USA Track bikes ,

[ozboz]

just watching the Rio Velodrome Olympic racing , It was said that the Yanks had the chain set fitted on the left of their bikes , hasnt done much good though !

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Marginal gains innit

 

[ozboz]

Mmmm ,

 

[mickle]

Hmm. :-/

 

[screenman]

To be fair it might have done a lot of good, they may have come 4th without it.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

We can't say. There is no control group. But the logic makes sense.

 

[fossyant]

just watching the Rio Velodrome Olympic racing , It was said that the Yanks had the chain set fitted on the left of their bikes , hasnt done much good though !

Got them of Halfords.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

What is the rationale and what problem does that solve?

 

[mcshroom]

Puts the chain on the inside of the bends so it supposedly gets a bit more shelter out of the airflow than on the outside.

 

[ozboz]

According to Velonews
"The drivetrain is on the left side to address airflow coming at riders from the left side of the bike. The chainring on the drive side makes the crank more aerodynamic than the non-drive crank arm. Photo: Felt Bicycles

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Puts the chain on the inside of the bends so it supposedly gets a bit more shelter out of the airflow than on the outside.

Somebody didn't think this through. But then again, there is no species more gullible than professional and elite athletes.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

What is the rationale and what problem does that solve?

All it proves is that they're all cycling the wrong way. Make them race the other way and they'll change back. (I gather there's a very slight aerodynamic gain by having the drivetrain on the inside. And, yes, marginal gains. British Cycling won't be too proud to follow their lead.)

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Apparently faster when airflow is coming from the drive side, since that side is always the left, Somewhere along the line it made sense to swap it over.

I haven't seen Team USA win a great deal

 

[winjim]

Puts the chain on the inside of the bends so it supposedly gets a bit more shelter out of the airflow than on the outside.

I thought it was in the airflow; the chainring makes the crank more aerodynamic. Also the mass distribution supposedly helps on a banked circuit, widdershins.

 

[smutchin]

British Cycling won't be too proud to follow their lead.)

Boardman hinted the other day that it was something the GB team had considered a while ago but dismissed as not being worthwhile.