Author: Jon Thornham

  • How to Build a Road Bike #12 Connecting Brake Cables

      This is Step 12 of a multi-part series on how to build a road bike.  There is a free eBook available that gives you instant access to the following: A FREE 43 page Full Color eBook – Available in PDF and iBook Format (iPhone/iPad) 15 FREE HD Step by Step Videos 110 FREE Full Color Pictures NOTE*  All Park Tool pictures…


  • How to Build a Road Bike #13 Connect Rear Derailleur Cable

      This is Step 13 of a multi-part series on how to build a road bike.  There is a free eBook available that gives you instant access to the following: A FREE 43 page Full Color eBook – Available in PDF and iBook Format (iPhone/iPad) 15 FREE HD Step by Step Videos 110 FREE Full Color Pictures NOTE*  All Park Tool pictures…


  • How to Build a Road Bike #14 Connect Front Derailleur Cable

      This is Step 14 of a multi-part series on how to build a road bike.  There is a free eBook available that gives you instant access to the following: A FREE 43 page Full Color eBook – Available in PDF and iBook Format (iPhone/iPad) 15 FREE HD Step by Step Videos 110 FREE Full Color Pictures NOTE*  All Park Tool pictures…


  • How to Build a Road Bike #15 Installing Bar Tape

        Step 15 is the final part of our multi-part series on how to build a road bike.  There is a free eBook available that gives you instant access to the following: A FREE 43 page Full Color eBook – Available in PDF and iBook Format (iPhone/iPad) 15 FREE HD Step by Step Videos 110 FREE Full Color Pictures NOTE*  All…


  • How Speed, Time, and Power are Affected by Reducing Drag

      Note: For an updated version of this blog article displaying the time savings for our new 2016 model wheels, read this article. There’s a list of common questions we see from people trying to understand the importance of cycling wheel aerodynamics.  These questions include the following:   1.  Your CFD simulations and wind tunnel tests…


  • The Great Bike Wheel Debate – Aero vs. Weight

    Legacy Article: The data discussed in this article is taken from our previous generation of wheels.   “What will save you more time?”  Improving the aerodynamics or decreasing the weight of your wheel set?  Jon and I have probably been asked this question hundreds if not thousands of times since starting FLO.  When designing FLO…


  • Aero vs. Weight – Follow Up

    Legacy Article: The data discussed in this article is taken from our previous generation of wheels.   We wrote a blog article at the end of January titled “The Great Debate – Aero vs. Weight.”  To write the article, we partnered with Ryan Cooper – the brains behind Best Bike Split – to simulate the…


  • Understanding Being Aero & Watts For Cyclists

    Aerodynamic Cycling Wheel Tutorial

    Updated: 12/30/2022 Deep carbon fiber cycling wheels are faster due to better aerodynamics. While that’s a known fact understanding why they are faster is something most people do not understand. In fact, the right wheel, in the right situation can actually act like a sail and propel you forward. Yes, you heard that right, a…


  • Studying Bike Tires Part 1, Logging Data

    For a while now, I’ve wanted to study the aerodynamic performance of tires on the road. We’ve done a bit of work in a wind tunnel, which is great, but it’s not the real world. In order to get the job done, we needed a way to log data on the road. Quite some time…


  • Studying Bike Tires Part 2, Elevation Data

      I’ve learned a lot since I posted “Studying Tires Part 1, Logging Data.” I mentioned that I believed there was either a shift in the barometric pressure, or that the absence of temperature and humidity were the reason for the shift in my driveway’s elevation. Today I have the results.     A 12-Hour…


  • Studying Bike Tires Part 3 Mounting The Logger

      Last week I mentioned I was going to be busy in my garage making a mount for the data logger and sensors. Well, I have been. Here is what I have so far.     The Basic Construction I thought about what to build this with and after looking at aluminum, pvc, plastic, etc.,…


  • Studying BIke Tires Part 4, Relative Velocity

    This week we have new parts. I just received a new wind speed sensor. If you are wondering why, I’d guess you are not alone. While a Garmin will give us great data on rider speed, it will not give us any information on relative velocity. For example, if you are riding 20 mph into…


  • Studying Bike Tires #5 Wind Direction

      The wind direction sensor I have been waiting for has finally arrived from Germany. It’s made by a company called Lufft and is accurate to +/- 1 degree. There are a number of wind direction options but most fall into the +/- 5 degree range. Since the yaw angle spread on a bike is…