Do aero bike wheels make difference?
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%.
Are aero bike wheels worth it?
Now these still aren’t big numbers: just under a minute and a half in four hours of riding. But the difference is certainly significant: aero gains are worth six times what weight gains are, and a fair conclusion from Swiss Side’s stats would be that on rolling terrain it’s worth going heavier and more aero.
What is an aero rim?
Aero Wheels “Smooth” the Air Flow Aero wheels do this by smoothing out the eddy currents, allowing the wheels to effectively “knife” more quietly through the air. They create less drag turbulence. Ideal aero wheels get better at this as they spin faster.
How much do aero wheels help bike?
If you regularly average about 20mph/32kph and faster on your rides, aerodynamics matters a lot and can save you minutes on a 50 mile/80K ride based on how you position yourself on your bike and what gear (wheels, frame, tires) and kit (helmet, jersey, etc.)
How much time do aero wheels save?
The time savings for good aero wheels are significant, according to Barry’s research on the SystemSix and its new Knot64 aero wheels. Even on an aero road bike, the addition of aero wheels saved 48 seconds over a 40K TT at 300 watts compared to a typical 30mm-depth alloy training wheel set.
Are aero wheels heavier?
The most aerodynamic wheel in a straight line, flat course with no side wind, is a disc. All the aero benefits come with a penalty though; aero wheels are heavier than a standard spoked wheel thanks to the extra materials used in the rim fairing meaning more energy is needed to get them up to speed.
How much faster is an aero bike?
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).
Why are aero wheels faster?
These aero wheels are fast in two ways. First, their smooth airfoil shapes pass through the air a lot more cleanly than a box-section rim. The tyre is the leading edge and splits the air. Behind it, a deep rim controls the airflow, helping it to come together again smoothly.
How much time will aero wheels save?
Are aero bikes uncomfortable?
You cause more drag than the bike and tyre rolling resistance will slow down narrow high pressure tyres on averagely poor road surfaces. Assuming the aero bike fits (reach, saddle to bar drop etc,.) the same as the non aero bike it would be just as comfortable.
Will an aero bike make me faster?
The entire point of riding bicycles is to increase the speed at which humans can travel for the same effort. Aero bikes really lean into this because when it comes to going fast, aerodynamics are what count.
Is aero bike good for climbing?
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.