I doubt it ever occurred to the Lotus guys to try fatter tires. Also if their aeromapping was done in a tunnel without a moving floor and a pedaling rider on board, I'd consider the wheel data to be suspect.
Kurt Sperry Bellingham WA USA
On 9/23/07, Ken Freeman <freesound@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Nick, if you know where to write there might be an interesting
> response. As
> an automotive engineer, I agree that you will never see their raw
> data. But
> they may have published something, and could provide their references, or
> there may have been a white paper or two, that are no longer considered
> proprietary. Lotus may think it can gain some kudos and beneficial
> relations if they toot their horn to this community. Their work has
> probably been superceded by Trek's work on Armstrong and Discover.
>
> I think it's worth a try!
>
> Ken Freeman
> Ann Arbor, MI USA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
> [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of nick Bordo
> Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 4:38 PM
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]Tyres aerodynamics debate, how to get undisputable data.
>
> I guess I shall be kicked for both too KOF and OT on this one, but there
> was
> some very thorough testing of bicycle aerodynamics done by some of the
> greatest racing on wheels engineeers in the world: the Lotus Formula 1
> team.
>
> That was for Chris Boardman's attempt at the hour record on his
> specifically designed carbon Lotus or am I wrong again and he only used it
> in the Barcelona Olympics, which he thoroughly dominated in the 4000m? You
> can safely assume that (I remember for fact reading that they did) put man
> on bicycle in a wind tunnel and worked at every factor they knew about,
> and
> I guess they knew a thing or two.
>
> Were I to write to Lotus asking for their data, the best I could hope for
> would be a polite referal to a psychiatrist (plus I don't think there is a
> Lotus team any more). Maybe somebody with a reputation in the cycling
> world
> could write the people involved in the tunnel experiments ?
>
> My point being that as far as pure aerodynamics go, the testing data is
> there, and maybe available. I guess those people also took into account
> all
> the other known factors implicated in high speed forward movement of the
> two
> wheeled contraption named a bicycle. On flat surfaces, at least.
>
> Nick Bordo, Agen, 47000 France
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Ne gardez plus qu'une seule adresse mail ! Copiez vos mails vers Yahoo!
> Mail