Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Aerospoke style front wheel...

I've seen a man with a bianchi pista riding around the lake and I couldnt help but notice his kickass front wheel.

I wasn't sure what it was. It was the same 5 star style of an Aerospoke, but it definitely was NOT a regular one.

So my question is, perhaps one of you has seen one before and can tell me the name of it because it just looked so damn good.
A description for each spoke is that they are a bit thinner and slightly tapers when they reach the perimeter of the wheel.

edit -

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7130/picture1tv.png

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeP4DgEcCZk

http://www.seekpart.com/company/44559/products/2011516151651890.html

edit:

lol @ those guys talking about aero then wearing normal helmets and no shoe covers.

^^

nope, the spokes were about twice as thin.

heres a sketch of the wheel. It was kind of like a star and im pretty sure had some chrome in the center of each spoke or something similar.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7130/picture1tv.png

Was the front wheel smaller than the rear wheel?

Mavic also makes a 5 spoke wheel, but it doesn't exactly fit your description.

208888

@ Hamish, nope the wheels were identical

id say theyre at least 30 percent thinner than regular aerospoke wheels

http://www.motorizedwheelchairvan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Wheel-Chair-Wheels.gif

I'm stumped. Maybe they were 26" mag wheels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeP4DgEcCZk

Looove that video. It's amazing how little aerodynamic changes make a difference. (I'm majoring in Aerospace Engineering...)
Also the explanation of the hand sticking out of the window... Not completely wrong but there is more to it, like high/low pressure zones.

(I'm majoring in Aerospace Engineering...)

Would you mind if explaining if that video makes sense at all or just marketing stuff?

I know it didn't show any hard number...but what do you think about the video's credibility. I'd assume that it is slightly biased since it is conducted by Cervelo themselves.

when I see that guy next time, I'll have to ask him because I've never seen it anywhere else.

Well of course it's incredibly biased. It is marketing after all.
I do know that the bicycling community shells out for aerodynamic research, so it must be doing something for them.

Credibility-wise, you're right. There are no hard numbers or (as I understand) industry aero test standards so it is hard to compare to other bikes. Aerodynamics is based on cross-sectional area (perpendicular to travel), so rider size has a lot to do with the drag (why they were using the dummy/consistency).
Cervelo is regarded as a "winning brand", and I think their research has a lot to do with that.

Now that I wrote all of that and THEN looked on their website, they actually do have a couple good presentations on aerodynamics and other engineering topics:
http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/engineering/tech-presentations/

It's remarkable for the amount of time we have known aerodynamics that we still don't have a lock on the best designs.

Thanks for answering my questions, I really appreciate it. :)

As an aerospace engineering major, are you aero on your bike?

Sure thing.

Well it's not like I have exclusive access to a windtunnel. :lol:
I only go aero if I can feel the wind attacking me. I'm sure you know the feeling of getting down low and feeling less wind. That is reducing the cross-sectional area I was talking about.

http://www.brookscycles.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/0/2010_rome_front_640.jpg?

http://file.seekpart.com/productsimage/2011/5/13/2011513175959250.jpg

Whaaaaaaaat?

http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/spyker-aeroblade-1-500x304.jpg

ah the dildo5000

http://file.seekpart.com/productsimage/2011/5/13/2011513175959250.jpg


nope. The outer rim is thinner and so are the spokes even.

and Leuky bear, the design of the spokes are more similar to the picture above, except more slender in all aspects with some chrome trim through the center of each spoke.

Ah here's a picture that looks almost like the wheel im talking about except this one has 4 spokes the one i saw has 5

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2492/picture2lq.png

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/van/bik/2437812983.html

http://images.craigslist.org/3k13m93le5Y05Z45R1b6da945c57621eb151f.jpg

Spinergy 5 carbon spoke wheel. 26". Includes tire.

Skyway Tuffs?

http://evilism.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/img_1402.jpg?w=510&h=340

^what i was thinking. iirc the skyways came in 26"?

lol @ those guys talking about aero then wearing normal helmets and no shoe covers.

Lol at you not knowing what you are talking about.

Aero helmets are not legal in road races. Only time trials...but the bike in the video is not a time trial bike. Shoe covers are rarely used in road races...and especially not in the summer heat. They also prevent the riders from adjusting the tightness of their straps as their feet swell during racing.

http://pedalrevolutionblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/plasticwheel2.jpg
I pray that you're not talking about this!

^^ wow those are cool. they are made from HED or Mavic?? LOL jk :lol:

I bet they were the ones he was talking about. :rolleyes:

It may be an older model aerospoke

http://pedalrevolutionblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/plasticwheel2.jpg
I pray that you're not talking about this!


your prayers are answered thank jesus. The spokes im talking about are shaped more like stars than turbines.