Any good at design and engineering? In that case then listed here are some issues you would possibly be capable to assist remedy. There would possibly even be a prize from a group or two if you may make it occur.
Embed from Getty Pictures
Race radiosLove them or detest them, race radios are in use. However they’re actually a ache to put on, a tough block. They’ll make a crash worse if a rider lands on it too. So why not design a radio unit that matches inside a motorcycle body and with a charging port? All a rider wants is a bluetooth earpiece.
One benefit can be the bike weight now consists of the radio so some fashions that require ballast to fulfill the UCI’s 6.8kg rule might not want this. A customized radio can be lighter as most gadgets used are marketed as rugged gadgets and include options like shows and buttons that aren’t wanted. There’s even the possibility for an extended aerial to assist enhance the sign.
One drawback is it might be tougher to vary throughout a race in case of an issue but when a rider drops again to the group automotive to vary their radio properly they’ll drop again for a motorcycle change too.
Sticky bottlesTalking of dropping again to the group automotive, as soon as upon a time a rider would return to fetch bottles. It nonetheless occurs, however more and more groups submit employees on the race route handy up food and drinks. Solely what number of occasions have you ever seen a rider attempt to get a bottle from a soigneur solely to drop it? In quieter moments of a race it’s a quick second of pleasure: catch or fumble?
This issues as a result of riders are taking over lots of energy and so a missed bottle can imply dehydration and a missed fuelling. Groups with massive sources can submit employees all alongside the route and even then a missed drink could be a penalty. However think about the issue for a small group, their disadvantages can compound if one alternative missed.
It’s not straightforward taking a bidon at velocity. They’re made to slip out and in of a bottle cage, to not seize at velocity. However as they’re so vital in a race might this modification? How a couple of bottle that has some grip on the surface like dimples or a formed like a decagon, ie with 10 sides. What about gloves with extra rubber or silicone grip on them to assist somewhat than simply the faux-suede end?
Fork steerer tubesOnce upon a time you needed to spend some time aligning your saddle to make sure it pointed forwards, that it was straight. Now many bikes have D-shaped seatposts, supposedly extra aero however they’re aligned to begin with. Why not lengthen this to fork steerer columns so the stem is straight from the get-go, both D-shaped, sq., octagonal or no matter?
Now earlier than you rush to the feedback to say the bars can twist in a crash, a spherical steerer tube helps slide somewhat than snap, positive. However cynically this hasn’t prevented different “innovation” and there’s a trade-off, on the spot becoming versus sturdiness. A stumbling block could possibly be a standard system throughout the trade.
Adjustable ventsOnce upon a time bike helmets needed to be as vented as attainable, that was the promoting level. Now a lot are vaunted for aerodynamics however this may come at the price of cooling. However what should you might have a helmet the place you’ll be able to slide the vents closed simply in time for the ultimate kilometres of a race, particularly one ending in a dash? This fashion you’ll be able to keep cool for 95% of the race after which get any tiny positive aspects for when the tempo is excessive. There are rules about casings and coverings however they’re sometimes about components which can be added to the helmet somewhat than built-in.
Bearing sizeGot some fancy climbing wheels? You possibly can have a pair that weighs underneath 1,200g, or 950g should you use rim brakes. Light-weight hubs can assist right here, and smaller bearings are part of this. However as any skater is aware of, larger bearings are essential for decrease rolling resistance.
It’s an open query however with out naming names hubs on common wheels can have surprisingly tiny bearings on the axles, usually means smaller than the underside bracket and so they may be specced as soon as the remainder of the hub has been designed, so flange dimension comes first. The torsional pressure shouldn’t be the identical because the BB however nonetheless the hub bearings are anticipated to spin much more so there may be some watts to be saved right here on the expense of weight.
Security pinsThese work relating to pinning on a quantity, however it’s a chore. Plus they’ve labored within the jersey period however are much less helpful for as we speak’s stretchy speedsuits the place a pin within the flawed place can tear the quantity, the equipment… or each. A crash or only a sudden motion can lead to annoying acupuncture mid-race too.
There’s already using pockets made by the likes of Nopinz in fact however the level is that they’re OK for UCI time trials however not allowed in highway races. So wanting the principles altering, invent one other system. The Tour de France had adhesive dossards however not.
In fact having a jersey with a everlasting quantity printed on it might be higher. However that’s much less a design and engineering subject and extra certainly one of economics and politics. Organisers prefer to attribute the numbers and generally the numbers are sponsored in order that they’d be reluctant to provide this up. Whereas, say, U1 could possibly be Pogačar’s quantity for UAE and V1 for Vingegaard at Visma, with Alpecin, Arkéa and Astana it’s not so apparent to have the [letter]-[number] system.
Smaller rear disc brakesDo rotors and calipers should be as highly effective on the again because the entrance? Arguably not, so the design temporary here’s a system to assist steadiness the braking and assist save weight. You possibly can have completely different rotor diameters as we speak, however as a substitute why not go additional with a redesign with lighter calipers too.
Magnetic thru-axlesA quick-release skewer was simply that. Borrowing from Tulio Campagnolo who invented the quick-release lever in response to needing to swap over his backwheel every time he wanted the decrease or greater sprocket on all sides, “one thing’s bought to vary” as we speak too.
Professional mechanics can change a disc-brake wheel with a thru-axle fairly however one threat is fumbling with the axle. They use affect wrenches to unscrew the axle like a motorsport pit mechanic after which pull the thru-axle out of the best way to place the spare wheel in earlier than placing the axle again after which tightening. If there was a means to make sure the thru-axle says on the top of the affect wrench till it’s torqued again in place and the wrench is pulled away this might save time and cease the axle rolling round within the filth.
ConclusionThings are nonetheless used as a result of they all the time have been, like security pins. And readers with precise engineering specialisms might need views on hub bearings. Some strategies are extra pro-cycling solely somewhat than day by day shoppers so much less of a business crucial. However among the many pro-issue solely there most likely is a design prize and even an order e-book for an inbuilt race radio, at the least one group has explored this. Be at liberty so as to add your strategies for issues that want fixing.
