Efficiency at It's Finest

Part I:

TJ with lots of extra leg room! haha

Quite the process to get ready to drive

Got to check out two models of efficiency yesterday, a super efficient car, and riding at the velodrome. My friend TJ has been working on an ultra efficient car for his senior design project for mechanical engineering.

100s of hours of design and machining have gone into this manifold!

The boys getting interviewed by Channel 9 news

They are headed out to California for a competition for their car this next week. They had it out doing some test runs yesterday so I stopped by to check it out. While it's not the model of safety or ultimate comfort, it's really damn efficient. They have a special way of driving it (boost and coast method) that also allows them to maximize the efficiency. I know TJ has put countless hours of hardwork into this project, so it was cool to see the finished project! Good luck next week guys! :)

Part II:

Chris and James chasing each other round the track

Track riding is one of the most efficient generes of bike riding/racing. One of the CU Cycling star members put together a free track lesson at Boulder's newest cycling addition, a "143 m" velodrome (Boulder Indoor Cycling). We learned last night that it's probably actually only 128 m or so, but whatever. It's steeeeeeep!

Katie O'Block and Bryan Alders on the STEEP part!

Chris is so fast he's see through! :)

It was a little daunting at first to think that you could actually ride at that steep of an angle with sliding right off, but it actually wasn't that hard. AND it was sooooooo much fun!! I was pretty spent from a long week by the time that we got there, so I didn't have as much energy as I would have liked to have had, but it was still a good experience, and something I'll definitely give a go at again. There were a few people in the group who picked it up right away and rocked on the timed lap sprints, namely Shep, Chris, and Alders!!

The fast boys pacing lining about the stayers line

I think that everyone had fun, though, so hopefully we might be able to send a full team to collegiate track nats next year!

James and Pipes taking a break