From Abandoned Train Tunnel To Cycling's Biggest Aero Secret

GCN Tech
GCN Tech
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Published 2022-06-11
Conventional wind tunnels are great, but they do have limitations for cyclists, mainly that you can't simulate true real world riding. But what if you had a wind tunnel that could? This old abandoned victorian train tunnel aims to do exactly that, and not just for cyclists, but for Formula 1 and other supercars too! Ollie went to check it out to see whether this truly is the next big thing in aero testing technology!

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Photos: © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Bettiniphoto / www.bettiniphoto.net/

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All Comments (21)
  • @gcntech
    Do you want to see us go back to the tunnel to do some tests?
  • @mikemowett7401
    The local municipality or government who bought into the plan to make this into a test facility should be applauded. What an awesome undertaking.
  • @pauloosterhout
    It would be interesting to send a team of time trial cyclists down the tunnel. We could then determine exactly what combination of power, speed, and drag coefficient are required to drop Ollie off the back of the group.
  • @kuri8015
    Come ride the tunnels in Japan for some real-life, knuckle-clenching aero-excitement as you belt out The End by the Doors... the deafening, bone-shaking, turbulent sensations as the trucks overtake certainly makes you appreciate the wonderful relief of bursting through to the other side...
  • @pamet1043
    But I think the most important question to Ollie is: Did you get the KOM?
  • @nialltracey2599
    The resolution of measurement in this tunnel is so fine that we can not merely see if Ollie knows his arse from his elbow, but we can now check if he knows his shoulder from his elbow!
  • @odiesdad01
    I used to be on an IndyCar racing team a few years ago. They use a similar old tunnel in the hills outside of Somerset PA in the US. Many modifications allow them to test their racing cars in controlled conditions.
  • @OLICIT
    Love riding through long tunnels on my motorbike because there’s almost no wind buffeting, I always imagine how fun and fast it would be on a bicycle
  • @swolebro
    4:00 - "Repeatability is one of the cornerstones of science." And this man is an expert on it - if I recall correctly, he's got a PhD in chemical engineering. Thank you for this look at a very interesting bit of kit!
  • @miguelsaez340
    It would have been so cool to make ollie perform one or two test to have a meassure of the calculations that can be applied. Like doing a road vs tt helmet (as simple as that). What a cool place
  • @DanuelNuel
    No wind, no cars, no hills, perfect tarmac? Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
  • @n22pdf
    Wow amazing info Ollie and GCN very interesting 🤩🤩🚴👍
  • @tomnewham1269
    I’m amazed by how smooth the road surface is. I just wish the roads around here were that smooth.
  • @clairebinder166
    Great video, nice to see that the power meter with Pico tech that I have used over the last 10 years is being validated