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Total Power – Measuring Cycling Wheel Performance
In cycling, the power you put into the pedals is measured in watts. Ideally, each watt is used to move you forward, but in reality, only a portion of those watts are used for that purpose and there are losses along the way. As a cyclist, every watt you haven’t lost counts towards how fast…
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FLO Gravel Wheel Design #13 – On Road Rolling Resistance
We had two questions when we started designing the gravel wheel series; one, “can a gravel wheel be aerodynamic?” and two, “Can we design a rim that lowers rolling resistance?” In Part 12 of the Gravel Wheel Design Journey, we showed we could improve the aerodynamic efficiency of a gravel wheel and save you 5-6…
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FLO All Sport Series – The A2 Wind Tunnel Results
From an aerodynamic perspective, the wind tunnel is the the ultimate test of any product. When designing the FLO Gravel series we realized the importance of a wide internal-rim width when trying to lower rolling resistance. The goal with the FLO All Sport Series was to widen the internal-rim width, and optimize rim shapes around…
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Understanding Being Aero & Watts For Cyclists
We commonly hear the phrase “be aero” in the cycling world, but what does it really mean? The quick answer, “being aero” is when the watts you put into the pedals are used to move you forward and not used to overcome drag, therefore making you faster. We already know that being aero is important;…
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FLO Gravel Wheel Design #12 The A2 Wind Tunnel Results
From an aerodynamic perspective, the wind tunnel is the ultimate test of any product. Our goal was to show that a gravel wheel with gravel tires could be aerodynamic and this was the test that would prove it. What We Tested We tested the FLO G700 and FLO G650 against traditional gravel wheels. Traditional gravel…
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FLO Gravel Wheel Design #11 Can Gravel Wheels Be Aero?
Can Gravel Wheels Be Aerodynamic? We at FLO have a founding belief that aerodynamic cycling wheels for road and triathlon can be affordable. Since aerodynamics are part of our roots, one of the first questions we asked when designing the gravel wheels was, “Can gravel wheels be aerodynamic?” We observed gravel events like the Dirty…
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Understanding Rolling Resistance & Impedance For Cyclists
Rolling resistance is a hot topic in cycling. The truth is, rolling resistance matters for all cyclists regardless of whether you ride on road, gravel, or even a track. It’s important if you race, or simply just enjoy riding on the weekends. Why? It effects things like your speed and grip which matter to everyone.…
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FLO Gravel Wheel Design #10 Working With UNLV
Creating A Partnership Part 9 of the Gravel Wheel design journey was a recap of our trip out to Calgary to work with AeroLab. We left Calgary knowing we had a sensor and the ability to measure Crr and CdA on road. We now needed a research team to help us refine the testing protocol…
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FLO Cycling – The Journey Continues
Over the past decade, Jon and Chris Thornham have taken FLO Cycling from an idea to the brand you’ve come to know. Today marks a change in FLO’s journey. Chris has decided to step away from FLO and has sold his ownership. The following statement is from Chris: After dedicating my full time to FLO…
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FLO Gravel Wheel Prototypes & Wind Tunnel Announcement
The Gravel Wheel Production Prototypes Are Here! WATCH NOW! The production prototypes of the FLO Gravel Wheels are here! Watch the video below to see the new FLO G700 and FLO G650 and learn about their specs! We are very excited about these wheels and can’t wait for you to enjoy them like we have.…
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FLO Gravel Wheel Design #8 Collecting Data 2
How We Got To Measuring Crr On Road Reliably Part 7 of this journey described Why we wanted to collect on road data. This article begins to describe How we went about data collection. Step 1 – Finding a Course and Accurate Elevation Data If you remember from Part 6 of the Gravel Wheel Design…
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FLO Gravel Wheel Design #9 Collecting Data 3
Recently, we’ve discussed the why and the how for the gravel wheel data collection. Let’s continue on understanding the how. Step 4 – Visiting AeroLab in Canada We continued the search for finding the right sensor and heard about a one that measured CdA and Crr being developed by a Canadian group, AeroLab. I contacted…
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FLO Gravel Wheel Design #7 Collecting Data 1
Why We Wanted To Collect Data? Collecting on road data for the gravel wheels was important for several reasons. One, that’s what we do. But more importantly, while finishing the design of our 2016 road wheel line, we noticed that tire size had a large impact on rolling resistance (Crr). It was so great that…
