Jacket Idea - this may be a stupid idea though!!

chris_bass

I have noticed whilst cycling towards the wind that, as a relatively skinny fellow, my jacket often tends to flatten out and act as a sail/parachute combo which really slows me down. one solution is to pedal harder, a fine solution granted! but it got me thinking:

if a jacket or something worn under a jacket could esential make it more triangle shaped at the front this would hugely imporve aerodynamics. I'll admit it would be tricky to get it comfortable and not noticable but having tested this by just pulling the front forwards myself when cycling this does seem to help.

having seen the new series of dragon's den is coming up i may have to head to the work shop and find a wind tunnel for some extensive testing!!

ugo.santalucia

Chris Bass wrote:

I have noticed whilst cycling towards the wind that, as a relatively skinny fellow, my jacket often tends to flatten out and act as a sail/parachute combo which really slows me down. one solution is to pedal harder, a fine solution granted! but it got me thinking:

if a jacket or something worn under a jacket could esential make it more triangle shaped at the front this would hugely imporve aerodynamics. I'll admit it would be tricky to get it comfortable and not noticable but having tested this by just pulling the front forwards myself when cycling this does seem to help.

having seen the new series of dragon's den is coming up i may have to head to the work shop and find a wind tunnel for some extensive testing!!

A wind tunnel will cost you 10K for a few hours use... good luck!

amaferanga

Or just buy a decent jacket that fits properly?

Badrod

Chris Bass wrote:

but having tested this by just pulling the front forwards myself when cycling this does seem to help.

Last time I tried that, I had to have a difficult conversation with social services!

chris_bass

the jacket does fit properly but i'm not aerodynamic underneath it, thats the problem!

i wasnt really serious about the wind tunnel idea to be honest!

slowbike

Chris Bass wrote:

I'll admit it would be tricky to get it comfortable and not noticable but having tested this by just pulling the front forwards myself when cycling this does seem to help.

Sounds like a great method of propulsion - if I could get a jacket that just pulled the front I wouldn't have to pedal at all!

ShutUpLegs

Is it possible to shake your head and roll your eyes at the same time

mouth

This whole thread reminds me of the guy who thought because he was quick on a pedalo he could be a pro cyclist.

Mikey23

It does sound as though your jacket is too loose. I shouldn't really do that

chris_bass

just to point out - i'm not serious with this suggestion!!

special11

i tend to carry a device under my jacket that stretches the jacket almost to bursting point and creates a dome effect that essentially channels all air around me .... this aids aerodynamic efficiency thus keeping my average speed up.
you too can achieve this same effect with a large belly as well.

team47b

So, is the jacket the problem or your shape, 'cos you could just take the jacket off

cakeathon

get a snug fitting gillet - folds up and goes in your back pocket when not needed
when on it does catch any extra wind

Its the most versatile piece of kit I have

ben@31

If you shape the jacket into an aerosol shape, as the wind flows over it, it will create a force that will propel you forwards. This is how a yacht sails "close hauled" just a few degrees off from into wind.

pinarellokid

are you lot bored ?????

team47b

have you not noticed how boring the forum has become?


traffic cone in the front of the jacket, not shorts.

MichaelW

I'm another skinny rider who suffers from excessive flap in the wind. Jackets are made for more ample riders but your idea of shaping the spare fabric into a more aerodynamic profile sounds good. Some kind of inflatable beer belly/life jackets kind of thing. I have no idea what the optimum shape would be, a sharp point, a curve or some counter-intuitive weirdness. You may have to add an inflatable aerotail or hunchback like those TT helmets.
Probably best referred to the Halfbakery for further R&D

RonB

Some trendy new helmets seem to feature round vents or dimples...Why not try to recreate this effect in front of your jacket with a colander?

chris_bass

i was thinking of trying to gain weight by eating only dorritos, toblerone, dairylea, slices of pizza and other triangle shaped foods in the hope it would make me triangle shaped and then problem solved!

navrig

Chris Bass wrote:

i was thinking of trying to gain weight by eating only dorritos, toblerone, dairylea, slices of pizza and other triangle shaped foods in the hope it would make me triangle shaped and then problem solved!

You'd be quicker going for cosmetic surgery.

sungod

frank schlek beat you to it...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck ... melbak-use

navrig

sungod wrote:

frank schlek beat you to it...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck ... melbak-use

Actually you make a good point and have reminded me of a 4th year lab class I did at Uni. Streamlining can be dramatically improved by shaping the trailing surface/edge rather just than the leading surface/edge. A blunt trailing edge creates a (partial) vacuum causing drag thus affecting speed.

Look at the hump on the back of the rider crashing in the lower right pictures:

http://www.amleathers.co.uk/gallery.php

chris_bass

Hmmmm, and maybe it wasn't such a foolish idea! Back to the wind tunnel!!

blackpoolkev

Some folk carry all sorts of spares on a ride.

Never again worry about that helmet strap failing,stuff a spare helmet down the front of your jacket AND go faster.
Why has nobody mentioned this before?

night_porter

Chris Bass wrote:

i was thinking of trying to gain weight by eating only dorritos, toblerone, dairylea, slices of pizza and other triangle shaped foods in the hope it would make me triangle shaped and then problem solved!

I just fell off of my chair!!!

BRILLIANT