Innovations to improve cycling performance

Anna · Post by **Anna** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:58 pm

Hi guys,

Right I need your help....or more precisely ideas...however far-fetched they may appear......

I am working as a Research Fellow at the University of Salford in Manchester (but am still a devote Clifton CC member...I'll be back riding with you shortly!!).

I am currently involved in a number of research studies looking into sports innovation. At present, I am trying to collect as many ideas as possible, as to how we could improve cycling performance........

A few ideas:

- developing a new piece of clothing/kit
- thinking about aerodynamics...gloves, shoes, helmets
- changing textiles, material rigidity
- developing new foot wear, shoe insoles
- temperature control

or perhaps thinking about how we could develop cycling kit to aid:
- saddle sores
- swelling feet with heat
- blisters

...anything you can think of at all.......please, please post your ideas on here!!

Just remember, this HAS to be something new, novel and innovative - it doesn't matter how bizarre or stupid an idea may sound at first; we can work on the underpinning ideas/theroy later.

For those of you who delve into multi-sport, the same applies for any other sports.........running, swimming, football, cricket?

Any ideas, please let me know ASAP!

Thanks.

Anna Hatton

Dr Dave · Post by **Dr Dave** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:21 am

I think there are several people who have approached this problem in the past. Messrs Conconi, Ferrari and Fuentes are a few who spring to mind. Can't help thinking that most promising avenues have already been explored....

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:33 pm

Do you ride in Manchester? Manchester Wheelers have some good rides starting from the gateway in didsbury and from the Hilton sometimes, like this sunday.

Sorry I've got no ideas on your OP, but thought I'd just ask you bout riding.

Anna · Post by **Anna** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:34 pm

Hi Will,

Yeah I've already started riding with Manchester Wheelers - I went out with the "girls" a fortnight ago when we did an 85 mile ride instead of the Audax. It was great! I live down the road from the Gateway in East Didsbury so I can literally roll out of bed and get to a ride with them. Don't think I'm fast enough to ride with the club run?

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:56 pm

Club runs are only about 60 miles and no one is left behind, you should be fine.

trevorj · Post by **trevorj** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:19 pm

Anna, maybe I haven't been devoted enough to finding a light comfortable saddle, but they appear to me to be heavy and comfortable or light and very uncomfortable for a full day of cycling-ok for a quick spin.
However I can't help thinking Lance Armstrong and the other professionals have something already. Perhaps they are prepared to suffer more than me. My light titanium bike is let down by the weight of the saddle.
As for comfort, a pad attached to the straps of a helmet to remove cold and noise from ears would help without having to wear a full headband which gets too hot and sweaty on non freezing cold days.
Hope you find something, but I have to agree with Dr Dave that this has been much researched already - just look at what Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins use on the track.
No help, sorry.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:02 pm

Anna, how do we know you're not a Shimano mole - intent on stealing our ideas, or trying to stop us patenting them by putting our intellectual property into the public domain?!

Arthur · Post by **Arthur** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:43 pm

trevorj - lance famously used a heavy but comfortable saddle (relatively speaking mind). One of these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Larg ... 7298-1.jpg

MarkA · Post by **MarkA** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 9:18 pm

Cycling seems to be littered with things that seemed great ideas at the time.

Anyone remember L shaped cranks. They really were genius.

We also have many attempts at shortening wheel base in frame design.

Not much point in the age of 10sp+ fragile chains etc.

There does though seem to be a need for someone to come up with a sensible hub gear. Not mega ranged but just a few speeds for everyday use. Cheap and easily maintained. Maybe one where you can customize the ratios. And for short distance time trialling something like the old 4 sp close ratio SA. So in that sense not new or innovative!

In the age of carbon deep section rims the zip innovations where stuff which is less deep is actually more aero seems noteworthy and happening at the moment.

The other thing which i have seen a couple of references to is people experimenting with shorter cranks particularly on tt machines.

How about mini disc brakes for road bikes - seems sure to come along sooner or later. Or can forks not take stress?

Something to keep your feet warm without wearing overshoes on dry days.

And as good as clinchers are nowadays just how good could the manufacturers make tubs. Must be some advances which could be made in repairability.

Arthur · Post by **Arthur** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:45 am

MarkA: disks for road bikes mean you have to beef up the fork a lot = more weight in total. And since you only have 23mm tyres, giving little surface area to brake on anyway, doesn't really make sense.

SimonW · Post by **SimonW** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:40 am

Disk brakes for road bikes are here all ready!

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kon ... e-ec021790

I would not bother with disk brakes, as the temptation to use them is too great and then you will be slow through the corners and slow down hill!

trevorj · Post by **trevorj** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:30 pm

Thanks for the saddle reference Arthur. No help to Anna, but i think will help me.

fatsprinter · Post by **fatsprinter** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:56 pm

The best innovation has been invented anyway. It is a special device that enables and time saving to accrue enough time to facilitate training to occur. I wouldn't swap a pair of Zipps for mine. Invaluable, couldn't do without it and means I can actually do some training. For those with more time to train, it frees up more time to train or recover so is invaluable. The training facilitation device is available from all good electrical outlets. Here is a picture of mine. http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/produc ... SIT-IDP127

paulM · Post by **paulM** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:45 pm

Solid tyres that don't puncture, have good rolling resistance, lightweight and good grip. No doubt these have been tried already and I'm behind the times? I don't ask for much but I need these for the Scotton challenge in April!

Waterproof overshoes that really are (would probably need to be surgically applied)?

Winter gloves that are warm and waterproof that don't fill with water from the inside?

Mudguards with a long flap at the back to suggest people on bikes actually ride in company?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:55 am

Careful FS, you'll be giving The Hub ideas - its a small step from washing your bike in the kitchen sink to stuffing it into your favourite item of whitegoods...

A list of the worst cycling innovations of previous years/decades may help Anna? Mine would be:

Biopace chainrings
Spinachi bars
Raceblade "I'm alright Jack" mudguards
All black cycling ensembles (or even worse, the craze about 5 years ago for camouflage coloured shorts)

Worst cycle marketing has to be the "Raleigh Banana".

Clifton CC

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