Theodor Seiz said:I really didnt need to read wind tunnel tests to figure out that:
1. the triathlete magazines article are heavily influences by the advertisers
2. The drinking systems used by road racers all around the world (water bottles in frame holders)
or mountainbikers (camelback) or triathletes (aerobottel) are the only ones to be considered
This neverreach nonsense is so obviously ridiculous - and when the test in the triathlete magazine
appeared below the test was the payed ad.
Uh, I hate to be the scientist here, but from my understanding of the article, the wind tunnel tests
were simply on aerodynamics in the 'default position', ie cyclist pedaling on the bike in the
aeroposition. One also would need to factor in the breaking of aero-position to drink to be entirely
scientifically accurate (or as accurate as possible). It stands to reason that using something like
a Profile between-the-aerobars system (and Never Reach) allows you to maintain aero-position (or a
more aero position) while drinking.
This in turn would, all else being equal, be reflected in faster times. Will they be a lot faster?
Probably not. Would there be a measurable difference in the different times? With three significant
decimal places, yeah, it would be measurable.
You can't really compare your three situations above because the conditions are completely
different. The cyclist is in a peleton (when not time-trialing), the mountainbiker is the least
affected by wind resistance of the three, and the triathlete maintains an aeroposition.
A quick check of the Never Reach system would seem to indicate that it's main advantage is that
it does not require breaking of aero to drink from it (and unlike the Profile, which is what I
personally use) holds 3 times as much water and so does not need to be refilled from my frame
bottles). So a wind tunnel test isn't really the most relevant way of testing the various
bottles, frankly.
I never saw the Never Reach test you refer to in Triathlete. What were the specific claims of the
test that you found nonsensical?
--
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps, Ph.D
"The sheer closeness of our two countries and the intensity of our mutual interaction combined with
the disparity between us in terms of wealth and power--all these things guarantee there will be
problems in U.S.-Canadian relations without anybody having to do anything to deliberately worsen the
situation."
Robert L. Stanfield, Oct. 28, 1971