wheel aerodynamics and poor man's TT wheel

Squat'n Dive said:

Spokes on which wheel: front or back create more drag?
If you tape the spokes on a wheel or two does that increase
the crosswind effects dramatically, or not very much so, due
to the wheels being in motion?

The front wheel creates more drag, but the only reasonable way to make
a spoked wheel more aero is a disc cover which should only be done on
the rear.

Quoted message said:

The front wheel creates more drag, but the only reasonable way to make
a spoked wheel more aero is a disc cover which should only be done on
the rear.

That is not what I have heard. I read on some website (sorry, forgot
where), that there was a measureable improvement (almost 1%) in drag
just by going from 36 to 32 spokes, whereas bladed spokes didn't help
much.

I suspect that most of the drag from a wheel is from the wheel turning
around, NOT from turbulance generated as still air passes over the
tire and wheel. If I am right, then de-spoking the front and rear
wheels is the primary cure for excess drag.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

Quoted message said:

Squat'n Dive said:

Spokes on which wheel: front or back create more drag?
If you tape the spokes on a wheel or two does that increase
the crosswind effects dramatically, or not very much so, due
to the wheels being in motion?

The front wheel creates more drag, but the only reasonable way to make
a spoked wheel more aero is a disc cover which should only be done on
the rear.

Why not on the front? I have used a temporary wheel cover on the front
wheel with no problems.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people." A. Derleth

Tom Sherman said:

Why not on the front? I have used a temporary wheel cover on the front
wheel with no problems.

Steering in a crosswind is "interesting". Fine for indoor velodromes,
though.

Zog The Undeniable said:

Tom Sherman said:

Why not on the front? I have used a temporary wheel cover on the front
wheel with no problems.

Steering in a crosswind is "interesting". Fine for indoor velodromes,
though.

I never had those issues, even in windy conditions. One of the
advantages of the ISO 305-mm wheel size, I suspect.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

Just guessing but any form off crosswind with a disk front wheel would
slow you down.

buzz66 said:

Just guessing but any form off crosswind with a disk front wheel would
slow you down.

Actually, the opposite is more likely to be true.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

Tom Sherman said:

buzz66 said:

Just guessing but any form off crosswind with a disk front wheel would
slow you down.

Actually, the opposite is more likely to be true.

When the crosswind plus front disk puts you in a ditch, that slows you
down.

The squirrely feeling may slow you down even without a bike-ditch
convergence, perhaps by the physics (straight line paths are faster) or
psychologically (distractions prevent making your best effort).

Mark J.

Mark J.? said:

Tom Sherman said:

buzz66 said:

Just guessing but any form off crosswind with a disk front wheel would
slow you down.

Actually, the opposite is more likely to be true.

When the crosswind plus front disk puts you in a ditch, that slows you
down.

The squirrely feeling may slow you down even without a bike-ditch
convergence, perhaps by the physics (straight line paths are faster) or
psychologically (distractions prevent making your best effort).

butbutbut, I never had the handling problems people go on about!

Maybe the secret is to use a front wheel that is only about 1 foot
square in side area?

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

Tom Sherman said:

I never had those issues, even in windy conditions. One of the
advantages of the ISO 305-mm wheel size, I suspect.

Yeah, but ur riding a Shriner's clown tricycle! They're known for
their stability.

still just me said:

Tom Sherman said:

I never had those issues, even in windy conditions. One of the
advantages of the ISO 305-mm wheel size, I suspect.

Yeah, but ur riding a Shriner's clown tricycle! They're known for
their stability.

How can something with two wheels be a tricycle?

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth