Skin Suits

[ouderblade]

I found this article on aero equipment savings.

http://m.active.com/cycling/articles/buying-time-which-aero-equipment-offers-the-most-benefits.htm

The article goes on to say (page 2) that a skinsuit would save more time than aero bars and an aero helmet.

I have recently purchased a time trial bike and was looking at TT helmets as i believed that they would help reduce drag, but i wasnt aware that skin suits would do more than an aero helmet ? Thoughts ?

[mikesbytes]

Why wouldn't you get one? I use one for TT's

Speak to who ever provides your club uniforms

[ouderblade]

Hi Mike,

Yeah our club has them, so i will speak to them about it, and from what im finding now, it looks as though i will definitely be getting one.

[mikesbytes]

Also at many clubs a skin suit is cheaper than a jersey and nicks combo

[vander]

Remember that wasnt a normal skinsuit but a special one they said that a normal one would not be far off but it wouldnt save quite that much.

[mikesbytes]

Got to raise the BS detector on that. The difference between makes will be minor.

[Redbull]

I think this is the bit that you should note, therefore the average rider is not going to see this level of energy savings

* For a rider who rides 40km in 48 minutes (50 km/hr). Calculated using T=0.464 x D, (a simplified version of an equation formulated in 1999 by Chester Kyle, a pioneer in cycling aerodynamics since 1974), where T is the time savings in seconds and D is the drag difference in grams. Each savings in drag, expressed in grams from the above table, is multiplied by 0.464 to provide an estimate of the time savings, in seconds, over a 40km time trial.

Bottom of the article - my emphasis

[vander]

Got to raise the BS detector on that. The difference between makes will be minor.

What I was saying was from the article that I read about this data.

[toolonglegs]

Well it is a bit of Nike publicity... especally as they aren't readily available.
My normal kit is so bloody small it feels like a skin suit anyway .
I tried to order a club skinsuit last season and I was the only one ordering one so was too expensive... didn't try this season as we order in early Dec and I didn't have any goals then.
Regreting it now!... not sure how I will broach the subject of wearing a plain skin suit later in the season... will wait till I can show them it is worth there while allowing it .

[mikesbytes]

Vander, sorry wasn't knocking you, just the graphic/info. It's not a perfect summary, but it does give you insight.

My club skinsuit cost $160 vs $220 for jersey and bib nicks. I've got 4 club skinsuits, but 3 of them have additional ventilation holes

Back on the topic of the graphic/info, if memory serves me right, over socks are about a 4 watt saving, so how does that equate to 30 second benefit? The same as a disk wheel

[toolonglegs]

So... if a TT frame only gives you a 17 sec advantage over a 40kmTT.... as they are pretty expensive this would nearly be the last thing you bought right?. As long as you can get a good position in what you are riding right.

[mikesbytes]

If you got beaten by 10 seconds...

[toolonglegs]

Thats very true Mike... but I seem to suddenly have a nice super stiff alloy / carbon frame at my disposal again. Was thinking I could build it up as a TT bike until I can afford the frame... and then when I have the proper frame I can swap all the bits across.
TT's are not very common here until September.
I have a 5.6km prolouge in May plus a 25km team TT.
Then maybe a 2 or 3 K prolouge in June.
Then nothing till September... but I wan't to start spending some time in a TT position...I think with a Thomson set back post facing forward and an adjustable stem I can get a reasonable position on this road frame.
Any thoughts would be good.

[mikesbytes]

While there's some inaccuracies in the diagram above the general communication is good.

Body position is all important, to maximise the aero without loosing power.

I'd be inclined simply to put the seat on the legal forward position and leave it there, though I'm not sure what happens with your dimensions.

As you ain't able to get a skin suit thru your club, can you get a race fit jersey? or squeeze into one size smaller?

[ouderblade]

I race in my lbs team kit, but they dont have a skinsuit, so im just going to grab one of our club racing skin suits, which im told we can get ordered in.

Thanks for the input.

Cheers