How much difference does aero bars make?
So if you're starting with a standard road bike, you have a lot of room for improvement by riding in an aero position using clip on aero bars. After installing aero bars, riders typically find that they're going 1 to 2 mph faster at the same level of effort.
With an aero bike, you'll simply be able to go faster than you would with a non-aero bike. The 150-Watt rider riding during a windy day now finishes 6.5 minutes faster on an aero bike (8.4 minutes with no drafting) and is 83.3 seconds per hour faster (93.6 seconds with no drafting).
This means that the true saving of aerobars compared to a similar aero position on a bike without them is about 1:15mins.
Using aero wheels has been found to reduce a cyclist's CdA by 3-5%, so if you generate 350W of power, using aero wheels could see your speed on the flat rise from 44.6kmh to 45.4kmh, an increase of 1.63%.
In simpler terms, the aero savings achieved by simply moving from a relaxed hood position to the horizontal arms position at 45kph would result in a 1.65kph speed increase at the same wattage, which results in a two minute time saving over the course of a 40km TT.
There are numerous benefits to using clip-on aero bars and if you are a triathlete, clip-on aero bars are definitely worth it. The position you adopt while using the bars can represent some of the best savings per dollar spent. Because of the aerodynamic advantage, energy saving is another major benefit.
Reichenbach et al tested elite cyclists in various positions on standard bars and aero bars and they made a stark finding: although the aero bars reduced cycling efficiency by around 9 watts, the aerodynamic savings of 100 watts more than made up for it(5).
Aerodynamics start to have a more noticeable affect on a vehicle at around 50 mph. If you're traveling slower than 50 mph, the weight of the aerodynamic devices are probably more of a penalty than any perceived gain in performance.
For hobby riders, the average gradient where weight is more important than aero is 4.5% or more [see above]. For pro riders who have a higher speed, it is around 7.5%. Once you are doing more than 15km/h (9.3mph), the aerodynamic drag is the biggest resistance for the rider.
Why Bikepacking Aero Bars Are Awesome. Aero bars offer an entirely new riding position that's most beneficial for long days in the saddle. With your elbows and humerus (arm bone) supporting the majority of your upper body weight, you'll reduce strain on your arms, wrists and hands.
Are aero handlebars more comfortable?
The primary reason why aerobars are popular with ultra-distance cyclists is often not the aerodynamic gains (which are significant), but it is the extra comfort that they offer by taking the weight off of the hands and instead using the skeleton to support the weight of the upper body through the elbows.
When compared to a jersey and bib shorts, our testing has shown that a skinsuit is 21 to 28 seconds faster on a 25-mile-time trial when travelling at around 25mph. We tested this at a velodrome, using aCdA (coefficient of drag * area) measuring system.
They are light and climb very well too. Best all-rounder. 50mm is going to be a bit faster for a novice rider, wanting to get up a group in chaingangs etc. Average speeds can increase 2-3mph over box-section wheels.
50 hold speed better. If you live in a pretty windy place, the 50mm could prove to be a bit much to handle in any sort of cross winds. But the differences are small between these two rims. Rim / wheel stiffness / spoke count & tension/air pressure/rider weight & rider skill does effect ride quality also.
Rotating weight only comes into play during accelerations or de-accelerations. Lighter wheels speed up quicker, but they also slow down faster compared to heavier wheels, which speeds up slower but carries speed longer.
A dedicated Ironman aerobar will help your performance, but there are options you can choose and still do well without one. For long-course racing, you need to make sure your aero position is comfortable, powerful, sustainable, and allows you to run a half marathon when the ride is completed.
Research indicates that forearms horizontal while gripping the brake hoods provides more aerodynamic advantage than riding with your hands in the drops. This makes sense because you're reducing the vertical exposure of your arms.
Aerobars can be considered less safe for a few reasons: mostly because your hands are not on the brakes while riding in the aerobars. It also takes more practice and skill to maintain a straight line in the aerobars (especially in cross winds) due to how close your arms are together.
