Student builds racing bike and becomes 6th Ironman 5150 Westfriesland

Published (edited: 18-03-2024)

In 2021, after a gloomy period of online classes during the corona pandemic, we were finally allowed to go to school 'normally' again. After a year of online education, I was enthusiastically looking forward to resuming my studies.

Frank Iliopoulos, project leader of the Inholland Innovation Lab Alkmaar, had asked me to come and work at the Innovation Lab before the summer holidays. The lab is a place where students from various technical disciplines come together to work on projects within the college. The Innovation Lab also works a lot with composite materials, something that immediately appealed to me.

While I was exploring the possibilities within the Innovation Lab, I was at the same time training fanatically for the Ironman 5150 in Hoorn in 2022, with the aim of finishing as high as possible. However, there was a problem: I didn't have a time trial bike yet to ride the race on.

​As a poor student, I opened the Marktplaats app and started searching for time trial bikes. Somewhat surprised by the prices these bikes were selling for, the idea began to occur to me: what if I built my own bike? I stopped looking for used bikes and started researching carbon fiber bike construction.

​After consulting some sources, I was convinced. "This must be possible." The next day I spoke to Mark Wokke, teacher researcher at Inholland Composites and also working in the Innovation Lab, and explained what I had in mind and whether this was feasible. Mark responded calmly: "Yes, that's possible. Good luck."

​That same evening I opened my laptop and started designing my own time trial bike.

+1000 hours of work

2 years later

After two years of hard work, my own time trial bike is finally completed. The project required a lot of patience and perseverance, with every step carefully thought out and executed. My workplace, once a simple study space, had been transformed into an engineering laboratory for speed and aerodynamics. Everything that could not be done in this laboratory was done in the Innovation Lab of Inholland Alkmaar University of Applied Sciences. Making the molds was one of these. This was done under the guidance of Mark Wokke.

Choosing and installing the components was a careful process, with each part chosen to meet my specific requirements and goals. Fine-tuning my position on the time trial bike to achieve the lowest possible CDA value required detailed analysis and several adjustments.

​After completing this project I was very satisfied with what I had made. The first time I sat on the bike I quickly discovered how fast the time trial bike was. All the hard work and dedication I had put into this project was confirmed in that moment. It was a highlight of my achievements and something I am proud of.

Acknowledgment:

“Thank you very much for your invaluable guidance and support during my project. Your enthusiasm and professional guidance have significantly enriched my study experience."

NOPIY Oyefa details, for the enthusiast

  • Carbon fiber frame

    The carbon fiber frame is specially designed with aerodynamics in mind. The frame contains foam padding to ensure extra stiffness and safety. The total weight of the frame is 1.22 kg. Using CFD, the air resistance of the frame has been optimized to save those few extra watts.

  • Ergonomic cockpit

    Custom aerobars with carbon fiber extensions, 3D printed grips and wireless shifting via SRAM Wireless Blips provide a smooth and advanced cycling experience.

  • Group set

    Crank: SRAM Rival with aero blade

    Derailleur: SRAM Force AXS eTap

    Cassette: SRAM Force AXS

    Chain: SRAM Force

    Pedals: Shimano SPD-SL

    Brakes: SRAM rim brakes

  • Aerodynamic wheels

    88 mm high Elite wheels for extra watt savings, with 25 mm Vittoria Corsa Speed ​​Tubeless tires for minimal rolling resistance.

Match day

The time has come, June 25, 2023, competition day. This is not my first time participating in this triathlon. I also made an attempt in 2022 and ultimately finished ninth. My goal for this year: to improve my time, especially on the cycling part.

The night before was far from ideal. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling nauseous. Was it the tension? Two years of preparation and only one chance to prove myself? The next morning I woke up early with minimal sleep and feeling lousy. Still trying to get the best out of it.

​It promised to be a warm day. According to the forecasts, it could be 32 degrees. After a delayed start, the time had finally come.

The starting signal sounded and I jumped into the warm water with my wetsuit to start the swimming part. I soon noticed that I wasn't feeling completely comfortable. My glasses quickly filled with water and my shoulders burned, it felt like I was not making any progress. In the end I came out of the water in 30th place, not what I had hoped for. Now give everything on the bike and try to make up as many places as possible.

​This was the moment where I had to prove myself: the cycling part. Above all, I wanted to prove that my self-built bike was capable of competing with the competition. The transition was smooth, and I found myself in 13th place before I even got on the bike. In the first 20 km I climbed to 7th place.

I came out of the second transition sixth. The heat now really started to stand out, especially the part on the dike where there was virtually no shade. During the running part I won another place, only to lose it again. Ultimately I crossed the finish line in sixth place. I had hoped for more, but the maximum for that day.

​Afterwards I was ultimately satisfied, especially with the performance of my bike. In the end I had made up most of the cycling part, so I was still able to stay in the race.

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