Design of an Onboard Directional Anemometer for Bicycles

Abstract Wind speed has large influence on the results of road tests applied to bicycles. For this reason, this paper presents the design process of an onboard anemometer dedicated to bicycle testing. The design provides an affordable way to quantify both magnitude and direction of the wind velocity relative to the bicycle, allowing recording on arbitrary wind conditions that could arise during a test. The design methodology was structured with two major phases. The first was centered on the proof-of-concept for the use of a multi-hole pitot tube as main component for the onboard anemometer. The second was focused on the design of the structure, considering both packaging and structural integrity. The prototype of anemometer was tested in a wind tunnel to verify its performance, and it was also tested under severe vibrations to verify its structural integrity. The results showed that this concept can be used as a part of the bicycle instrumentation for road tests.