Body Rocket brings its on-bike drag measuring system to road bikes with new prototype

Body Rocket has unveiled a prototype on-bike drag measuring system for dropped-bar road bikes that could provide a viable, and cheaper, alternative to wind tunnel testing.

Founded in 2017, the British start-up specialises in aero testing except, rather than using wind tunnels, Body Rocket’s technology places drag measuring sensors on the bike to provide real-time data. It has previously only used the tech for triathlon and time trial bikes but that’s now expanded to include standard road bikes for the first time.

While it seems like a natural progression, the new prototype was developed to help pro triathlete Kristian Blummenfelt to train on his Giant Propel bike for the upcoming Paris Olympics, where the draft-legal format uses road bikes.

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It works by placing multiple wireless sensors at key contact points, including the stem, seatpost, pedals and an out-front aero speed sensor, along with a bottle cage-mounted receiver box. These all record real-time drag data which is relayed to a Garmin cycling computer where it provides feedback during a ride. This feedback includes information about a rider's aerodynamics and body position, which are useful when trying to hone in on an aerodynamic position on a bike. Most of us aren’t aerodynamic nerds and Body Rocket says that its AI-driven software helps to guide users through the process so they can understand the data, which should make it easier to action any changes.

© JustJames Media / Body Rocket

A drag measuring sensor in the stem

As the system provides real-time feedback, Body Rocket says that the system has advantages over wind tunnels, as “riding in static, laboratory conditions doesn’t always translate to riding in the real world, riding for longer periods or over multiple rides”. There’s also only so much time riders can spare for wind tunnel testing, whereas Body Rocket says that its prototype “will allow Kristian Blummenfelt to benefit from 100’s of hours of training to aero ahead of the Olympics, with no detriment to his regular training plan”.

Real-world riding conditions are often also muddied by the constantly changing tech rules that are enforced in professional cycling, such as lever position and bar widths, and Body Rocket founder Eric DeGolier believes that the company’s tech provides the best way to navigate the rules.

“Aerodynamics is critical in every discipline of cycling, and road bikes have always been part of our plan,” he said in a press release. “With the recent changes to handlebar and brake lever rules, and the new narrow bars made to address it, there is a lot to learn, and with this new prototype, nobody will have as much time to learn as Kristian”.

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Aero testing has traditionally only been reserved for top-level athletes too, with testing in the sparsely numbered wind tunnels being a costly endeavour. Body Rocket’s tech could open up aero testing to a wider audience, although this would obviously also depend on the cost.

The new tech is still a long way off yet, though, and Body Rocket has opened pre-registration for anyone potentially interested in the product, along with a crowdfunding campaign.

Giant

Giant is a bicycle manufacturer based in Taichung, Taiwan. The company produces a range of bikes, from road, gravel and electric to cyclo-cross and mountain bikes, as well as clothing, equipment and tools. Giant is seen as the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world.