Have you ever wondered how much areo bars help during a race?
How about an areo helmet or perhaps switching from a road bike to a time trial bike?
In other words, how much time and or energy do you save by getting as aerodynamic as possible.
The editor's at bikeradar.com pondered these same questions, and since they had access to both a testing speedway and wind tunnel they were able to get the right answers.
According to their recent story:
"Key points
* Position: Going from drops to aerobars will save you ~30 watts at 40km/h
* Bike: A time trial frame will save you ~20 watts over a road frame at 40km/h
* Helmet: A time trial helmet will save you ~10 watts over a road helmet at 40km/h
You want to get faster against the clock. You want to know if you spend X you will get Y time savings in return. Problem is, you're bamboozled by a plethora of marketing hype and scientific data put out by companies who want you to buy their stuff, whether it be snazzy equipment or even time in a wind tunnel. Where do you start?
Let's break it down into a simple question:
How much time can you save by going from your normal road bike and helmet to adding clip-on handlebar extensions to a full-on time trial bike with an aero helmet? That's it. All other equipment (wheels, tyres, clothing) stays the same."
You can read and watch the rest of this indepth story HERE.
