The Science Behind The Black Cycling Suits That Delivered Team NZ Two Silvers
In all racing sports, every millisecond or millimetre gained or lost can mean the difference between a gold, silver, bronze, or leaving empty handed. While we see the battle to shave off precious seconds on the tracks and in the pool by the athletes, the battle that occurs in the design room might be just as important. It is here where the scientists and experts are putting in the hard yards of their own, trying to design the perfect equipment, shoe or suit that will grant the athletes every advantage possible to be their absolute best on race day. The technology in this area has become such a focus that the entire sport of swimming was sent into a full on identity crisis in the late 00’s after a new full body cycling suit made from polyurethane and neoprene was deemed to be too effective, after just about every meaningful record in the entire sport was shattered in the space of a year once athletes began racing in them. Apparently, unlike the athletes, the designers also have to contend with the challenge of not becoming too good at what they do.
Walking the fine line for our Kiwi track cycling team at this year’s Olympics was sports apparel manufacturers Champion System Australia, who designed the slick black and silver skinsuit that helped our riders take a pair of medals home from the Izu Velodrome. The Aero Project Speed Suit are the product of two-years worth of development and have been meticulously designed give our athletes every chance possible at hitting their absolute peak.
The cycling suits are equipped with a number of unique and innovative features which allow it to be as aerodynamic as possible, while maintaining a high-level of comfort. One crucial aspect of this suit is the application of a crease and wrinkle-proof latex coating on the forearms, shoulders and back during the final stages of production. This process was at one point banned by the UCI due to similar reasons as the aforementioned doomed full body swimsuits, but the rules around illegal fabrics have since eased, making this a viable and important addition.
In an interview with CyclingTips, founder of Champion System Australia Chris Reynolds explained that the latex coating creating a ‘shrinking effect’ allowing the suit to wrap tighter around the wearer, creating an almost entirely smooth exterior surface to prevent drag, while still stretching enough to let the athletes squeeze themselves into them before each race. The front of the suit is left without latex coating to allow for ventilation and ensure the riders to not overheat when pushing their bodies to the absolute limit. This loss of aerodynamics on the abdomen is mitigated by the inclusion of angled ‘trip strips’, the rib-like stripes which can be seen on the abdomen, which smooth the airflow and prevent drag. These stripes are also applied to the back and upper arms to maximise the aerodynamic potential.
The hard work and creative thinking provided encouraging results in testing prior to the Games, with High Performance Team New Zealand claiming that the suits had reduced drag significantly, to the tune of potentially 2.5 seconds in the team pursuit. On the day, the result were laid bare for all to see, as the Kiwi team brought home its best result since 2004, taking home two silver medals. While obviously, a massive portion of that credit goes towards the athletes (Campbell Stewart in the Men’s Omnium and Ellesse Andrews in the Women’s Keirin, respectively), it would be wrong to ignore the contributions of the team in the back who designed the perfect suit for our riders to perform at the best. After all, those precious seconds can be the difference between a career validating medal and the heartbreak of a 4th place finish.
Top image courtesy of Champion System Australia.