5 Dec '14

Eddy Merckx Cycles and UGent improve stability of racing bikes

Summary

Engineers from Ghent University will attach sensors to bikes and pro riders this week for tests to determine how best to design the fork of racing bikes

 

Safety and performance

The department of materials science and engineering at Ghent University is working together with Eddy Merckx Cycles to carry out tests to determine how the measurements and the proportions of the fork of a road racing bike influences the stability of the steering. The fork is the part of the bicycle that surrounds the front wheel.

The goal is to improve the safety and the performance of both cyclist and bicycle as a whole. The tests are the last phase of a project that started two years ago and is supported by Flanders’ agency for innovation through science and technology (IWT).

Two tests will take place this month on the bicycle track Eddy Merckx at the Blaarmeersen recreation domain in Ghent. A group of cyclists will cover a fixed tour, during which the steering geometry will be altered to influence the steering. Both professional cyclists from team Topsport Vlaanderen (including top talent Gijs Van Hoecke) and amateur cyclists will participate in the tests.

Researchers will use sensors attached to the bicycles and riders to measure the exact movements that happen in response to steering corrections. The cyclists will also be questioned about how they experience the steering stability after the steering geometry is changed.

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