Experimental investigations of the aerodynamics of high performance bicycle downtubes and wheels

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The design of racing bicycles is a very competitive market that has relied previously on an ad hoc design approach primarily based on the designer's experience and intuition. Similar to other competitive sports, such as swimming and golf, the application of rigorous analytical and experimental science towards new bicycle concepts is becoming an increasingly important part of the design methodology as designers, coaches and athletes attempt to gain competitive advantages. The appetite for high performance racing bicycles is not restricted to professional and Olympic athletes. The average cyclist consumer is becoming more and more demanding, which has resulted in a large increase in the value of the market for racing bicycles and the emergence of a number of new manufacturers, such as the well-known Canadian company Cervélo. The aim of the proposed research is to investigate the unique and complex flow physics associated with bicycle components. Two of the key factors contributing to the uniqueness of these flows are the low Reynolds number, and characteristically short and stubby geometries used in bicycle design due to constraints imposed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The goal is thus to develop fundamental knowledge needed to enable new innovations in the design of aerodynamic bicycles. Therefore, bicycle components will be tested in the wind tunnels at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), and their performance will be assessed based on global force measurement via a load cell and detailed flow field measurements using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The experiments will be supported by CFD computation by the industrial partner, Kevin Quan Studios (KQS). The outcomes of this research are expected to provide unique physical insights to improve bicycle designs.