Tag: FLO Research & Development
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Wheel Design Series Step 2 – Data Analysis
Legacy Article: The data discussed in this article is taken from our previous generation of wheels. In 2014 we sat down to redesign our FLO Cycling wheel line. This five-step design process took 15 months to complete and this blog series covers the design process in detail. This is Step 2 of our five-step…
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Wheel Design Series Step 3 – 3D Modeling
Legacy Article: The data discussed in this article is taken from our previous generation of wheels. In 2014 we sat down to redesign our FLO Cycling wheel line. This five-step design process took 15 months to complete and blog series covers the design process in detail. This is Step 3 of our five-step design…
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Wheel Design Series Step 4 – Optimization Algorithm
In 2014 we sat down to redesign our FLO Cycling wheel line. This five-step design process took 15 months to complete and this blog series covers the design process in detail. This is Step 4 of our five-step design process. To learn more about Steps 1, 2, 3, and 5, please check out the…
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How Much Drag Does a Clydesdale Build Add to Cycling Wheel?
Back in November 2018, when Chris and I went to the A2 Wind Tunnel to test the new FLO 45, 60, 90, and DISC, we decided to study a few things we’ve thought about over the years. Today’s article looks at the difference in aerodynamic drag between a standard build and a clydesdale build…
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Does Covering the Valve Cutout on a DISC Wheel Matter?
If you’ve ever owned a disc wheel, you will know that the only part of the wheel that is not covered, is the valve cutout. We are often asked if covering this valve cutout will improve aerodynamics. To be honest, we didn’t know the answer, so we studied it. If you are interested in our…
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A2 Wind Tunnel Tire Study Part 1
In Part 1 of this series, we are going to look at the effect tires have on aerodynamic drag. The first time we visited the A2 Wind Tunnel back in April of 2011, we were shocked by how much of a difference tires could make. We always wondered how much better our results could have…
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Aerodynamic Difference between Sapim CX-Ray and Round Spokes
Years ago when, Chris and I were starting FLO, we made the decision to use Sapim CX-Ray spokes. We’d heard that they were faster than round spokes or bladed spokes. The CX-Ray’s have a unique aero shape, which likely explains part of the reason the spokes are used on so many aerodynamic cycling wheels.…
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Does Bike Tire Pressure Change Aerodynamic Drag?
The first time I heard someone say tire pressure would change aerodynamics, I questioned if this would be true. The more I thought about it, the more I questioned how aerodynamics would be effected by tire pressure. When you change the air pressure in a tire, you change the shape of the tires contact…
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A2 Wind Tunnel Tire Study Part 2
Legacy Article: The data discussed in this article is taken from our previous generation of wheels. In Part 1 of this series, we looked at the aerodynamic drag created by different tires on a front FLO 60 Carbon Clincher wheel. As many of you know, when searching for the fastest tire, aerodynamic drag is only…
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FLO Cycling – Our Next Adventure – Gravel Wheels
Why do businesses start? The list of reasons is endless. For us, the desire to start FLO revolved around solving a problem. That problem was that good quality cycling wheels were expensive. We wanted to produce a cycling wheel that was as good as the best in the industry but cut the cost by up…
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Carbon Clincher Brake Track Testing
If you’ve been researching carbon clinchers, you’ve likely come across a thread on a forum where someone has melted their wheels while braking. That’s a scary thought. Do all carbon clinchers melt? The quick answer is no. We’ve done a lot a testing to ensure our new Carbon Clinchers pass safety standards so you won’t…
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What is a Net Drag Reduction Value
LEGACY POST: This is a legacy blog post. Net Drag Reduction Value has been replaced by Total Power. Total Power uses Net Drag Reduction Value. This post also discusses old generations of wheels. We’ve always believed in trying to be as realistic as possible when estimating time savings for a given wheel. To do this we…