that up to 19.

The pro female who won the overall avergaged 23 mph!

Veronica

Pardon the ignorance, but was is a "HIM"? How long is it? Best of luck in this race!

[Veronica]

Pardon the ignorance, but was is a "HIM"? How long is it? Best of luck in this race!


Half Ironman - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run.

Veronica

[TrekTheKaty]

Which HIM are you doing? Talked to a girl at a trailhead doing Branson, MO next week. Didn't know we had one here?!

[Veronica]

I have done Barb's Race the last three years. It's in late July/early August in the Santa Rosa area of CA.

Veronica

[aicabsolut]

3T claims it's UCI, USA Triathlon and Ironman legal. There's a review here (http://www.slowtwitch.com/Products/3T_takes_the_shorty_bar_forward_891.html)-ii already was used in pro races by Team Garmin and, supposedly, Carlos Sastre in Cervelo.

Those would be legal for tris and TTs, including draft legal tris, since they don't seem to extend beyond the reach of the drops. They would not be legal for mass start road races.

[PinkBike]

Actually, regarding the original question, I don't think he's trying to be aerodynamic, I think he's really just resting. You see it a lot in the pro peloton. I've tried it and it's hard to do, you really can't steer at all, but it is a little bit of a rest on a long ride.