Cervelo P3 aerodynamics at 70 mph
06-03-09, 10:45 AM
#1
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Cervelo P3 aerodynamics at 70 mph
..are not so good, at least when it's mounted sideways and flies off the rack. 
All that talking about how I hate the TT bike? Karma...I dropped it off the back of the car this morning at ~70 mph. One of the wheel tray bolts came out (this has happened once previously without a bike on it; crappy design) and it flew off. I happened to be looking in the rear view mirror and got a great view of parts bouncing in the air, bike pinwheeling on the pavement, and the truck behind me trying to avoid it all.
Luckily nobody was hit and the bike wasn't run over. The damage is surprisingly light; it landed on the non-drive side and ground a nice parallel edge on the basebar, left pedal, seat, and rear skewer. The basebar's usable, the other parts are toast but it could've been worse. My Powertap rear wheel is leading a charmed life; it has now survived a frame breaking crash on one bike and a 70 mph asphalt spin on the P3 without damage.
The weirdest part was that I had just passed a local rider who happens to be the wife of a shop owner. I honked at her..and about a second later watched the bike fly off. She was undoubtedly thinking, "WTF?!". She helped me get the bike out of the road and told me I should come in and buy a different rack.
I am writing a nasty email to the rack manufacturer. The wheel trays are held on by carriage bolts that go in from the bottom and knobs up top. No retention system for the knob or the bolt..when the knob vibrates loose and comes off, the bolt drops out the bottom and ...weeee're flyyyiiinnnggg. I'm going to change the tray retention system to bolts inserted from the top with nylock nuts. Screw tool-free adjustability.. I should've done so previously.
All that talking about how I hate the TT bike? Karma...I dropped it off the back of the car this morning at ~70 mph. One of the wheel tray bolts came out (this has happened once previously without a bike on it; crappy design) and it flew off. I happened to be looking in the rear view mirror and got a great view of parts bouncing in the air, bike pinwheeling on the pavement, and the truck behind me trying to avoid it all.
Luckily nobody was hit and the bike wasn't run over. The damage is surprisingly light; it landed on the non-drive side and ground a nice parallel edge on the basebar, left pedal, seat, and rear skewer. The basebar's usable, the other parts are toast but it could've been worse. My Powertap rear wheel is leading a charmed life; it has now survived a frame breaking crash on one bike and a 70 mph asphalt spin on the P3 without damage.
The weirdest part was that I had just passed a local rider who happens to be the wife of a shop owner. I honked at her..and about a second later watched the bike fly off. She was undoubtedly thinking, "WTF?!". She helped me get the bike out of the road and told me I should come in and buy a different rack.
I am writing a nasty email to the rack manufacturer. The wheel trays are held on by carriage bolts that go in from the bottom and knobs up top. No retention system for the knob or the bolt..when the knob vibrates loose and comes off, the bolt drops out the bottom and ...weeee're flyyyiiinnnggg. I'm going to change the tray retention system to bolts inserted from the top with nylock nuts. Screw tool-free adjustability.. I should've done so previously.
06-03-09, 10:57 AM
#4
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will there be a youtube video?
glad the frame is ok!
glad the frame is ok!
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06-03-09, 11:07 AM
#5
i ride a bicycle
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I had a mtb fly off a trunk rack at 70mph on the way to a ride once. I was also amazed at the lack of damage - scratched bar end and torn seat was basically all. We straightened the handlebars and kept driving to the ride; the bike rode fine, and has to this day.
Mac
Mac
06-03-09, 11:22 AM
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Cat 3 Meter - Don't Care
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Don't squeeze the top tube.
Seriously that's terrible and I know hit feels. Freshman year of college after my 2nd semester in my photo major my parents bought me a Nikon F100 and I had a 35-70 f/2.8 lens on it ($2k worth of gear full price). I had had the F100 for a day and I was super stressed trying to get to a shoot and was arguing with someone and left the F100 on top of my car. Started driving and suddenly I heard something roll off the top of my car and then watched as a Ford F-150 drove over my baby.
Seriously that's terrible and I know hit feels. Freshman year of college after my 2nd semester in my photo major my parents bought me a Nikon F100 and I had a 35-70 f/2.8 lens on it ($2k worth of gear full price). I had had the F100 for a day and I was super stressed trying to get to a shoot and was arguing with someone and left the F100 on top of my car. Started driving and suddenly I heard something roll off the top of my car and then watched as a Ford F-150 drove over my baby.
06-03-09, 11:26 AM
#7
Quarq shill
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Okay, so what rack is it?
06-03-09, 11:35 AM
#8
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It's a Hollywood.
I like the rack other than the stupid knobs. I found all of the pieces for the wheel tray so I'll be visiting the hardware store to "upgrade" mine tonight.
I like the rack other than the stupid knobs. I found all of the pieces for the wheel tray so I'll be visiting the hardware store to "upgrade" mine tonight.
06-03-09, 11:41 AM
#9
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You could view this as a sign to quit doing time trials.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
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OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
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You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
06-03-09, 12:11 PM
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You're too tall for it anyway, I think. I was bringing the stupid thing to work because I was planning my new-found dedication to riding it once a week, getting faster, and kicking your ass at the next TT. Wait, did I say that out loud?
...I wish I could use the "he's half my age" excuse but 58 year old Dave Viney pretty much shot that to hell when he turned a 50:46 last weekend...
06-04-09, 08:43 AM
#12
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Small update: I rode the damn thing last night, as-is. I remember seeing a picture of some "extreme weight weenie" Speedplays with the entire composite body removed, just the bowties remaining. I'm about halfway there on the left side but the pedal works fine. 
06-04-09, 08:51 AM
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I seriously think I would vomit if I lost my P2 off the roof...
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06-04-09, 11:03 AM
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You're too tall for it anyway, I think. I was bringing the stupid thing to work because I was planning my new-found dedication to riding it once a week, getting faster, and kicking your ass at the next TT. Wait, did I say that out loud?
...I wish I could use the "he's half my age" excuse but 58 year old Dave Viney pretty much shot that to hell when he turned a 50:46 last weekend...
...I wish I could use the "he's half my age" excuse but 58 year old Dave Viney pretty much shot that to hell when he turned a 50:46 last weekend...
You're going to have to hurry up for that rematch though -- looks like I'll be heading out of the state come August.
Funny though, I always use the "he's twice my age" excuse. Gotta get more miles in the legs...
06-04-09, 11:58 AM
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I have rocky mounts and love em. But also have a compact car so cant fit multiple bikes in it (hyundai elantra). I am still nervous as can be when driving down the highway with bikes ontop of the car.
06-04-09, 12:08 PM
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Glad the bike's alright. Hell, if I were you I'd be looking for a different rack altogether.
06-04-09, 12:12 PM
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Aren't you the least bit hesitant to ride a CF bike that hit the pavement at that speed?
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06-04-09, 12:39 PM
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06-04-09, 01:03 PM
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Ah. A shame they don't make those anymore.
I was looking at 51cm P3 on ebay - would have bought it if it had 700 wheels and not 650s.
I was looking at 51cm P3 on ebay - would have bought it if it had 700 wheels and not 650s.
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“Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." (Churchill)
"I am a courageous cyclist." (SpongeDad)
“Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." (Churchill)
"I am a courageous cyclist." (SpongeDad)
06-04-09, 02:17 PM
#25
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The only rack I trust is the trunk of my car.
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1