This NEW Wind Tunnel Killing Cycling Tech Could Make You A LOT Faster On The Bike!

Aero testing for the masses - Could aero sensors be the next cycling tech revolution? In 2024 pro cyclists have started using live-streaming aero sensors to try and make themselves faster on the bike without using a wind tunnel. We've got our hands on an Aerosensor to see whether this cycling tech could be on all the best road bikes in 10 years.

If you want to be faster on the bike then (other than doing some cycling training) it's best to look at cycling aero upgrades like aero wheels or an aero bike. But how do you actually know that these will make your cycling faster? This is where the Aerosensor comes in, it measures your drag as you cycle along.

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⚫️ In this video

0:00 Introduction
1:05 Why is aero important?
2:05 What is an aero sensor?
2:47 What's in the box?
3:30 How does it work?
4:40 Does it work?
8:10 Is it the future?

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[roadcc]

Do you care how aero you are? Let us know below!

[danielkevinjones]

I'm a retired Aeronautical Engineer. For all of you claiming BS - read on. For a part of my career, I was an aircraft performance engineer, and we used the same approach in evaluating our aircraft's performance. Simply put, you sum up all the drag forces to determine the power needed to overcome those forces. There are many variables, but there are many sources available for fairly accurate data for each of those variables (e.g.: tire rolling resistance, an approximation of CdA with your hands on your hoods or drops, you can even find barometric pressure if you know where to look, to name just a few). The principle is the same, but some of the drag forces differ (airplanes don't have rolling resistance while flying). I also had a PowerPod, and I found it to be helpful, but just like aircraft performance, there are limitations. The device was great in a steady-state condition, but during acceleration/deceleration, the power data became less accurate due to the change in an incremental time period. The PowerPod wasn't able to change the CdA during the ride like this system can, but you could change it afterward with the PowerPod if desired - each system will simply use estimates of CdA, neither can calculate CdA. My conclusion about the PowerPod was that it was very useful for riding in a steady-state condition (ie, for training), and it was much less accurate than a straingauge sensor during non-steady-state conditions. I currently use a left crank arm 4iiii power sensor, and I like the immediate "accurate enough" data (over time, accuracy will drift). Bottom-line: No sensor will make a rider faster, but the data from a power sensor (straingauge or aero sensor) can help with your training. Side note: A couple of pieces of data I liked from the PowerPod that I don't get now were that I could see after my ride how much the wind affected my power (head or tail), and it would tell me when I was drafting off someone.

[Ridgeway]

Just completed a testing session with my coach, a certified Aero-geek (it‘s a compliment to him) using this exact sensor set up. Very good and consistent results and once we had laid down the base line we could tweak my TT position in order to find gains. Around 10 runs completed with 6 different set ups and an improvement of over 10% in just 2.5hrs work, that‘s a 60 seconds benefit on an average TT course 💪. Really amazing to see the dynamic data from the sensor and then the results of each run and finally what turned out to be the most optimised and yet sustainable position. I‘ll happily take a 1 min advantage any day, it‘s a bit like asking a TT rider or Triathlete if they prefer to use a rear disc wheel or not😉

Chapeau to Aerosensor for making this accessible to the serious amateur cyclist as most of us will only dream of even seeing a wind tunnel let alone being able to use one. We’ll done guys👋 and also my coach at Summit Cycle Coaching for taking the early plunge on this.

[d]

I don't need any sensors to tell me how useless I am.

[ariffau]

Now that you have this device on hand, please make it a staple when reviewing aero race bikes. Every single aero race bike review must provide CdA numbers. 😊

[katoosh]

The mismatching tyre colours are slowing you down 😉

[stephen]

My CDA is very good. This has been confirmed by riders in my draft.

[awhite]

I can see how this will be helpful when doing the weekly shop, on my old Ridgeback, to find the most aero way to pack my 2 Ortlieb pannier bags.

[kestralrider]

I can see a future where we can all buy a simpler $50 ANT+ wind sensor paired to newer head units that do all the complicated math/calcs. I'm expecting this is simply a pitot tube paired to a very accurate pressure transducer, components very common in the HVAC and aviation industries. The body position is a cool feature and probably most useful for post ride analysis, but in theory I doubt that it's required to calculate the instantaneous CdA number. This old fart will be waiting for the prices to come down quite a bit, but for <$100, the mechanical engineer in me would love to crunch the numbers and play with body position and bike components.

[TnFruit]

Well, I think the resistance of the bearings in the hub is also slowing you down.

[timwiste]

This is where I will definitely draw my personal line in the sand. No more metrics for me...
Power and HR will suffice.

[petersouthernboy]

I shall wear a giant shark fin on my back

[andyfairchild]

I won’t be buying one but I’d be curious to know the CdA of a 60 year old on a Brompton. It’s going to be a little more that 0.27, that’s for sure!

[paulmcknight]

Whoe needs it? 90% of aero efficiency is determined by rider position, easily measured by the speedometer.

[galibierfinebikewear]

Like the talking and walking towards camera intro. My CDA is XL

[obidavekenobe]

Velocomp’s aeropod has beed out for much longer. Though the body position sensor is a nice touch.

[MichaelWilliams-ivdj]

If you are willing to invest the time one of these sensors is a way better investment than lots of other bike gadgets people spend money on.

[yifanyao]

The worthiness of this piece of equipment purely depend on how much it costs. Because CdA is dependent on the frontal area of the rider, and there is no way to measure an individual's frontal area without imaging equipment shooting from the 3rd person frontal view. Consequently, the CdA reported by the device will actually be a product of CdA* unknown frontal area instead of the true CdA. But if this has the cost of a HR monitor, it wouldn't hurt to have one extra stats on display; otherwise, a speed sensor combined with power output will give a much more meaningful figure :)

[robertwhyte]

It would be better to have the information displayed graphically, a bar or a dial. That only takes a glance to understand.

[Frostbiker]

I will never do this. That is, until everybody else around me starts using CdA sensors, lactate meters, breathing rate sensors, oxymeters, continuous glucose monitors and butt plug thermometers. Then I will do the same because I won't like feeling left out.