Teal Dowd

Publications & Press Top

My research at Purdue University has led to journal articles, conference papers, patents, and press coverage, organized below. I have worked as part of the Manufacturing Design Laboratory (MDLab), which shares my project with Purdue's Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center (RESEC).

My research has focused on the development and use of the cycling testing rig. This testing rig is used for the assessment of bicycling drivetrain efficiency, as well as testing the quality of home cycling smart trainers for homologation purposes for the International Cycling Federation (UCI).

For a different view of my publications, see my ORCID record, or continue below.

Publications Top

Peer-reviewed journal articles.

• Lubricant performance in bicycle roller chains. (article)

  Dowd, T., Cavanaugh, P., Mansson, J.-A. Sports Engineering 29(6), 2026.

  Long-term efficiency of immersion-style and drip-style wax lubricants using the testing rig.

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• A high precision in-situ chain wear measurement tool. (article)

  Dowd, T., Cavanaugh, P., Mansson, J.-A. Sports Engineering 28(50), 2025.

  Design and Gage R&R validation of a preload-based in-situ bicycle chain elongation gauge.

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• A novel model for bicycle drivetrain efficiency. (article)

  Dowd, T., Cavanaugh, P., Mansson, J.-A. Sports Engineering 28(26), 2025.

  Introduces the DCM metric combining wheel angular velocity and crank torque to predict drivetrain efficiency via a weighted least squares linear model.

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• Apparatus and methodology for smart trainer homologation analysis. (article)

  Dowd, T., Heflin, D. G., Miller, J. D., et al. Sports Engineering 27(6), 2024.

  Development of the cycling testing rig used for assessing home smart trainers.

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• Development of a bicycle crank arm demonstrator via Industry 4.0 principles for sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing. (article)

  Chamberlain, M., Miller, J., Dowd, T., et al. Sports Engineering 26(2), 2023.

  Developed the testing apparatus used to validate the aluminum bicycle crank arm design.

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Conference papers Top

Published conference papers.

• Efficiency degradation of roller chains for cycling. (proceedings)

  Dowd, T., Cavanaugh, P., Mansson, J.-A. ISEA 2024 Conference Proceedings, Loughborough, UK, 2024.

  Demonstrates the change in bicycle drivetrain efficiency over time as the lubricant wears.

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• Cycling and sustainability: Development of a recycled carbon fiber (rCF) crankset demonstrator. (proceedings)

  Chamberlain, M., Miller, J., Heflin, D., Dowd, T., Rhim, J. S., Akturk, I., Coffing, J., Mansson, J.-A. ISEA 2022 Conference Proceedings, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 2022.

  Testing apparatus used to validate the aluminum bicycle crank arm design (ISEA 2022).

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• Smart trainer homologation system. (proceedings)

  Dowd, T., Miller, J., Heflin, D., Sweldens, W., Krasilnikau, A., Mansson, J.-A. ISEA 2022 Conference Proceedings, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 2022.

  Initial design of the cycling testing rig for smart trainer analysis.

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• Homologation and certification approach for smart bike trainers. (proceedings)

  Heflin, D., Miller, J., Dowd, T., Rogers, M., Mansson, J.-A. ISEA 2022 Conference Proceedings, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA, 2022.

  Initial cycling testing rig data analysis methodology.

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Patents Top

• Systems and methods for testing a bicycle training apparatus. (patent)

  Mansson, J.-A., Dowd, T., Heflin, D. G., Miller, J. D., Coffing, J. D., Sweldens, W. U.S. Patent 11,980,799 B2, issued May 7, 2024.

  Main design engineer on the design and manufacturing of the cycling testing rig, used for smart trainer and drivetrain lubrication research.

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Press Top

Selected press coverage.

• Are the Olympics going virtual? Purdue evens the playing field for virtual cycling. (press)

  Star City News, 2024.

  Local coverage of the Purdue team standardizing smart trainers for virtual cycling and the Virtual Cycle Homologation system.

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• Helping virtual cycling belong on the global stage. (press)

  Purdue University Stories, June 2024.

  RESEC’s homologation work for virtual cycling and fair competition on the path toward Olympic recognition.

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• Virtual Velo Podcast, Ep. 45: The research team leading the UCI’s smart trainer standardization program. (press)

  The Zommunique (podcast), 2024.

  Interview on goals and impact of the UCI smart trainer standardization program and Olympic esports.

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• Smart trainer standardization is only months away, according to the UCI. (press)

  The Zommunique, February 14, 2024.

  UCI smart trainer standardization, trainer accuracy, and wireless security for fair cycling esports.

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