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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
The time trial is a race of truth, they say, but it's also a race of technology. Unlike road racing, which sees tactics and drafting come into play, the time trial is, at its core, a simple math problem: forces for minus forces against. The difference is speed. That's why teams spend heaps of cash and time to remove anything that could slow a rider down. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Every inch of the moden time trial is tuned to improve aerodynamics. But bad nutrition is far worse than a bit of added drag — most riders had food taped to the top tube of their bikes for Saturday's long 59.4km time trial, which saw finishing times around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Trek didn't have any riders in contention for the stage win; if they did, perhaps the team wouldn't have had all its riders take the start ramp with these Bontrager Flare rear lights. The team is trying to emphasize the importance of being visible, even during daylight hours, it said. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Various split-nose saddle designs have become increasingly popular in recent years for their abiliy to take weight off sensitive areas. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Cannondale-Garmin leader Ryder Hesjedal rode on a Slice frame stripped of its paint. Removing the paint saved 300 grams, according to a team mechanic. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Fabio Feline's SRM mount is clean and tidy. We love the swooping curves of those Bontrager bars, too. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Saturday's course was flat to start with a few climbs in the second half. Most riders used a big chainring, usually 54 or 55 teeth, combined with a wide 11-28 tooth or 11-29 tooth cassette. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
A bit of grip tape keeps Leopold Konig's (Sky) hands in place. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Richie Porte's front hub gets some last minute attention from Sky's mechanics. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Electronic shifters allow riders to place shift buttons in multiple locations. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Two gels for a long day on the TT bike. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
The hills at the end of Saturday's course necessitated a wide cassette. The big 28-tooth (for Shimano and SRAM teams) and 29 tooth (for Campagnolo teams) cog allows riders to stay in the big ring longer. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Grip tape is a light, aerodynamic solution to the issue of hanging on to slippery carbon bars. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
A bit of custom grippy rubber has been sewed onto Konig's Fizik saddle to help him stay planted. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Lizard Skins bar tape is very sticky, and is thus a favorite on TT bikes. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Hydration meets aero. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Most riders were on deep front wheels, like this Mavic CC80, though Fabio Aru (Astana) went with a relatively shallow front Corima due to the course's steep climbs. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Katusha's Canyon Speedmax frames have some of the best integration anywhere. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Time trial bikes are all about integration. That makes them difficult to work on, as cables and housing and even brakes are often hidden inside the frame, but it also makes them slippery against the wind. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
The carbon plug looks nice and all, but a bit of tape is probably more aerodynamic. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Astana often uses Corima's trispoke front wheel during TTs, though its extra weight kept Aru away from it on Saturday. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Corima molds a magnet into one of the large carbon spokes for use with a cycling computer. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
A 55/42 chainring combination was common. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Tech Gallery: A long Giro time trial
Fewer holes mean fewer places for the air to grab onto. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
The post Tech Gallery: Aerodynamics and gearing for the Giro’s long time trial appeared first on VeloNews.com.
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