It only took Drew and I (Cameron) 14 short hours in airports
and planes to get to San Diego. Waking up a little weary and a tad bit jet lagged, the folks at Cervelo started our day off right with a spectacular breakfast spread and a trip to the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel. Check out their website at http://www.lswt.com/. In the picture above, you see Fabian Cancellara(Team CSC) testing out his fit on his P3C last year here at the SDLSWT before defending his World Championship in the time trial and winning 2 stages of the Tour De France. We were able to meet with and here from the engineers who run this facility. The brief overview of the wind tunnel is this: It's a HUGE concrete circle with a HUGE propeller that circulates air and allows for completey controled while experimenting with aerodynamics. The tunnel was originally built in the 1940's for aviation testing.Every Boeing 727 - 787 plane was tested here. The F16 fighter jet was also developed here. While aviation is still 80% of their testing, 20% is devoted to the sports industry. Cycling and the luge in particular. This wind tunnel is specifically sought after because it yields incrediblly accurate results. Photos were not allowed here because it is a military building and secret things are always going on so I apologize for no personal photos. Most every pro team in the peleton does their testing here. There is a really cool wall with pictures of everyone from Levi Leipheimer to Lance Armstrong. When we asked the tunnel engineers what bike company spent the most time here in the tunnel the overwhelming answer was CERVELO!!! It definitely shows in their product.
We got to stand in the tunnel while they were running tests. It was unbearably cold.
Those guys are incredibly tough to sit there for 2 hours in nothing more than a
skin suit.
After the tunnel, Phil White (founder, owner, and brilliant engineer) talked
about aerodynamics related to bikes. It's incredible to see the owner of a major bike
company go over equations and the basic laws of aerodynamics like he was changing
a tube. It really makes one believe in what the company stands for. He gave some great insight into aero wheels as well. Zipp or HED. They share a patent for their
rims. NOTHING comes even close to these two wheel companies in testing!!!
Well We just checked in at the Pacific Palisades Resort and are headed off to dinner. Tomorrow we will be heading out to the hills of Southern California to test ride some bikes. Take care everyone. I keep you up to date!!!
and planes to get to San Diego. Waking up a little weary and a tad bit jet lagged, the folks at Cervelo started our day off right with a spectacular breakfast spread and a trip to the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel. Check out their website at http://www.lswt.com/. In the picture above, you see Fabian Cancellara(Team CSC) testing out his fit on his P3C last year here at the SDLSWT before defending his World Championship in the time trial and winning 2 stages of the Tour De France. We were able to meet with and here from the engineers who run this facility. The brief overview of the wind tunnel is this: It's a HUGE concrete circle with a HUGE propeller that circulates air and allows for completey controled while experimenting with aerodynamics. The tunnel was originally built in the 1940's for aviation testing.Every Boeing 727 - 787 plane was tested here. The F16 fighter jet was also developed here. While aviation is still 80% of their testing, 20% is devoted to the sports industry. Cycling and the luge in particular. This wind tunnel is specifically sought after because it yields incrediblly accurate results. Photos were not allowed here because it is a military building and secret things are always going on so I apologize for no personal photos. Most every pro team in the peleton does their testing here. There is a really cool wall with pictures of everyone from Levi Leipheimer to Lance Armstrong. When we asked the tunnel engineers what bike company spent the most time here in the tunnel the overwhelming answer was CERVELO!!! It definitely shows in their product.
We got to stand in the tunnel while they were running tests. It was unbearably cold.
Those guys are incredibly tough to sit there for 2 hours in nothing more than a
skin suit.
After the tunnel, Phil White (founder, owner, and brilliant engineer) talked
about aerodynamics related to bikes. It's incredible to see the owner of a major bike
company go over equations and the basic laws of aerodynamics like he was changing
a tube. It really makes one believe in what the company stands for. He gave some great insight into aero wheels as well. Zipp or HED. They share a patent for their
rims. NOTHING comes even close to these two wheel companies in testing!!!
Well We just checked in at the Pacific Palisades Resort and are headed off to dinner. Tomorrow we will be heading out to the hills of Southern California to test ride some bikes. Take care everyone. I keep you up to date!!!
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