A New Track Bike - Breakthrough?
Last Post 05/16/2023 11:18 AM by 79 pmooney. 0 Replies.
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79pmooney

Posts:3180

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05/16/2023 11:18 AM
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/will-this-wild-new-stromm-track-bike-be-the-fastest-at-the-paris-olympics/

Interesting!  Designed to push the limits of the recent rule changes on handlebar reach.  To be super aero.  (And fun! They looked at not just the overall Cd but also what the shed vortex behind the rider looked like.  They worked on introducing vortexes that will reduce the slipstream so following riders will get less draft!

Pushes all the new slimmer frame tube allowed aspect ratios but designed the now huge allowable head tube fairing to stall at big yaw angles to reduce crosswind push at outdoor venues.  (I'm wondering if this could have a condition where the flow oscillates between stalled and lifting.  That could be a real challenge but I'm guessing they've solved that.)  Fork looks like a super cheap stamped steel fork of a 1950s American cruiser you might see in a Sears Roebuck catalog but it is so far from the wheel and tire you can run anything without considering physical of aero interference.  (In fact, big enough for that Sears Roebuck balloon tire!)

Much of the focus is versatility.  Making the bike good for multiple disciplines and keeping parts interchangeable and easy.  Yes, a propitiatory seatpost but 1 1/8" steerer, 68 mm BB shell (threaded!), 100/120 dropout spacing for ordinary hubs.  Put barrels on the wheel retention stops so no allen wrench is needed.  So, a good bike on any velodrome infield.  Day 3 of that long weekend track celebration you can do that track record attempt with Joe's crankset and the monster ring plus Suzie's oh-so-light wheels.  Headset issue?  Well Joe's Bike Shop had a $30 Tange.

The fork will take me a while to get used to.  But the concept  Wow!  I hope it flies.


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