Which are the benefits of Cycling Power Catalyst?

  • No internet Access required and therefore ideal for field testing
  • Data analysis capabilities
  • Independent from the used power meter system or cycling computer
  • Simple to use
  • Cheap as no other equipment must be bought or monthly payments are due

Which are the use cases?

  • By measuring the aerodynamic drag, the position on the bicycle can be optimised from a aerodynamic point of view. This can also be used to find a good mix between aerodynamic and comfort, which becomes important on longer distances
  • Testing different materials: wheels, helmets, suits,..
  • Race simulation by using the aerodynamic drag data

How important is the absolute level of aerodynamic drag data?

  • First of all, the absolute level of aerodynamic drag data is less important. For testing material or optimising the position on the bicycle, the relative values (i.e. the changes in aerodynamic drag) are more important
  • For race simulation also the absolute values become important

Why don't we show real time data on a cycling computer?

  • First, we would like to be independent from different vendors of cycling computers
  • Second, we think the benefit is limited: we concentrate on tests and simulations

Wind data is considered?

  • If wind speed and direction is known, this can be considered
  • Using the Chung method, wind data is implicitly considered

Is acceleration taken into account?

  • Yes, acceleration is taken into account. But the results become better if the speed is kept constant as best as possible

What is needed to use Cycling Power Catalyst?

  • A power meter and a cycling computer for recording the data
  • A windows computer / laptop and Java (free of charge)

Where is the data stored?

  • Data are only stored locally on your computer / laptop and are not shared for example in a cloud

Which methods for measuring aerodynaymic drag can be used and what are the costs?

  • Wind tunnel: delivering the most precise results. Costs are approximately EUR 3'500 (and EUR 2'500 for additional days). The wind tunnel must be equiped to allow for measuring bicycle and rider
  • CFD simulation (Computational Fluid Dynamics): with a 3-D-scanner a computer model is generated. Then a CFD software package is used to calculate aerodynamic drag data. Costs: high
  • Additional bicycle equipment: these tools use a pitot tube to measure air speed (i.e. wind is considered at least front wind). With power data from the power meter the aerodynamic drag is calculated and shown in real-time. Costs between EUR 500 and 1'000 
  • Software package Cycling Power Catalyst. Cost starting from EUR 50 (non recurring)

Which is the potential of different measures to improve aerodynamic drag?

  • Position: 50 Watt
  • Frame: 20 Watt
  • Wheels: 20 Watt
  • Clothing: 20 Watt
  • Helmet and head position: 30 Watt
  • Tires: 10 Watt
  • Position of arms: 15 Watt
  • These values have been published in Tour 10-2014. Results from Cycling Power Catalyst can be found under "Case Studies". But be careful: the above shown savings in power are always recorded versus the same starting point and cannot just be summed up
  • And also consider costs. Our proposal is: start with the position and then invest in clothing and helmet

How accurate are the results?

  • The results are very accurate
  • But from our experience we have seen bad measurement for altitude by many cycling computers. By using the velodrome mode in our tools this can be compensated