Vorteq Sports are very excited to announce the launch of a brand new product – custom-fit calf guards.
Due to the UCI mandate that states “socks and overshoes used in competition may not rise above the height defined by half the distance between the middle of the lateral malleolus and the middle of the fibula head”, this product is non-compliant for UCI events. Nonetheless, calf guards have seen growing popularity in triathlons and non-UCI cycling events, as an increasing number of athletes are beginning to understand more about the benefits of aerodynamic optimisation.
After many months of R&D, wind tunnel testing and prototyping, we are excited to now be able to offer custom-fit calf guards to triathletes and cyclists. In aerodynamics, the performance of equipment can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, such as athlete shape, position and the wind conditions of their target event.
The goal for our testing programme hasn’t been focused on designing the overall best calf guard, but on understanding what different specifications work for different variables, such as those mentioned above.
By taking a number of measurements from each leg, we custom-fit each calf guard to the athlete and match the specification to their measurements and target speeds.
Our latest product has undergone thorough testing in the wind tunnel at Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub.
Testing in the wind tunnel at Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub we found that our calf guards provided a significant reduction in CDA across a range of speeds and yaw angles. A full report into our tunnel test results will be published in the coming weeks. The custom-fit element of our product also ensures the correct tension up the leg where the shape of your leg changes.
Fabric tension contributes to some of the effects of aerodynamic drag, which is where garments in standard sizes see a performance penalty. Standard size performance wear is based on an assumed average of shapes and sizes of athletes, whereas the reality is that athletes are all very different to one another.
For £400, our custom-fit calf guards provide some of the best aero gains-per-pound you can find. So, whether you’re training for the Kona IronMan World Champs or competing in local time trials, if you’re serious about improving your performance, our calf guards are the perfect product to start optimising your setup. This price also includes adding your custom artwork to the product so you can match to the rest of your kit (and for those valuable extra morale Watts!).
For an additional £250, we can bring you into wind tunnel for a 1 hour validation session to compare your current calf guards (or bare legs, if you currently don’t have any) against your. new Vorteq Aero Calf Guards.
There is current lead time of 3 weeks. For any questions or enquiries, please email info@vorteqsports.co.uk.
As well as manufacturing and testing in the lab and wind tunnels at Silverstone, our calf guards have been tested in the field.
Not only are our calf guards custom-fit but athletes can also design their own artwork.