Cycling: April 2007 Archives

Yesterday I took my new Louis Garneau Rocket aero helmet out for my long ride to test it out. I didn't know what to expect but if the wind tunnel tests were true, then I should be using something which would have a dramatic effect on my cycling aerodynamic efficiency.

Wow what a noticeable difference. I especially noticed it while pedaling in windy conditions. It was noticeably easier to pedal with winds and headwinds, as I didn't feel as much effort in my legs. The effect was most dramatic when I was in aero position. It made me want to pedal in aero position the whole time! When I sat upright, the effect was much lessened. But hunkering down on my aero bars with the back cone of the helmet laying against my back somehow made me slice through the wind much easier.

I'm sold! Can't wait to try it out at Ironman Brazil.

I'm STOKED.

My Louis Garneau Rocket aero helmet arrived today. Putting me on made me feel like a ROCKET.

OK OK. I suck as a triathlete. Maybe you can argue that I'm not worthy of wearing an aero helmet. But after reading this article about Bicycle Aerodynamics and an article in Bicycling Magazine, September 2006, I am looking at anything to help me increase my aerodynamic efficiency. One of those, surprisingly enough, is the helmet. So I plunked down some cash to get my head more aero.

Will I go faster? Maybe. But what I'm more concerned about is conservation of energy. Even if I go the same speed, I should be more aero and thus expend less energy than without an aero helmet, and thus help me on the run. At least that's the theory...

My coach, M2, just opened a new facility in San Francisco called M2 Revolution Cycling and Motion Studio at the corner of Bush and Van Ness. For his grand opening celebration, he got Floyd Landis to come and ride with us during a workout.

They put Floyd's watts up on a video screen at the front of the room. Man, that guy is STRONG. We were officially dusted by his 520 peak watts, which was well over twice the power output I was putting out in the same interval. Makes me want to keep going up Old La Honda until my legs are as big as my waist!

If you live in SF, you should visit the M2 Revolution facility. It has CycleOps trainers which give you power output, treadmills, and also Vasa trainers for dryland swim training. Parking is on the next block over so very convenient. If you visit M2's classes, you'll get a taste for the interval training he puts all of us through. Very tough and very worthwhile. Much better than your average spin class.