Air Resistance is Real!

[Wayne Mack]

I am still trying to decide if I believe this or not.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1761393195303231669

 

[Wlazlakt]

Well: seeing how the camera was able to keep up with the bike and rider laying down and the camera man did not turn the camera on it's side to reduce air drag on the camera, I would say, that this was a set up to record this event, to confuse the people thinking this was random rider that did not have his breaks on like the other bikes and riders may have done. and being on the internet, it's it true and sure that it is a real moving story,
believe it or Not.

 

[HareBrain]

I am still trying to decide if I believe this or not.

I do. I have friends who used to do that: it's called "superman".

seeing how the camera was able to keep up with the bike and rider laying down and the camera man did not turn the camera on it's side to reduce air drag on the camera

Why wouldn't the camera keep up with the rider? It's on a motorbike.

 

[hitmouse]

I’ve seen this used on some of the long downhill sections of the Tour de France. Obvs not the hairpin downhill bits.

 

[Swank]

There is nothing magical about this. I've caught people on downhill section just by tucking better, despite the fact that they are pedaling and I'm coasting. The decreased drag from bringing your legs up would halve the wind resistance - which is a huge deal when you are going 40-50mph.

 

[CupofJoe]

I'm fairly sure the UCI banned it for the obvious safety/control issues it brings with it.

 

[Wayne Mack]

I’ve seen this used on some of the long downhill sections of the Tour de France. Obvs not the hairpin downhill bits.

I've caught people on downhill section just by tucking better, despite the fact that they are pedaling and I'm coasting.

I think I could believe it if the rider was going downhill, however, I've looked at the video a couple of times and it appears to be on level ground. All of the signposts seem to be straight up and down and the other the posts that do appear to lean seem to indicate that this would be an uphill section.

 

[Swank]

I think I could believe it if the rider was going downhill, however, I've looked at the video a couple of times and it appears to be on level ground. All of the signposts seem to be straight up and down and the other the posts that do appear to lean seem to indicate that this would be an uphill section.

That's downhill. Watch the yards of the houses as they approach and pass them.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

I think the video is a bit misleading. The yellow rider is clearly highly skilled and the others he catches are in twos and threes all over the road. It is not clear how much speed he was carrying into the shot either. That typed the superman position definitely works, but nobody will thank him for doing it near a group, and it's also a good way of earning a trip to the emergency room. Definitely something to try and time yourself on a quiet slope, another option is to sit on the crossbar and crouch like a frog in a matchbox -the rider creates in and around 90% of the wind resistance on a bike *citation needed, bro science warning so some folk turn modifying the position into an art form (still think this lad was showboating for the camera, be cool to see others put it up to him on a timed course ...getting insurance might be a problem though

 

[HareBrain]

The yellow rider is clearly highly skilled and the others he catches are in twos and threes all over the road.

Twos and threes? There's a line of four and then one guy out in front (who seems to be drafting a moped!)

It is not clear how much speed he was carrying into the shot either.

Eh? He's right behind the guy in front at the start of the video and then drops back to get into the superman position (so he can build up slipstream speed before overtaking, I guess).

Two new things I noticed this time: his cranks continue to go round after he takes his feet off the pedals, which suggests rather poor maintenance of his freewheel; and the idiotic copycat behaviour of the moped rider.

 

[Swank]

Two new things I noticed this time: his cranks continue to go round after he takes his feet off the pedals, which suggests rather poor maintenance of his freewheel; and the idiotic copycat behaviour of the moped rider.

He's riding a track bike with fixed gearing and no brakes. They don't freewheel.


No other cyclists on Chrons?

 

[HareBrain]

He's riding a track bike with fixed gearing and no brakes. They don't freewheel.

OK, didn't spot that.

No other cyclists on Chrons?

Meaning?

 

[Swank]

OK, didn't spot that.


Meaning?

That there is a lot of odd speculation about how this is somehow fake or a trick. Post this video on a cycling forum and most would recognize the bikes, speeds, terrain, etc. Post it on a SFF forum and it becomes magic!

 

[HareBrain]

That there is a lot of odd speculation about how this is somehow fake or a trick. Post this video on a cycling forum and most would recognize the bikes, speeds, terrain, etc. Post it on a SFF forum and it becomes magic!

That's not the case at all, though. No one here is calling it magic (the only mention of the word is in the X link), and many posters have recognised the technique. I only didn't recognise the bike as a track bike because I (rashly) assumed this was a (badly organised) race and that they were all road bikes.

 

[AnRoinnUltra]

Eh?

You are spot on. I didn't take a proper look at the clip. I think the fact that none of the other riders reacted and got a tow to the front irked me, and I didn't fully take in the clip (leisure spin or not I'd have jumped on and attacked the second the lad tried to come out of the tuck
Using a track bike seems odd -more of a stunt than a clip from an event, but I've just learned not to jump to conclusions).

 

[Christine Wheelwright]

Another vote for real. Looks like he is running quite a high gear on that fixie. Its going to be interesting if they hit any big climbs.

 

[AE35Unit]

If its on twitter then it must be true ...