Measurement of the air velocity and turbulence in a simulated track cycling team pursuit race. Issue 190 (July 2019) - Fitzgerald, Shaun
Abstract: There are many cycling events undertaken in a velodrome which involve close interactions between cyclists. During a single race, particularly the team pursuit, a cyclist can alternately be ahead of or behind another rider; two positions which have very different flow fields. Additionally, as a cyclist travels around a level corner, the relative flow experienced by the cyclist becomes curved. Due to the lean angle of the cyclist, this resolves into a change in both the yaw and pitch angle as well as the flow speed relative to the cyclist. An experimental investigation was conducted with a bicycle fitted with a three-component velocity probe placed anterior to the rider in a simulated team pursuit race. The results demonstrate a reduction in the airspeed-to-wheel speed ratio for each drafting cyclist, down to 46% for the 4th rider. The turbulence intensity increased for each drafting position, from 1.5% to 18.5%. A yaw angle of up to 7° and pitch angle of −3° were observed on the velodrome bends. In addition, a fluctuation in the yaw angle due to the cadence cycle was observed. The results demonstrate the aerodynamic conditions experienced in track cycling and can be used to inform further investigations. Highlights: Experimental investigation of the airflow in a cycling team pursuit event. Cornering influences the air velocity observed by a track cyclist. Yaw angles up to +7° and pitch angles up to −3° in the bends. Airspeed and turbulence are dependent on the position in the pursuit line.