GCN's Aero Challenge: How Much Time Can You Save?

Body position, wheels, clothing. Which of these variables saves the most time?

A lot is made about aerodynamic gains, and it matters more to some people than others. But we decided to test 3 common changes/variables that cyclists make to improve their speed and try to quantify exactly how much time can be saved at 3 different wattages.

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Music:
Ulas Koca - Mojo Man
Ulas Koca - Street Lady
Ulas Koca - Mr Thing

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Leave us a comment below!

[johnobrien]

The fact that the wheels don't make much of a difference doesn't matter because you'll look faster

[frodo]

You should have done one additional test with the best "settings" (position, clothing, wheels) and the worst. ;)

[kivriel]

It's amazing to see how much money people are spending for marginal gains. Especially some "older" men, slightly overweight...

[Rodjov]

Okay what about, how much faster is a TT bike compared to a road bike fitted with aero bars and aero wheels?

[davegrenier]

It's been very obvious to me that the use of aerobars on my road bike gives me a free 2 to 3 mph (without increasing my exertion level/power).

Concerning the small return for the wheels - the added efficiency of the wheels is something that works for the rider during the whole ride. Over the course of a long ride, a rider is unlikely to always be in an aero position (and because of this some of the advantage of an aero kit may be reduced or lost too), but a hardware solution on the bike is always paying a dividend. Even if that dividend is small, because it pays off over a longer time, the cumulative advantage can be considerable.

[experiment]

so the bottom line is - ride naked in the drops

[bombsdavid]

I was wheely impressed with the results. Even without your science glasses you guys made some wheel improvements. Kudos, mate.

[clarkebb]

That funky music at 3:40 nearly got me in trouble. Had to assure my wife it was just bike porn.

[aoelarsen]

I've tried tucking in, using aero clothes and buying a £3000 wheelset, but still don't get any strava KOMs riding my ass off in Zwift... Should I turn down the fan to minimise the headwind?

[phildunn]

I think it would have been better to do a combined test as well:

Aero pos + tighter clothes + Aero wheels Vs Non Aero.

I'd like to see if the gains add up together or not.

[LaughingSaint]

The differences in massive trade winds like we constantly face in Hawaii would be mind boggling ! A tight aero tuck is necessary to maintain same speeds in high headwinds here which took about a year to master and adjust my old body to. Now it's comfy so much so I've lowered my stem to get even more aero. I'm 50 now. Aloha

[RichLovelock]

One thing it may have been worth saying (and would have been nice incorporated in this video) is that it's harder to maintain watts in an aero position to slightly raised position so there is a trade off and not as simple as saying 'ride on the drops at all times on flat/downhill'. Would like to see more investigation around this

[allornothingproductions]

I don't think there's every been a better example of the law of diminishing returns.

[willbudge]

Thanks guys, as someone who isn't experienced in using power it's great to see a video that explains aerodynamics in everyday metrics rather than watts saved when travelling at 40kmph!

[chrisdahms]

Great vid! Some additional tests that would be great are:
-aero vs non-aero helmet (with no other changes)
-loose cycling clothes vs tight cycling clothes (with no other changes)
-cycling clothes vs street clothes (with no other changes)

[superflex]

Would've loved to see results with standard wheels, baggy shirt and upright seat vs aero wheels, kit and seat. All against all

[bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

best aero enhancement i ever bought was a set of pre-used clip on aero bars. strangely enough, i can cycle for longer and with more comfort when on the aero tri bars than when on the drops or even on the hoods - and your video about climbing when aero that is spot on

[robertscukurs]

Matt your orbea orca looks amazing with those deep sections wheels love it

[keifykat]

Should've done a test with all 3 together to see if it will be resulting 5km/h faster at 400w...

[frodo]

4:18 Why did you used the normal helmet on the left side (non-aero position) and the aero helmet on the right side (aero position)?