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My non-aero gravel bike optimized for 38mm tires...

Last Post 02/24/2021 09:04 AM by christopher behrens. 18 Replies.

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Posts:4499

02/23/2021 04:01 PM
Coefficient of drag is an interesting one. Is it the tire/rim combo that matters or is it the entire bike/rider combo. Perhaps the wider tires provide better airflow around Huck's massive chest, or is that beer/donut gut?! Or maybe we need to look at downward force a bit more closely. The 2021 F1 generation has some key changes made to bottom airflow to limit downward force and slow cars down as tires got worn too fast in 2020. Which made for one hilarious race where Mercedes per usual was way ahead of the pack only to run out of rubber prematurely. Ben - my kids are currently doing grade 12 advanced calculus. I am finding that the skills and knowledge are still there. But I am not a particularly good teacher, haha.

Posts:824

02/23/2021 04:58 PM
Ben - Same rims on both. My Winter wheels - originally called Velomax Circuits, then I believe Easton bought them, to become Easton Circuit II's. Both are 20 years old, and still roll quite well(or do they) with relatively recent replacement bearings.

Posts:3180

02/23/2021 07:25 PM
Same rims? I wonder it they serve as a better "tail" of fairing for the wider tires. Sounds odd, but aerodynamicists have surprised by wind tunnel tests forever (and some are much smarter than I am). One thing that could be happening is the perhaps the Contis are close enough in width to the rims to allow the airflow to stay laminar. That appears to be an advantage but when laminar flow breaks off, the resulting disturbed airflow is often a wider swath whereas turbulent flow tends to wrap closer to a narrowing "tail" and leave as a narrower path of small, fast spirals; disturbing less overall air. Now you could do an experiment - swap the tires. Maybe the bearings of one wheel are a little tight with the QR socked down or some other mechanical.