Now we can calculate the new velocity. Let's see what we get.

Now that we have the new velocity we can determine the time savings over a 40km race.

Time Savings at Any Speed when Removing 100g of Drag at 30mph

The next best question is how much time will I save with a FLO 30, FLO 60, FLO 90, and FLO DISC.

The following shows the savings for each wheel. Remember if you have two wheels multiply the

savings by two.

sadas1 SCOPE This guide prescribes methods for conducting and reporting tests for

three phase induction motor. 2 REFERENCES The following standards are necessary

adjuncts to this standard: IS No. Title 325 : 1996 Three-phase induction motors (fifth

revision) 1248 (All parts) Direct acting indicating analogue electrical measuring

instruments and their accessories 4722 : 2001 Rotating electrical machines

Specification 4889 : 1968 Methods of determination of efficiency of rotating

electrical machines 7816 : 1975 Guide for testing insulation resistance of rotating

machines 12065 : 1987 Permissible limits of noise level for rotating electrical

machines 13875 (All parts) Digital measuring instruments for measurement and

control 3 TERMINOLOGY For the purpose of this guide, the definitions given in IS 325

shall apply. 4 ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS 4.1 Instrument Selection The

instruments used in electrical measurements shall conform to IS 1248 or IS 13875.

Instruments with following accuracy shall be used: a) For routine tests instruments

of Class 2.5 accuracy shall be used. b) For type tests instruments of the Class 0.5

accuracy shall be used. 4.2 Instrument Transformers Where current and potential

transformer are used corrections shall be made for ratio error in voltage and current

measurement and for ratio and phase angle errors in power measurements. 4.3

Voltage The voltage shall clearly approach sinusoidal waveform and shall be

balanced. Phase voltages shall be measured at the motor terminals. If at the time of

conducting tests, voltage is nearly but not absolutely balanced, the arithmetical

average of the phase voltages shall be used for calculating the machine

performance. 4.4 Current The line current in each phase of the motor shall be

measured. It may not be equal in all the phases in which case the arithmetic

average of the phase currents shall be used for calculating the machine

performance. 4.5 Power Power input to three phase machine may be measured by a

single phase wattmeters connected as in two wattmeter method, alternatively, a

single polyphase wattmeter may be used. The total watts read on a wattmeter shall

be reduced by amount of 12R losses in the voltage circuits of the instruments

whenever this loss is a measurable portion of total watts read. 5 INSULATION

RESISTANCE TEST 5.1 Insulation resistance shall b

FLO 30 Time Savings at Any Speed

FLO 60 Time Savings at Any Speed

FLO 90 Time Savings at Any Speed

FLO DISC Time Savings at Any Speed

Proving 50 grams of Drag Reduction Provides 6.5 watts of Power Savings at 30mph

This one is an easy one compared to the last one. Let's look at the equation for power.

Using the equation for power we find the following.

This proves that the standard is true and shows you how to calculate the value.

Here is how much power the FLO Wheels can save you at a relative velocity of 30mph.
 Power Savings at 30mph

Summary

I hope that you've found this article helpful and that you didn't get lost along the way. There is a lot

to take in, but it should help you to better understand the importance of aerodynamics and how they

affect you and your time on the bike.

For more great content, please register for our free monthly newsletter at the top of the column on

the right. We send links to all the articles we post during the month. Please ask questions and post

your thoughts below.

Take care,

Jon

17 comments :

morey000 said...
Drag force is a function of Cd. So why is the drag force in the tables the same for both the

FLO and Mavic?

November 13, 2012 at 9:55 AM

FLO Cycling said...

That's a good question. The reason is that we are solving for the increase in velocity and

not the drag force. When the equation is rearranged to solve for velocity, we use the

original drag force to find the new velocity. If we used the drag force found at 30mph for the

new CD, we would get the same 30mph answer. The increase in drag allows us to find the

new velocity. Does that make sense?

November 13, 2012 at 11:03 AM

Nick said...

