Blister Labs: Wheelset Testing — Updates & Initial Results

Blister Labs: Wheelset Testing — Updates & Initial Results

Author: BLISTER July 7, 2023 Duration: 41:03

Today we’re providing some updates and discussing the implications of the initial results of our Blister Labs wheelset testing with Greg Vanderbeek (assistant professor of mechanical engineering at CU Boulder & the Western Colorado University / CU Boulder partnership program here in Gunnison, CO) and Travis Hainsworth (associate director of the  Western-CU Boulder Computer Science Program).

TOPICS & TIMES:

Project Overview (4:19)

Carbon vs Aluminum = Complicated (7:13)

Preliminary Data / Fancy Squishing Machines (8:42)

Lacing Patterns, Impact Loading, & Dynamic Loading (12:12)

Marketing Wheelsets (14:43)

Challenges (18:58)

Next Steps (24:23)

Variables (26:38)

Learn More (38:32)

RELATED LINKS:

Video: Blister Labs Wheelset Testing

Learn More about Blister Labs

OUR OTHER PODCASTS

Off The Couch

Blister Podcast

Bikes & Big Ideas 

CRAFTED

Happy Hour (for Blister Members)


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


For anyone who has ever stood in a shop debating the merits of a new jacket or stared at a trail map while thinking about their skis, GEAR:30 is that conversation. This BLISTER podcast goes far beyond basic specs and marketing claims, offering a nuanced, often technical look at the equipment that defines our time outside. The discussion is driven by the people who live with these products: our own reviewers who are putting gear through its paces in real conditions, the designers who obsess over materials and intent, and the athletes whose livelihoods depend on performance. We also check in with the seasoned folks from our network of recommended shops, who see what works and what doesn’t after a season of hard use. Episodes dig into specific items, broader trends in innovation, and the sometimes-surprising realities of long-term testing. It’s a deep, authentic resource for anyone who appreciates the intersection of sports, design, and technology, and who believes the right tool can transform an experience. Tune in for honest, detailed talk that treats outdoor gear with the seriousness and curiosity it deserves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 391

GEAR:30
Podcast Episodes
Shop Talk: Hickory & Tweed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:08
We talk with Skip and Mac Beitzel, the owners — and father / son duo — from Hickory & Tweed, located in Armonk, New York. We go over the history of the shop; Skip’s background of ski ballet and hot dogging; seasonal leas…
Our 22/23 BLISTER Winter Buyer's Guide Recap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:47
A bunch of our reviewers discuss why our 22/23 Winter Buyer’s Guide is still unique and still the best resource for your winter gear; what’s new & different this year; some of our personal favorite gear of the season; so…
Folsom Custom Skis: 22/23 Updates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:34
Folsom builds custom skis in Denver, Colorado, and they have a LOT going on these days. So we discussed it all with their head ski builder / owner / CEO, Mike McCabe, including their 22/23 lineup; new shapes; new constru…
Blister Labs: Product Manufacturers vs. Researchers & Reviewers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:55
Can engineering actually help us discover real-world characteristics about products that will be meaningful to end users? Or, when we incorporate quantitative data, do we mostly run the risk of having that data leading p…
A Very Deep Dive on Bootfitting, Pt 1: The Basics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:03
Few things in the world of ski gear are as complex, important, or misunderstood as bootfitting. So in this 1st episode of our new series on bootfitting, we dive into the basics with Sam Tischendorf, Masterfit University…
Blister Labs: MTB Wheelset Testing & Establishing Proof of Concept [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:58
Greg Vanderbeek is back with a Blister Labs update on our mountain-bike-wheels testing. We discuss why the dynamic modeling we’ve been doing in the field is a critical component for ongoing testing back at Western Colora…
Optics & the Eyewear Industry with Julbo CEO, Dave Crothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:41
You do your research when it comes to your ski & bike & trail gear. But what about your eyewear? Julbo CEO, Dave Crothers, makes the case that there’s a whole lot more to lens technology that everyone ought to be conside…