Using mathematics to model the unique Dick Lane Velodrome and optimize pursuit performance

Tim and I have been doing a bunch of nerdy science stuff with the DLV and since Pete lent us some equipment for our little experiments and folks at DLV may be interested, I've decided to present what we've worked on to anyone interested. This talk is geared for the users of DLV (so please show up) to help explain how the "unique" qualities of our track affects performance. It will involve a little math but I promise to keep this to a minimum.

Using mathematics to model the unique Dick Lane Velodrome and optimize pursuit performance

W. Lee Childers PhD & Timothy P. Gallagher

Thursday, July 21, 2011
7:00 pm.
Auditorium, School of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology
555 14th Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

The Dick Lane Velodrome is unique in several ways, 1) it is 1/5 mile, 2) it has tight corners, 3) it has a hill, and 4) it has bumps, lots and lots of bumps. These unique features affect an athlete’s pursuit performance. The individual pursuit is a time trial event in which the athlete tries to achieve the lowest time to go a fixed distance (normally 4km). Factors affecting performance for this event include, the cyclist’s ability to produce power, the aerodynamic drag of the bicycle/rider, rolling resistance between the bike and the track, the pacing strategy selected by the athlete and the geometry of the velodrome. This presentation will discuss a mathematical model that can predict performance by accounting for these factors.

The presentation will last about 50 minutes and begin with a review of forces acting on the cyclist related to aerodynamics and rolling resistance. There will be a discussion on the effect of different aerodynamic improvements on performance. This will be followed by an introduction to how the cyclist uses different physiological systems to produce power on the bicycle and how those systems can be used as a pacing strategy for a pursuit. The presentation will continue with the effect of the geometry of the Dick Lane Velodrome. Finally, this information will be used to calculate pursuit performance using a forward integrated mathematical model (Childers et. al., 2011) and answer the questions; 1) what is the effect of the tight corners, 2) the hill, and 3) the track surface? What can be done to improve performance at this velodrome and what to expect at different velodromes?

Directions to 555 14th Street
From I85 South
Exit 17th/14th street (exit #84 going I85 south)
Follow the exit ramp to 14th street
Turn Right on 14th street (heading west)
The building will be on the right with a marked visitor’s lot. There is also a larger lot just before the visitor lot that is also okay to park in.
If you reach the intersection of 14th and Hemphill Ave, you gone just a little too far

Reference:
Childers WL, Gallagher TP, Gregor RJ. (2011) Modeling Optimal Pacing Strategies for the Individual Pursuit. Med Sci Sport Exerc. 43:S69.