Sorry to get complicated, but do you take into account the relative velocity of the wheels in

respect to the frame? What I mean, is that if the bike is moving forward at 20mph (with no

wind), a single point on the wheel will be moving with a relative forward velocity of 40mph

at the top of the wheel, and 0mph where the wheel contacts the ground. These equations

here are of course a simplification, but I wonder if it's taken into account in your computer

models, and whether you use a spinning wheel or a static wheel when you test in the wind

tunnel. Cheers, great work by the way, I hope to order some of your wheels soon!
November 13, 2012 at 11:11 AM

John K. said...

See if I have this right, so a switch from a FLO 60 rear to a FLO Disc at 25 mph for a 10k

TT we're talking about 10 seconds savings?

Thanks,

John
November 13, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Erik said...

Is there a good reason why FLO 90 is worse than FLO 60 (I know nothing except that I

suspect the number is the rim height, and higher is typically better)?
November 13, 2012 at 11:41 AM

FLO Cycling said...

Nick,

That's a great question. The CD values we used are for a cyclist. All of the tests we perform

on the wheels use a spinning wheel. The CFD model and the wind tunnel both use 30mph.

We get a CD value from the wheel by itself in both situations.

Jon
November 13, 2012 at 12:46 PM

FLO Cycling said...

John,

That is correct. Over a 10k you would save approximately 10 seconds by switching to a

FLO DISC from a FLO 60.

Jon
November 13, 2012 at 12:48 PM

FLO Cycling said...

This comment has been removed by the author.
November 13, 2012 at 12:50 PM

gnicholson said...

Based on the data you have on the FLO60/90 it would seem you can make a pretty good

guess as to where the FLO30 will plot on your drag data chart?
November 13, 2012 at 1:35 PM

FLO Cycling said...

gnicholson,

When we test in CFD we do not add the spokes and hubs. Our most recent CFD testing

used modified parameters to enhance the mesh and produce a better result. These two

factors make it challenging to predict what will happen in the wind tunnel. Our goal is to

drop below 100g of drag and stay low for much more of the 10-20 degree yaw angle range.

Our results from CFD show that this appears to be the case. You will notice that the wind

tunnel data for the FLO CLIMBER and the CFD data show different results. This will be

what we clarify with the FLO 30 in the wind tunnel. I hope that makes sense.

Jon
November 13, 2012 at 5:56 PM

Nate said...

I know this is basically a back-of-napkin "calculation" but, "Remember if you have two

wheels multiply the savings by two."

This can't be even close to right, can it?

December 11, 2012 at 11:01 AM
FLO Cycling said...

Nate,

Aerodynamics can only truly be understood with testing. We test our wheels individually

when we are in the wind tunnel and compare the results to the drag produced by a

standard box wheel. Any time you add another element to a drag test you alter the CDA.

Frame interaction, rider postion, tire selection etc all have an effect on the total system drag

reduction you will experience.

Theoretically if you were to send two wheels down the road by themselves you would save

twice the time. Once you introduce a frame and a rider things change quickly. The only way

to know for sure would be to test the entire system. The main goal is to show the amount of

time savings you would experience if you were to reduce "x" number of grams of drag.

Also remember that we used a CDA for a cyclist and not just a single wheel. Ultimately the

calculations are pretty accurate but remember the system needs to be tested to know for

sure.

Take care,

Jon
December 16, 2012 at 8:00 PM

Wood Works said...

nice
January 31, 2016 at 3:54 AM
FLO Cycling said...

Thanks Wood Works!

Jon
January 31, 2016 at 7:22 AM

Emil said...

An update on savings at any speed in relation to the new line of wheels ( carbon clincher)

would be awesome!

Thank you in advance!

Emil
May 7, 2016 at 6:07 AM

FLO Cycling said...

Emil,

I will be updating this in the future. I don't have a date yet but it will happen.

Take care,

Jon
May 7, 2016 at 7:05 AM

FLO Cycling said...

Emil,

We have posted the update you requested. I hope you enjoy it.

http://flocycling.blogspot.com/2016/06/flo-cycling-how-much-time-will-flo.html

Take care,

Chris
July 4, 2016 at 12:58 PM