Time Makes Heroes

Each year the stars of professional cycling battle it out for the ultimate prize on two wheels, the Maillot Jaune of the Tour de France. For only the second time in its history, the race will start on English soil with a Grand Depart comprising of two days in Yorkshire and a third from Cambridge to London.

23 days of suffering against the clock, in which every rider knows that just a few seconds can be the difference between winning and losing. To illustrate the point, n 1989 Laurent Fignon came second overall by just 8 seconds.

Thus, the challenge laid down to cycling manufacturers is to find ways to save time. In professional sport seconds, half seconds, even tenths of second saved are incredibly important.

From a scientific point of view, every cycling component, including the frame, wheels and even the cyclist, is slowing a rider down in some way. The aim is to minimise this loss of speed – reduce the drag.

Ultimately what causes most drag is the rider. Human beings aren’t naturally aerodynamic and so a great effort is needed to minimise how the body negatively impacts on speed. To counter the problem riders wear specially designed suits and adapted footwear that improve airflow.

Every minor detail is analysed, this is where modern technology comes in. Each piece of equipment is designed using computer aided design software (CAD) and then tested using a technology called computational fluid dynamics (CFD) that simulates air flows and points of resistance. Going further, to gain a better understanding of where time is potentially being lost manufacturers will use wind tunnels large enough to fit several bike and rider in at a time.

Time stops for no man but the constant pursuit, to save time, is never ending.