Roberto Heras JetStreams to TT improvement Along with his always present climbing skills and Manolo Saiz' powerful team tactics, Roberto Heras has also displayed a new found proficiency in his time trialing. In addition to more time spent on his TT bike, Roberto has benefited from a new Manolo Saiz designed, BH produced TT frame with an Oval Concepts designed fork and aero bar using Oval's revolutionary JetStream aerodynamics technology. Oval JetStream technology is quite noticeable with its twin aero shaped blades and specially shaped vents. The JetStream aero bar has been co-designed and built at the Jordan/Midland Formula One factory in Silverstone, England. The new BH TT frame incorporates many subtle wind tunnel tested improvements on Saiz's ONCE frames which still set the standard with other ProTour level teams. Refined tube shapes and hidden cable runs enhance design concepts like Manolo's "no seat post" design which is now becoming ubiquitous in the peloton. Oval Concepts' JetStream technology revolutionizes current bicycle aerodynamic theory which only seeks to minimize the frontal area of the bike and rider. JetStream technology gently moves air around major drag effects on the bike and rider. The top of the front wheel is the largest mechanical drag effect on the bike with the spokes whipping through the air at twice the speed of the bike. The Oval JetStream fork minimizes front wheel drag by collecting air off the front wheel and directing it outward, away from the spokes ripping up behind the fork. This drag reduction is small at 30 kilometers per hour but steadily increases to have a significant effect at speeds of 40, 50 and 60 kph found during professional time trials. Wind tunnel tests show 15-20 watt savings at 400 watts of output which translates into 35-55 seconds over a 1 hour TT at 50 kph. www.velonews.com/pr/prn/articles/8919.0.html
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