Endurance cycling events require an immense amount of dedication, training and attention to detail, both before and during the actual competition. That’s why amazing local bike builder and TT racer extraordinaire Rob English is the perfect person to attempt the speed record for the race. Speed, aerodynamics, and efficiency are of utmost importance, and that’s where we come in. Rob reached out to us to help design and create an aero rear storage box made from carbon fiber.
The Trans Am is a self-supported, mind-boggling distance race crossing the USA from Astoria OR, to Yorktown, VA. The race is 4,182 miles long and contains a frightening 165,320 ft of climbing across that distance. The highest passage, outside of Alma CO, goes just under 11,000 feet in elevation. For comparison’s sake, in the Tour De France this year, the highest elevation that occurs is 8,668ft across the Col du Galibier. In that vein, the TDF races 2,220mi in 19 days of racing (with two rest days). Needless to say, Rob’s attempt at beating the record of 17 days 16 hours and 17 minutes is nothing short of a heroic effort.
The race is not a stage race, so the clock continually ticks the entirety of the race. Riders then must choose very strategically how much time to ride, rest, eat, sleep, etc. Literally every second counts. Also, self-supported means no outside assistance from outsiders and everything acquired along the route must be available to every racer as well. Hence why Rob focused so much on aerodynamics. That’s where we come in.
Here’s what the man himself had to say about the event: “ I mulled it over for a while, eventually deciding it was the challenge I needed for the year I turned 40. My goal was to add storage and also hopefully improve (or at least not hinder) the aerodynamics. So I wanted to do a carbon aero-shaped box that would sit up behind the saddle, and hopefully help clean up the airflow coming off the rider. Ruckus was willing to have a crack at this. I carved the shape out of foam, which with much work they were able to turn into a fabulous, lightweight carbon fiber box. I then built a steel support frame for it, that bolts to the seatpost and triangulates from the saddle rails. The rear of the support also integrates a mount for the taillight.
To create the box we had to use a traditional wet layup using Textreme carbon fiber for it’s strength to weight ratio. We impregnated the fibers with resin, and then laid up our pattern design around the foam structure for both the body and the top of the box. We overcame many challenges, including, but not limited to: textreme being tough to work with, foam reacting with nearly everything it touches in unforeseen ways, and then removing the foam from the casting. Concept fabrication is one of our specialties, and English cycles exist in that same realm. We are absolutely honored to be working with such a legendary builder for this project, and we wish Rob the best of luck in the race.
Tailwinds, Rob. Go get ‘em. We’re hoping those googly eyes help you watch your back out there.