Aerodynamic Development: Bicycle and Cyclist, One Entity
Pure aerodynamic efficiency is not enough if the outcome in the real world does not meet our high riding quality standards. When we decided to rethink the Filante SLR, we posed a simple yet crucial question: how can we further elevate performance? Collaborating with the technical staff of Groupama FDJ – Cycling Team, we examined every detail to discover how far we could push ourselves.
After the results achieved with the Supersonica SLR, it was evident that expectations were high, especially on the aerodynamic front. Our goal was to create a bicycle capable of ensuring maximum efficiency even outside of time trials. This ambitious challenge contained a paradox: to combine extreme aerodynamics and, at the same time, lightness, responsiveness, and ride quality.
Just like for the Supersonica, our work did not stop at the frame. We analyzed the entire competitive ecosystem, which includes complete bikes, components, and accessories, placing at the center the most important element: the athlete themselves. In fact, the aerodynamics of the bicycle alone is not enough; what really matters is the real speed, which translates for the cyclist into unique sensations and superior performance on the road.
To develop the new Filante, we did not rely solely on race experience, but we employed the most advanced CFD simulations. Like all aerodynamic frames developed by our Innovation Lab, the Filante SLR ID2 was designed following a precise design path, characterized by well-defined steps over time. The project brief is digitally transformed into a 3D model, composed of frame, fork, and handlebar bend, virtually divided into thousands of small cells, known in computational jargon as mesh.