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The ultimate free strava KOM gain (climbs only naturally, safety first): bald head no helmet - it's proven to be more aero than aero helmets:
I'm already bald, so how could I further improve my head's aerodynamics? A few things come to mind / have been suggested on the internet.
1. Tape your ears back.
2. Attached a cone to the back of your head to reduce turbulence, a child's party hat might do (like in coneheads only horizontal).
3. Tie a shoelace around your head so its vertical when in the aero position to keep air flow further back over your bald scalp.
4. Some sort of lube or a head sock with dimples to make your head more aero?
10-30 watts gained I reckon at 40 km/h! Think GCN should do an ep on this and put that specialized wind tunnel to good use.
Any other tips? Thinking of going for Berlin's most contested 1 min 20 sec 7% hill climb soon, Teufelsberg (sad that it's the longest climb around really), and think I could have a shot if aero enough - need to average > 600 watts.
Cut your ears off Shirley 👌🏻
I would go for the taped ears and a party hat on the back.
I've thought it for a bit but you surely must be taking the piss now??....
Fignon ponytail
1 min 20 sec 7% hill climb soon
...and you think aero will help?
Decapitation for the most aeroness! Is this a piss take? I hope so because if not it’s ranking as one of the saddest things I’ve ever read on here 😀
Can you stick some fins on (or carve some in!) To assist air flow?
…and you think aero will help?
Of course - you hit it rolling at 45 km/h, then try to average 30-35 km/h for the rest :S plus shaving some weight off with no helmet.
Can you stick some fins on (or carve some in!) To assist air flow?
Can you illustrate? Wouldn't the shoelace already do this?
1 min 20 sec 7% hill climb soon
…and you think aero will help?
Aero supposedly trumps weight until ~8%.
At least you will have to pedal so wont be upset by your freehub noise!
Golfballs are dimpled for extra range. Get some rugby forwards to stomp your head till you look like this:
Surely this:-
I think it'll suit you.
1 min 20 sec 7% hill climb soon, Teufelsberg (sad that it’s the longest climb around really), and think I could have a shot if aero enough – need to average > 600 watts
600W+ for over a minute, ambitious. Have you correlated for your weight though?
Why are you looking at climbs though? Just find some 2min flat roads and get KOMs there? I seem to remember you're not exactly flyweight? So why even try and beat the climbers?
If its in any way competitive the KOM is probably 5ft6, skinny and riding a TT bike.
I see the username, I know it's going to be absolute nonsense and yet I still click it. Why do I do it to myself?
And, more importantly, why does he keep doing it to us?
600W+ for over a minute, ambitious. Have you correlated for your weight though?
Why are you looking at climbs though? Just find some 2min flat roads and get KOMs there? I seem to remember you’re not exactly flyweight? So why even try and beat the climbers?
If its in any way competitive the KOM is probably 5ft6, skinny and riding a TT bike.
Yeah I'm getting around to the flat ones but you need ideal wind conditions for those, short climbs are less wind dependent and more fun - Berlin isn't very competitive at all. I've averaged 750 watts for 1 min so it shouldn't be completely out of reach.
Convert, actually not a bad idea I could borrow it from some friends here, combined with the birthday hat on the back of the head should be close to optimal? Not as cool as a conehead though.
Sound waves from freehubs do slow you down you know.
I’ve averaged 750 watts for 1 min so it shouldn’t be completely out of reach.
Why am I going down this rabbit hole.......
That's a pretty sizable claim. What do you weigh? I note you still have no rides with power data on Strava - I thought you were getting a 4iii a few weeks ago?
edit - I tell a lie, you do....
All my rides have powerdata now woop
This one, turned around and cut holes for eyes and mouth?!
If you've got a power meter and a still day (or sheltered spot) then you can use the 'Chung method' for estimating aero gains. That way you could find an optimal head arrangement before making a tilt at your KOMs.
I suspect the position of your head relative to the rest of your body will have more impact than any of the other ideas mentioned so far.
I don't understand how you'll get up a climb freewheeling?!
Fill in your eyes with putty
Sharkskin shower cap. Swimmers use this in their suits as it makes them more hydrodynamic and that's the same as aerodynamic I expect.
If you’ve got a power meter and a still day (or sheltered spot) then you can use the ‘Chung method’ for estimating aero gains. That way you could find an optimal head arrangement before making a tilt at your KOMs.
Good idea, but Berlin is quite windy and I think a best bet arrangement will do here
Sharkskin shower cap. Swimmers use this in their suits as it makes them more hydrodynamic and that’s the same as aerodynamic I expect.
Indeed, but a full head latex mask would prob be even better?
you can use the ‘Chung method’ for estimating aero gains
I Googled. Still confused.
I Googled. Still confused.
What you can't tell from that photo is she has an absolutely tiny CDA.
I Googled. Still confused.
More helpfully, looking for 'Aerolab Golden Cheetah' might be more productive.
OP - I saw this and thought of you (the first 14 minutes)
Solid disk wheels FTW!!
Sharkskin shower cap. Swimmers use this in their suits as it makes them more hydrodynamic and that’s the same as aerodynamic I expect.blockquote>
Not really the swimming hat shark skin aims to trap air bubbles to reduce drag. Air being 1000 times less dence than water.
Perhaps get that "aerodynamicist" in cycling weekly helmet tests involved he seems to know his stuff?
Dimples can be effective (i.e Zipp rims) so take a centre punch and hammer dimples all over your head.
And no cone - IIRC from the very excellent Faster, smooth surfaces have air pass over in nice smooth laminar flow until it breaks into horrible slow turbulence, and the longer the laminar flow the more slowerer the turbulence. Shoelace to trip the air into early and minimised turbulence FTW. 🙂
And no cone – IIRC from the very excellent Faster, smooth surfaces have air pass over in nice smooth laminar flow until it breaks into horrible slow turbulence, and the longer the laminar flow the more slowerer the turbulence. Shoelace to trip the air into early and minimised turbulence FTW. 🙂
Very interesting, cone nay, shoelace yay.
🤣😂
I know I shouldn't encourage him but.......
You could grow some hair in place of the shoe lace? Keep it in a 5mm width and trim to 2.5mm high. That would do the job nicely..
Aero AND eco - nice! 🙂
Liks this?
Yes perfect!.
You stole that from the British Cycling Secret Squirrel files, right?
🤫
I feel a bit silly now suggesting the chung method when you clearly have some pretty advanced CFD software there.
I see the username, I know it’s going to be absolute nonsense and yet I still click it. Why do I do it to myself?
And, more importantly, why does he keep doing it to us?
Because while he seems to take himself ridiculously seriously he's also fully aware of it. I started thinking this was a person you'd never want to get stuck with at a party I now feel he'd be great company down the pub (after enough drinks)😊
Nearest car valet place and ask for a MOP on the baldness before applying lace or Rab C Nesbitt hairdo.