Teenage phenom, Chloé Dygert's superbike is locked and loaded for competition. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
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Teenage phenom, Chloé Dygert’s superbike is locked and loaded for competition. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
The radical leftside-drive design improves aerodynamics by accounting for yaw angles that riders encounter on the velodrome. Special Vision Metron TT cranks were designed to work on the left side of the bike. Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Dygert’s setup includes a Ceramic Speed waxed KMC chain to reduce friction and save watts. Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Dygert will run A. Dugast 22mm tubular tires on the smooth velodrome surface. Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Speedplay pedals are the choice of 19-year-old Dygert. Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
The Felt pursuit bike has a specially designed cockpit that includes Zipp aerobar extensions and custom arm rests. Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
The basebar has textured grips for added security when blasting off the start line. Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Each rider and bike have gone through extensive testing to determine the optimal aerobar position for the most aerodynamic rider position. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Where track bikes typically have 100-millimeter spacing up front and 120 millimeters in the rear (this can vary), Felt’s new bike boasts dimensions of just 70 and 95 millimeters, respectively. The thinner bike slices through the wind just a little bit faster. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Each airfoil frame section was designed around yaw numbers of 2.5 to 5 degrees and the frame is asymmetrical to address the winds coming from the left side of the bike. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Dygert is just 19 years old but riders like an experienced professional. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
After the London Olympics where the U.S. women won the silver medal in the team pursuit, Felt engineers and USA Cycling joined forces to create the new superbike and hopefully push the women up one more spot on the podium. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Perfect glue jobs for the women’s team pursuit squad. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Riders aren’t allowed computers up front on their bikes so Dygert will ride with her computer attached under her Fizik saddle. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Dygert rides Speedplay pedals with 50mm spindles. There is also a specially made Stages power meter attached to this crank arm. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
Stages developed dual-sided power meters specifically for the women’s team pursuit squad. Photo: Caley Fretz | VeloNews.com
The U.S. women’s team pursuit squad takes to the track Thursday for the first Olympic qualifying rounds of the four-kilometer team event. As current world champions, the U.S. is the team to beat in Rio, and they’ll be riding unique leftside-drive bikes specifically designed for this women’s team.
Tentatively dubbed the TA/FRD (Track Aero/Felt Racing Development), the pursuit-specific bike has been in development for years. It features an ultra-narrow frame and Hed wheels specially designed to work within those spacing constraints. But most jarring of all is the fact that the drivetrain was moved to the lefthand side of the bike to account for the yaw angles riders encounter in the velodrome. Felt’s designers also claim that this helps with handling, since it moves weight inboard of the turns.
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