Obree to go for record

This is an interesting window into his thinking.

"The most aerodynamic shape for anything is a tear-drop shape, that's a known".

I'll admit that I'm very attracted to the lovely synergy between the tear-drop shape and the prone position but perhaps he feels that the current non tear-drop shaped record bikes have come about because of the cultural dominance of the recumbent over the prone position rather than as a result of the laid back's perceived aerodynamic advantage. It makes me wonder if he's really looked at much current fairing design. 

I did a quick aerodynamic comparison of two naca 6 aerofoil sections on the program Javafoil. Firstly, a prone freindly tear-drop shaped foil (widest point 30% of total bike length from the front) and secondly, as perhaps Obree might be thinking, an "its all gone a bit pear-shaped" foil (widest point 70% from the front). At a ball park reynolds number of 5 million, the drag coefficients were 0.017 for the tear-drop and a rather sweet 0.003 for our pear-drop. As expected this very simplistic 2D model says the recumbent position with it's lower drag coeffiecient is the better choice, but then who knows? Eivie has done just fine head first and perhaps the result of the finished 3D fairing and Mr. Obree and umpteen other teeny factors may conspire to lead him to victory. I think it's only good to see other bike configurations being explored. Go Graham!