Photos: Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
- By Aaron Hersh
- Published Apr 16, 2012
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Cameron Dye having his position tested in the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The rear wheel mounted to the balance with the front about to be put in place.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The giant fan and airflow-stabilizing cone that drive air around the wind tunnel.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The building itself is drab, created entirely for function.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The testing platform sits at the narrowest portion of the tunnel, which forces air to flow rapidly over the test zone.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The air must flow consistently over the subject, and these hexagonal tubes help stabilize the air.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The vertical metal pieces connect the bike with the balance capable of measuring vertical, horizontal and side-to-side forces.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The front wheel presses against this roller drum and the struts mount the fork.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Test manager Stephen Ryle covers the opening with tape so it doesn't interfere with airflow.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Another test engineer mounts the cadence sensor on Dye's chainstay so they ensure consistent pedal speed, again to make the data more uniform.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The rear drum is hooked up to an ergometer that controls Dye's power output.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The platform supporting the bike and these four people is a bike-specific apparatus.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The cadence sensor mounted to the bike. Cadence is projected in the rider's field of view during the test.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The test subject, Cameron Dye.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Dye rides a Kestrel 4000LTD with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 components.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
His race hydration, including this XLab Aero TT bottle, is mounted to the frame.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Dye chooses the ISM Adamo saddle.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
He entered the test with a 5mm spacer under his stem and planned to swap to a smaller frame to open his fit options, including aerobar selection.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The bike had race wheels mounted.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The bike in place, ready for a rider.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Ryle pointed the important data pieces for Dye to monitor during the test.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Coach and Retul fitter Mat Steinmetz came to ensure Dye's aero changes fell within the fit range he can tolerate.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Air in the tunnel is cold, about 50 degrees, so Dye wore a shirt while taking instructions before the first run.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Tim DeBoom, two-time Ironman world champ and fellow Pearl Izumi athlete, advised Dye through the test.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Steinmetz showing Dye where to position his hands on the aerobars for the first test run.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Dye's position displays on a small TV monitor in the control room. The administrators outline his position with dry-erase markers to keep his body position as consistent as possible.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
This sheet is pulled into the path of the flowing air between each test so operators don't get blown over.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Lowering Dye didn't reduce drag, so they tried narrowing his elbows instead.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
In addition to bringing the arms in, they also instructed Dye to lift his hands to block his torso opening.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
These bars didn't allow him to elevate his arms properly, so he simulated it by resting his fists on top of the bars.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
DeBoom looked over every change.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Every test condition and drag is recorded on this board, which hangs in the control room.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Ryle coached Dye into the correct position over a speaker mounted in the tunnel.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Ted Barber, Pearl Izumi Director of Innovation and Advanced Development, was insturmental in refining Dye's position.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
DeBoom checks Dye's back profile to make sure his posture stays consistent.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Steinmetz adjusts Dye's aerobar position.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
A few of the revelations of Dye's test were quite surprising to his advisors.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Barber checking Dye's posture.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
DeBoom weighed in as well.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Test administrators can see Dye's drag data in real time.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Barber writing run data on the board. He estimated power savings for each run to easily conceptualize the value of changes they make.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
Dye's aerobars in the up-turned position.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
The three advisors convened after the test to look at the results.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
Cameron Dye In The Wind Tunnel
All the data from Dye's test.
Go behind-the-scenes of Cameron Dye’s wind tunnel session at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel.
FILED UNDER: Gear & Tech / Photos TAGS: Cameron Dye / Wind Tunnel
Aaron Hersh
Aaron Hersh is the Senior Tech Editor of Triathlete magazine. To submit a question, write Aaron at Ahersh@competitorgroup.com.
