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PRESS RELEASE - Heras JetStreams to TT improvement
Roberto Heras JetStreams to TT improvement
Along with his always present climbing skills and Manolo Saiz’ powerfulteam tactics, Roberto Heras has also displayed a new found proficiencyin his time trialing.In addition to more time spent on his TT bike, Roberto has benefitedfrom a new Manolo Saiz designed, BH produced TT frame with an Oval Conceptsdesigned fork and aero bar using Oval’s revolutionary JetStream aerodynamicstechnology. Oval JetStream technology is quite noticeable with its twinaero shaped blades and specially shaped vents. The JetStream aero bar hasbeen co-designed and built at the Jordan/Midland Formula One factory inSilverstone, England.The new BH TT frame incorporates many subtle wind tunnel tested improvementson Saiz’s ONCE frames which still set the standard with other ProTour levelteams. Refined tube shapes and hidden cable runs enhance design conceptslike Manolo’s “no seat post” design which is now becoming ubiquitous inthe peloton.Oval Concepts’ JetStream technology revolutionizes current bicycle aerodynamictheory which only seeks to minimize the frontal area of the bike and rider.JetStream technology gently moves air around major drag effects on thebike and rider. The top of the front wheel is the largest mechanical drageffect on the bike with the spokes whipping through the air at twice thespeed of the bike.The Oval JetStream fork minimizes front wheel drag by collecting airoff the front wheel and directing it outward, away from the spokes rippingup behind the fork. This drag reduction is small at 30 kilometers per hourbut steadily increases to have a significant effect at speeds of 40, 50and 60 kph found during professional time trials. Wind tunnel tests show15-20 watt savings at 400 watts of output which translates into 35-55 secondsover a 1 hour TT at 50 kph.In addition to being twice as strong and twice as stiff and 300 gramslighter than other state of the art aero bars, the Oval JetStream aerobar gently re-directs air flowing off the rider’s hands and arms and aroundhis legs and core to reduce the biggest drag effect on the bike – the riderhimself. Preliminary testing has shown 5 to 10 seconds per hour improvementat 50 kph but more thorough testing of this very new technology will bedone with the Liberty Seguros squad at the MIT wind tunnel in Boston onSeptember 30, 2005.
(Oval press release)