However, there is a simple and often affordable option to help you increase your speed on the bike and improve your comfort on longer rides. The addition of clip-on aero bars has been shown to increase the average speeds of a club rider by between 5 – 10 kph.
The faster you cycle, the more aerodynamics comes into play. Drop bars allow you to crouch down and reduce drag. This position can greatly increase your speed and efficiency. This comes in handy when you're descending a hill, riding a long flat section, or riding into the wind.
Is a tri bike faster?
Tri bikes are more aerodynamic and are “faster” than road bikes.
It is estimated a close fitting skinsuit can save 3.2% of your total energy. [1] This equates to 29 seconds in a 40 km time Trial. Therefore a close fitting skinsuit represent a cost effective way to improve aerodynamics and save valuable seconds. A time trial skinsuit will definitely be more aerodynamic.
This showed that Sockeloen Aero Socks give a gain of 8 to 9 watts at 40 kilometers per hour compared to no socks and even 18 to 19 watts at 50 kilometers per hour! In addition, Sockeloen Aero Socks give a gain of about 3 to 4 watts compared to normal Sockeloen socks.
Specialized compared the performance of its Prevail standard road helmet, Evade aero road helmet (below) and S-Works TT helmet in the Win Tunnel and concluded that switching from the Prevail to the Evade would save you 40 seconds over 40km (25 miles).
The most aerodynamically-efficient shape for a vehicle is, in theory, a teardrop. A smooth shape minimises drag and the profile, if correctly configured, keeps airflow attached to the surface rather than breaking free and causing turbulence.
A bike with rim brakes is typically lighter than the same bike with disc brakes. Bikes with rim brakes tend to be more aerodynamic. Installing and setting up rim brakes is much easier than disc brakes. (However, if you have your disc brakes set up correctly, switching wheels becomes easier.)
The electric Mercedes EQS is the world's most aerodynamic production car. Its 0.20 drag coefficient beats the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air. The cab-forward design isn't just for good looks.
Ballard is adamant: “Aerodynamics definitely trump weight at an average speed of 25kph and we can show it clearly. "At Swiss Side we have developed some very powerful simulation tools for calculating time over any course for any configuration.”
Aero bikes can still climb. Weight is a big deal for riders interested in climbing, and aero bikes generally weigh more than their non-aero counterparts because more material is needed to create aero-shaped frames. But the difference may not be as big as you think.
Can You Climb On Aero Wheels? - YouTube
When should you use aero bars?
Your default option should be to get down on the aerobars. Use them unless there's a compelling reason not to. The vast majority of the drag working against you on the bike – 70 or even 80% in some cases – comes from you rather than from the bike, so getting into an efficient riding position is vital.
I have a few friends who started mounting aerobars on their mountain bikes. They do long distance racing and adventure racing. They say it's great for changing posture during the ride, they seem not to care too much about the aerodynamic benefits.
How To Ride On Aerobars | GTN's Step By Step Guide - YouTube
Some sprinters like Dehaes often use narrower bars, but in the 38-40cm range. Most riders have 40-42cm bars in the pro peloton.
AERO BARS MAKE YOU ~1min 40s per 40KM FASTER
The advantage of adding aero bars on your road bike is to lower your upper body to a more aero position. You create less drag and hence go faster for the same amount of effort.
The primary reason why aerobars are popular with ultra-distance cyclists is often not the aerodynamic gains (which are significant), but it is the extra comfort that they offer by taking the weight off of the hands and instead using the skeleton to support the weight of the upper body through the elbows.
When shopping for triathlon bike aerobars, considerations range from adjustability, comfort, aerodynamics, weight, and of course, price. Aerobars vary widely in design, comfort, adjustability, weight, and price. It is important to choose the right aerobars for the type of event and training you will be doing.
How To Choose Aero Handlebars | Maintenance Monday - YouTube
