How The Chemical Industry Innovates Cycling

The chemical industry has a big impact on sports and allows us to perform better and break new records. As a cyclist and a big fan of the sport, I thought it was a great idea to explore how the chemical industry innovates cycling. This is part 2 of my article – “Athletic Performance Boosted By The Chemical Industry”.

In 1817, Karl von Drais created the first bicycle which used heavy steel and wood. Since then, the road bicycle industry has adopted aluminum, carbon fiber, and titanium as the main materials for production. From the time Eddy Merckx was racing to today a lot has changed to increase performance. Let’s review some of the innovations.

Bike frame and components

Premium carbon frames comprise carbon fibers and resin. They are as strong as metal bikes but much lighter. The carbon frame stiffness helps to prevent unwanted twisting, resulting in a more balanced ride. The wheels, forks, handlebars, and seat posts could also contain carbon fiber. That contributes to a light and aerodynamic bike that accelerates faster with less effort. Since carbon fiber is rigid, more pedaling power is exchanged into forward motion creating a competitive edge. Likewise, weight is critical to climbing steep hills and being agile and responsive on technical descents and turns.

The saddle

High-performance, lightweight saddles contain high-tech materials such as carbon fiber and lightweight foam padding. A good saddle is crucial since riders may have to sit on them for hours. Fine-tuning each section of a saddle to match your body’s contact point can nowadays be enhanced with 3D printing. While there are differences in saddle shapes and material layups, the 3D-printing technology uses an elastomeric material to create a lattice pattern customized for density and texture.

Bicycle tires

The rolling properties of the rubber compound of tires are impacted by stiction, rolling resistance, and mileage. Improving any of these factors can impact at least one of the others. A tire with maximum grip wears quicker and rolls more slowly. If you then make a tire roll faster and more durable, grip, in turn, is reduced. Continental, for example, uses a tread compound based on the latest knowledge of polymers and raw material research. Depending on the application of a tire, they adjust the compound formulation for the specific cycling discipline. They refine special synthetic rubbers with proven natural rubber to high-performance tread mixtures optimized in shape and surface properties.

Sealant

Nowadays, many tires are tubeless. Tubeless tires have no inner tube and are full of liquid sealant. The sealant helps the tires remain inflated and on the rim and will immediately plug in any holes. Continental’s Revo Sealant, for example, is an ammonia- and protein-free tire sealant.

Cycling shoes

The upper materials can be synthetic leather for durability, easy cleaning, and maintaining shape, or breathable fabrics for ventilation, keeping feet cool and dry. Cycling shoe soles can be made of carbon fiber to make them stiff and light to support power transfer while pedaling. Beginning cyclists may opt for more flexible nylon or composite, while some soles have some rubber for more grip while walking. Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam is often used for insoles and padding, providing cushioning and support. Some shoes use gels for extra cushioning in high-pressure areas. Cycling footwear should be able to manage moisture to avoid overheating, sweat buildup, and discomfort.

The helmet

Bike helmets are manufactured to meet impact absorption standards and remain on your head during a crash. The helmet shell is often made of polycarbonate to protect your skull. Some helmets are composed of heat-resistant plastics, ABS, or composite. The helmet will have an inner padding out of polystyrene to absorb the impact of a crash. Nylon or polypropylene straps are used to keep the helmet in place at all times.

Cycling clothes

When you buy cycling clothes, you need to consider breathability, waterproofing, and temperature regulation. Textile or fabric chemistry applies chemistry principles to the production of textiles. That includes dyeing and finishing chemistry, fiber and polymer chemistry, and blending of textile materials. Textile chemistry helps create innovative fabrics that provide water repellency, moisture wicking, and odor absorption.

Cycling clothing is usually from Lycra, which comes from a synthetic fiber known as spandex, a type of polyurethane polymer. Spandex polymer is a mixture of various chemicals that is heated and cooled until it solidifies into a rubber-like substance. That is followed by extruding the spandex polymer and waving the spandex strands into a fabric. Woven fabric is treated with various chemicals to enhance its properties, such as softness and water-repellent.

Then there is the chamois, the soft cushioning inside padded bib shorts. The chamois provides a supportive layer for your sit bones, with moisture-wicking and antibacterial technology to prevent any irritation from sweat during a ride. The more expensive chamois is created from several pieces of high-density viscoelastic memory foam to satisfy the most demanding cyclists. Variable densities minimize soft tissue pressure and maximize skeletal comfort. Perforated microfiber absorbs moisture, reduces skin temperature, and prevents irritation.

When cycling in the rain, cyclists may wear a Gore-Tex rain jacket. Gore-Tex is a breathable, waterproof fabric membrane made from polytetrafluoroethylene. It stops water from passing through while allowing moisture vapor to escape from within. The outer layer of Gore-Tex gear received a durable water-repellent treatment to prevent the fabric from becoming moist.

Conclusion

Light carbon aerodynamic bikes are developed to ensure the rider’s power is spent efficiently in propelling the bike forward. In addition, innovation is thriving in cycling apparel to create both comfort and improve performance. In this blog post, you have noticed that the petrochemical industry and chemistry are crucial in making this possible.

If you want to learn more about the liquid bulk and chemical supply chain, consider following my online petchem supply chain training at our ener8 academy. In several units of module 1, you can learn where products come from and where they end up in the supply chain.

For example, the inner padding of your helmet is made from expanded polystyrene. Polystyrene is a solid chemical that comes from the polymerization of styrene monomers. Styrene monomer is a liquid bulk chemical produced by alkylating benzene with ethylene and dehydrogenating the resulting ethylbenzene. Styrene monomer may have been shipped in a chemical parcel tanker from a production facility in one country to a polystyrene plant in another region, maybe passing through a liquid bulk tank terminal. As you can see, from looking at a bicycle helmet, you could try to figure out the supply chain back to all the raw materials.

The ability to do this is a great advantage when you are involved in supply chain management or product trading. You can learn more about the training at our ener8 Academy.

Photo Credit: Canva