The Science Behind Nopinz

When the numbers add up

We know that the sports equipment market is constantly bombarded with gadgets which claim to make you faster and more efficient. We know that to be taken seriously we had to provide hard empirical data which is beyond dispute. We tested Nopinz extensively at Southampton University wind tunnel using totally independent assessors to run the tests and gather the data.

A Nopinz SpeedWallet saved up to 17 watts drag at 30mph in one pinned-on number scenario, but typically 8-9 watts over a fairly well pinned on number. It is hard to say what “pinned-on” is in the real world but we know the Nopinz SpeedPocket is super consistent, leaving the rider to get on and ride, not worry about “what if a pin should un hook”?

We also found a 4-7 watt drop using Nopinz SpeedWallet compared to a standard Triathlon number belt.  At 20mph this equates to roughly 4-5% energy saving in an average Ironman competitor or enough carbohydrate to run roughly 1-2 miles of the marathon.

 

Economy in numbers

We have extensively tested the Nopinz SpeedWallet in all possible scenarios. They stay stuck on in all conditions, rain, heat, wind, snow, under wetsuits in open water Triathlons and on jersey pockets in stage races.

It is clear that pound-for-pound Nopinz number solutions offer the most cost effective way to make you faster. Using the Nopinz systems (Wallet & Pocket) club riders and elite testers have produced numerous course PB’s, all-time bests and National Championship podiums.

The SpeedPocket/Speedwallets not only reduce drag but extend the life of a skinsuit, a significant saving when many suits are £200, £300, £350. Or more.

The Nopinz SpeedWallet and SpeedPocket have been validated in the real world to make riders faster. From Tour de France to local “10”.

 

 

 

Independent tunnel vision

Every element of you and the bike has the potential to add or reduce drag. Your race number can often be an unrecognised variable concerning drag and your final race outcome. Initial testing in this area from 2008 wind tunnel research showed a standard triathlon number belt with a pinned on number had lower drag than when the number was pinned to the lower back.

However, when the number was then secured down by tape the drag was lower than the race belt or pinned on number. The data may be close but there are still time advantages to be gained when it comes to deciding how to secure your race number.

This initial data suggested proof-of-concept that stick-on or enclosed numbers are a better way to reduce drag over pinned numbers. The “secured by tape” scenario was an early derivation of the Nopinz SpeedWallet/SpeedPocket concept, though it still required pinning the race suit to stay put at 25mph.

Fastforward to 2014 and a team from Australia has shown how complicated the air flow and pressure changes are around a cyclists lower back (Crouch at al 2014) they concluded:

“These measurements show that most of the variation in drag is due to changes in the pressure distribution acting on the lower back, where the large-scale flow structures having the greatest impact on drag develop.” VIEW RESEARCH HERE