Aero Gains In The Wind Tunnel | Cycle Faster For Free

From your position, to clothing choices and even personal grooming, here are some ways that you can get aero for free, as proven with wind tunnel testing!

Would you consider growing a beard to get more aero?! Should you keep your rain jacket zipped up, or get rid of it completely? Are the drops always more aero?

All of this and more tested in the wind tunnel!

Let us know if these results surprised you.

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends. 👍

Watch more on GCN Tech...

Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound:
Da Tooby - Back In Da Days 2
Mai Ligne - Back in the Days
Da Tooby - Reminisce 2
Ocean Jams - Summer Rain

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[MountainManGuy]

More wind tunnel videos please! Aero wheels vs regular wheels, tire widths on the same rim compared, aero bike vs round tube bike, etc..

[tehArcher]

Calculated CdA Results

hoods (baseline) - 0.3161
Hoods Aero - 0.2210
Drops - 0.2377
tops - 0.3248
Rain jacket zipped - 0.3522
Rain jacket half zipped - 0.3440
Rain jacket fully unzipped -0.4005
beard - 0.3125
front number rectangle - 0.3398
front number wrapped - 0.3150
Back number fin shape - 0.3124


(P = 0.5*rho*CdA*v^3)

[ARG]

Probable reason for half unzipped rain cape being more aerodynamic: The air fills the vest, making it a smoother and more of a round shape . Because the air can't leave the vest there is no flow through the vest, so instead the air just flows around you. So the vest filling with air doesn't act as a parachute because the air can't leave and there is no flow.

[scottishjohn]

Liking that you got the probably the most aero rider to come and do the testing... Opie always looks aero when he is riding in general but it does go to show that if you just make small changes they can really add up and reinforces the message of how you are positioned on the bike really does make a huge difference. Hope that you guys get to go back into the tunnel and do a bit more testing... would be very interested to see what makes a bigger difference, position on the bike or changing components (deep section wheels/aero cockpit etc) Thanks chaps! Oh and please one day can we get Mr Boardman in... would love to see him on the channel especially since he does know a bit about the subject!

[RossTheNinja]

Nice job delegating the hard work to Chris while you talk to camera. Respect.

[mrazzo]

That number wrap around and pin up were great hacks. Was expecting the helmet design to be included there as well in relation to watts saved.

[adqsvk]

Guys, CDA is a coefficient of drag CD multiplied by frontal area A. The video suggests that it's “Coeficient Drag Aerodynamic”. Apart from that, it's another great video!

[beezer]

Chris and Ollie were great hires by the way! Good stuff GCN

[alanjames]

So fascinating how the presenters keep looking at you via the camera. Watching GCN videos while high reveals many

[RossTheNinja]

Will keep wearing my buff based on this

[cocorocks]

Well this is useful! Doing my first local 10 mile TT tomorrow and just have a standard road bike, aero on the hoods it is! :D

[ollyole]

Please do more videos with Xavier Disley, he is brilliant!

[Jeff-bdgg]

Watching this as I ride on the trainer. As I practice the different positions my zwift avatar is not going faster.

[ahafeezs]

love that shark fin theory on pinning the race number!

[haxhxm]

Im seeing Aerocoach everywhere. From cade videos to your videos

[Sempoo]

I wonder how much watts do we really gain with aerobike compared to good "normal" bike. 10 watts or more? I am also curious about TT bike.

[jaylumbago]

Thank you GCN, that was great content. More of that please.

[richaw]

Good stuff chaps.. myth busting results there with Mr Disley. I rode with a front "Non-Aero" number at the weekend for 4.5hrs.. I had no choice but to zip-tie it across the front of the bars as per instructions from the event team.. I think it's time sportives begin using the rear mounted number like the pros. Its well Aero, looks tidy, it's smaller so saves on materials and cyclists WILL like it.. a lot! There seems no reason for the front mount at all.. no one looks at your number, other than to locate emergency contact numbers. #rearnumber .. and down off the soapbox.. 🚴🚴😀😀

[wizzy]

I wish they thought of testing handlebar bags because I use those sometimes. Still a great and informational content though!

[davidwilson]

Great work GCN! This is such good content.