Making a TT frame more slippery

willbevan

evening all,

I am looking at everything this winter to make myself faster over time trials....

such as.... keeping my drive train always 100% clean, visor for my helmet, nutrition, warmup routine... roll down tests for position as well aas webcams on my position inside on the turbo...

What ahs come across my mind is how to make the time trial bike more slippery.....

Polishing the frame to make it glide through the air doesnt sound that stupid, we wear skinsuits instead of skin, and I know a rapha skinsuit I have feels more slippery than my endura club one....

Any advice or opinions on polishing a time trial frame to make it more slippery?

Cheers

Will

mrushton

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you didn't know it you are the most limiting factor. You will prob.find it more effective to get your position on the bike observed to see if you can get more aero also you may just need to pedal harder/faster.

willbevan

heehh I do know that indeed

I have spent time with cameras on me observing me from the front and side.... adjusting my position and get me lower and flatter.... going to do some roll down tests to also confirm if the position is more aero, and do plenty of intervals in positions to confirm I can still maintain power.

Reading up on the chung method to calc your drag at this moment (well taking a moment out to write this)....

Add in everything else... this is just one detailing im considering

I could do a run for the chung method, one with polished and one with not lol!

I've done an okay time for a 10, 21:40 on a fast course... looking to knock off 40 seconds this year and looking at all details as I know it will be hard aero skewers and aero brakes may be on the list...

Any input appriciated.

chalford

lower anf flatter, doesnt always mean faster !!!!!

jonmack

chalford wrote:

lower anf flatter, doesnt always mean faster !!!!!

Very true. If you had access to a windtunnel that would be best, assuming that because you're getting lower on the bike you'll be able to go faster isn't a good assumption to be making.

SBezza

I don't think the frame makes a huge difference to be honest. Your body is the biggest thing the wind will see, hence why skinsuits etc help.

If you have got to the limit of your ability in terms of fitness, and you need those extra seconds, then a change of frame, or making the frame more slippery might help, but it will be a handful of secs at most IMO. You certainly will not knock 40 secs off due to a frame, unless you are currently riding a MTB.

Just train harder and focussed on 10m TT's if that is the most important goal. What course was the 21:40 done on?

willbevan

chalford wrote:

lower anf flatter, doesnt always mean faster !!!!!

that is why I am doing roll down tests to confirm if its more aero, and doing intervals in the position to confirm I can still generate power. Sorry if I was not clear with that in the opening post.

willbevan

SBezza wrote:

I don't think the frame makes a huge difference to be honest. Your body is the biggest thing the wind will see, hence why skinsuits etc help.

If you have got to the limit of your ability in terms of fitness, and you need those extra seconds, then a change of frame, or making the frame more slippery might help, but it will be a handful of secs at most IMO. You certainly will not knock 40 secs off due to a frame, unless you are currently riding a MTB.

Just train harder and focussed on 10m TT's if that is the most important goal. What course was the 21:40 done on?

I do understand that position etc is making a dramactic difference, skin suit etc.

I dont expect the frame to make 40 seconds difference... maybe 1 or 2 seconds... but if that is the 1 or two that helps me reach my goal I will take that

Its the little details I'm looking at while I'm not training, as rest is as important, im looking at.

Such as finger position, visor on my helment, aero skewers.... taping over my helmet.... nutrition (thats a big thing) etc.

Putting everything else aside...

What would be good to use to polish a frame lol, to make it more slippery.... needs to not affect carbon or the paint

getonyourbike

WD40 works well for polishing the frame, our good old household polish.

chalford

rather than spending money on equip that wont make much diff, use the money to go to a wind tunnel

willbevan

I have considered a wind tunnel... but the cost at 750 quid.... compared to minor bits of kit kit some aero skewers for 20-30 quid.... ive ditched the aero brake idea such as egg brakes as 200 odd quid for 2-3watt saving :S

Anything more than that.... you have god a point though...

jonmack

Depends how seriously you take your training. Do you have a coach?

willbevan

resonably seriously, it takes 3rd place though to the lady and work, but I make the time for it. I do indeed have a coach.

RChung

You're currently at 21:40 and aiming for 21 flat? That's 2.5 secs/km. Hmmm. I'm betting you're going to get a bigger chunk of that from reducing drag than increasing power.

There are lots of things OCD TTists have tried. Not just the obvious stuff but small subtle things, too. Read some of the archives of the forum at wattagetraining.com for more.

chalford

if your racing 10 s and 25 s, the best gain you can get is .... aero aero , aero at those distances, power is important, but its all about position

ugo.santalucia

Air and fat are not miscible... i suggest rubbing the frame with beef dripping