An experimental-numerical method for the prediction of on-road comfort of city bicycles

A low-cost experimental-numerical method for the prediction of on-road comfort of city bicycles is presented. Experimental tests are performed by exciting the wheels of the bicycle with impulsive vibrations and measuring the frequency response functions (FRFs) between different sensitive points of the bicycle (i.e. seatpost and steerer tube) and the wheels. Laboratory tests are carried out with the rider on the bicycle, and the posture is carefully checked. A mathematical model is employed to predict the accelerations experienced by the rider on the road, considering tyre and wheelbase filtering. As a verification of the proposed methodology, comfort predictions obtained with the experimental-numerical method are compared with reference data obtained from road tests. A general agreement in terms of the root mean square values and power spectral densities is found.