You are reading a single comment by @oxpoleon and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
-
So in this case, the drag caused by the asymmetry of the bike actually results in aerodynamic gains? You learn something new every day. *throws out Fluid Dynamics textbook in frustration*
oxpoleon-
Sarcasm recognition fail :-)
The true parts are that the drag on a typical TT bike at +5° yaw is not the mirror image of the drag at -5° yaw, e.g.
and that the fact that a bike is almost constantly turning at the track does generate an effective yaw even in still air. Just doing a quick google and it looks like Andrew Coggan had the same idea a long time ago. I think the bike in question could use a lot of other changes to make aero gains before the marginal gain which might be available from left hand drive becomes the first priority.
gbj_tester
It's for marginal gains on the track. Because the drag is slightly different between left and right (+ve & -ve) yaw angles of the same magnitude, and because the yaw angle on the track is always from the same side, you can optimise your bike's asymmetry for the track by ensuring that the lower drag yaw sign and the actual yaw sign match.