Supporting Champions

094: Dan Bigham on reverse engineering performance

Aug 11, 2021

Dan Bigham, a high-achieving cyclist, engineer, and author of 'Start at the End,' discusses his unique approach to reverse-engineering performance. He shares insights from his journey of combining engineering principles with sports to enhance team dynamics. With humor, he reflects on challenges, the importance of open communication, and a culture of curiosity in teams. Bigham emphasizes optimizing performance through critical metrics while maintaining mental well-being, revealing how happiness profoundly impacts athletic success.

01:14:46

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Episode guests

Dan Bigham

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Dan Bigham's engineering background allows him to apply reverse engineering principles to optimize athletic performance and equipment design.

Creating a supportive team environment through open communication and collaboration is essential for maximizing morale and overall performance.

Prioritizing mental well-being and personal fulfillment significantly influences athletic success, as evidenced by the concept of 'happiness watts' in cycling.

Deep dives

The Challenge of Speed Sensitivity in Aerodynamic Testing

Aerodynamic testing in cycling presents unique challenges due to the speed sensitivity of performance factors such as the Reynolds number and rider position. Athletes often find it difficult to replicate the conditions experienced during high-speed events like the Olympic team pursuit in controlled environments such as wind tunnels. For example, achieving the required wattage while maintaining the correct cadence and position can lead to discrepancies in testing outcomes. This complexity can be frustrating for engineers attempting to identify meaningful aerodynamic improvements, as changes may yield significantly different results depending on the specific conditions under which they are tested.

Intro

3min

Exploring Performance Dynamics and Personal Anecdotes

2min

From Motorsport to Cycling: A Journey of Passion and Innovation

23min

Exploring Performance Optimization Through Immersive Learning

2min

Sustaining a Culture of Inquiry in Team Dynamics

4min

Optimizing Performance in Cycling Engineering

10min

Engineering Performance in Sports

23min

Balancing Happiness and Performance

8min

Dan Bigham is an athlete of the highest order, principally in the disciplines of individual and team pursuit with multiple national and World cup titles. Recently Dan is taking a pop at Bradley Wiggins’ hour record too. But Dan has achieved this level of performance with a band of brothers who congregated together and plied their collective physical talents with a mindset of simply trying to ‘work performance out’. Dan is an engineer by training and spent numerous years working in motorsports and sports analytics using his big brain and curiosity to ask questions, explore, be willing to go off script in the pursuit of performance. Dan’s recent book Start at the End, tells the story of how he led this team to success using the principles of reverse-engineering. And while you’ll hear Dan get into the technical details of aerodynamics etc, you’ll also hear how this attitude has spilled or you could say has been applied to all aspects of personal and team performance too.

Notes

Early introduction to a range of sports

Cycling interests increase and coincide with business development of Team KGS

Team Derbados!!!!

The closing of systems after initial success

Creating loss, fail at competition or training, questions decisions

Don’t be annoying

Marginal gains and not stretching too thinly

Separating the results from the process

Open conversations and feedback sheets shared with everyone clarity over metrics and selection

Dan’s lesson on team organisation /dynamics: listening, decision making, attitude etc

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