Why do so many Pro Racing Cyclists now have Beards ?

[Anthony.R.Brown]

Which is a Joke! especially when it comes to cleanliness for other riders around them,regarding dust & insects that stick to the beard ?,and just as important when they do a Time trial ? or is it a modern day wanna be macho thing ?
Teams spend thousands of euros reducing the aerodynamic drag for the rider and bike in wind tunnels etc. shaving micro seconds off,and then the rider turns up on the start ramp with a mass of hair around their face,not much different to the aerodynamics of Rolf harris

 

[Mo1959]

Are you for real!

 

[winjim]

Are Alpecin still sponsoring a team? I guess their riders are contractually obliged to be as hairy as possible.

 

[Cycleops]

Id never really thought about it

 

[cougie uk]

Which is a Joke! especially when it comes to cleanliness for other riders around them,regarding dust & insects that stick to the beard ?,and just as important when they do a Time trial ? or is it a modern day wanna be macho thing ?
Teams spend thousands of euros reducing the aerodynamic drag for the rider and bike in wind tunnels etc. shaving micro seconds off,and then the rider turns up on the start ramp with a mass of hair around their face,not much different to the aerodynamics of Rolf harris

Have you tested a beard in an aero tunnel ?

 

[fossyant]

Are you for real!

Of course he is.

So out of touch. Beards are all the rage with the hip and trendy. Old men >> that way please.

PS I am not hip or trendy, and only slightly old.

 

[welsh dragon]

Is this a joke or a wind up.? Who cares why. Its they're business no one else's.

 

[KnittyNorah]

Filtering out all that dust in their beards probably gives them a significant advantage when it comes to lung function.
I like a well-groomed beard on a man. Mmmmmm!

 

[fossyant]

Have you tested a beard in an aero tunnel ?

Don't mock. I'm sure the OP will be along in a moment with his charts and graphs again.

Just like an excited government covid advisor who has just discovered Power Point.😊

Next slide please.

 

[fossyant]

I've been advised you can store your lunch in a beard so you can have seconds.

 

[Anthony.R.Brown]

We only have to look at Nature to get the answer! the fastest animals regarding less Drag are the Cheetah with micro short hair,and the Dolphin with no hair!

 

[fossyant]

We only have to look at Nature to get the answer! the fastest animals regarding less Drag are the Cheetah with micro short hair,and the Dolphin with no hair!

The Cheetah has hair, and what about emus, flipping all those feathers and the ruddy thing can't fly.

PS are bald men fastest ?

 

[mickle]

Beards reduce aerodynamic drag of the chin by up to umpteen percent by virtue of retaining the boundary layer of the airflow and delivering a more laminar flow to the lug holes. A similar reduction of Cd can be achieved by the use of a French nose, but these were banned by the UCI in 1965 which is what brought Jacques Anquetil's career to an end.

 

[fossyant]

Sagan seems to have been pretty rapid with his silly hair and beards.

 

[fossyant]

Beards reduce aerodynamic drag of the chin by up to umpteen percent by virtue of retaining the boundary layer of the airflow and delivering a more laminar flow to the lug holes. A similar reduction of Cd can be achieved by the use of a French nose, but these were banned by the UCI in 1965 which is what brought Jacques Anquetil's career to an end.

You need to be a bit more accurate for Tony. Get your graphs up that show umpteen is equal to 16%