Dec 06 2019

Writ 107T

Cycling Aerodynamics
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO BUILDING AN AERO BIKE

By: William Li
For: Dr. Frank
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INTRODUCTION
Cyclists love aero stuff: aero bikes, aero wheels, aero helmets—heck, even aero bike
computers. But do we really know how all this wind-cheating stuff works or what it really
means to be “aero?” Do those aerodynamic wheels guarantee easy speed? Does aero matter
when you’re not riding super fast? Can you be too aero?

Anyone-experienced pro and new rider alike-who is interested in riding faster or further has a
vested interest in improving their aerodynamics. It’s that simple. Determining which bicycles,
components, and positions are truly the most aerodynamic for you, however, is anything but
simple.

I created this guide with the intention to simplify this process for the general audience and
accurately convey my passion for cycling. Beginning in my high school years, I started riding
my bike everywhere because I needed a mode of transportation to get around. Eventually, the
sport grew on me and became one of my favorite hobbies. Every weekend I hit up my cycling
friends; we would race up the nearby mountain road and time our descent back down to see
who was the most “aero”. Thus, sparking my interest in cycling aerodynamics.

Cycling is a big picture sport. Don’t buy a
bike or a product just because it is aero on
its own. Buy it because it fits you well, rides
well, is built well and meets all your needs
as a cyclist. Just like bike fits are unique to
each individual, aerodynamics is also unique
to each person.
Understanding the principles of aerodynamics
in cycling can help you make informed
product decisions based more in fact than in
claims, which in the end can keep you from
buying a “me too” aero look product and help
you search out the ones that are really useful.

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Types of Road Bikes

Should you go for an aero bike or a lightweight bike? Should you ride deep section wheels or
lightweight climbing hoops?

Triple national track champion and head aerodynamicist of WattShop, Dan Bigham, advises:
“Equipment selection is very position-dependent to each individual” (5). The air flows differently
around everyone and every set-up, owing to their unique differences in body shape.

Performance:
Performance bikes are usually
excellent climbers, but also can be a real boon
in windy conditions where an aero bike might
be blown around. They deliver a responsive
ride and excel in general road situations.
However, race-oriented models do sacrifice a
little bit of comfort and compliance in favor of
superior stiffness (20).

Endurance:
Endurance bikes really excel when the
going gets rough. Longer wheelbases, taller
head tubes, larger tire clearance, and tuned
construction generally lend more stability and
compliance: perfect for long rides and bad
roads (20). They are not as light as a
traditional road bike, and don't provide the
aerodynamic advantage of an aero bike. But,
their smooth ride keeps you comfortable and
consistent over rough terrain.

Aero:
Aero road bikes are built to save time,
heat wind, and maximize your potential (20).
Using advanced manufacturing techniques,
highly shaped tubes and wind tunnel testing,
aero bikes can give you a significant
advantage over traditional equipment.

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The aerodynamics of cycling have

“It never preoccupied bicycle designers and riders alike
since the early part of this century. As much

gets easier, as 90% of the resistance a rider has to

overcome is the aerodynamic drag (24).

you just go
To minimize this drag, riders try anything
from wearing pointy streamlined helmets and
tight-fitting bodysuits to shaving their legs

faster” and taking unexpected postures on their

bikes. Aerodynamics is all about details.
- Greg LeMond, American
professional road racing cyclist

Anatomy of a

Road Bike

Road bikes are loaded with high-tech componentry. The frame, wheels, fork, tires, crank,
cassette, and pedals can all impact how the bike will ride. An overview on every single part and
how it applies to every single bike would be unwieldy, so here's an overview of some spotlight
components on road bike

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Aerodynamic
Frames

Road bikes are generally made from steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber. There is no “right”
or “wrong” material. Two frames can be constructed of the same thing yet have entirely different
ride qualities due to variations in geometry, assembly, and material manipulation. This is one of
the reasons it’s so important to test ride the bikes you’re considering. Frame builders and
designers have been working on creating more aerodynamically efficient designs (19). Some
recent designs have concentrated on shifting from round tubes to oval or tear shaped tubes.
There is a delicate balancing act between maintaining a good strength-to-weight ratio while
improving aerodynamic efficiency.

Carbon: Frames made from carbon fiber are extremely light, stiff, and durable (19). Carbon’s
greatest advantage is that it can be manipulated in endless ways. Builders can fine-tune it to
provide just about any ride quality. Carbon is a popular material for forks due to its lightness and
natural ability to absorb shocks.

Titanium: One of the longest lasting, lightest, and most expensive frame materials. Some cyclists
and experts feel that it combines the best characteristics of all the other frame materials (19). It
rivals aluminum in weight, is as comfortable as steel, is impervious to corrosion, and has a
sprightly ride.

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Aerodynamic
Wheels

Weight, hub engagement, and shape all have a massive impact on how well a bike performs.
With advances in carbon fiber, aluminum, and tire technology, rims are getting lighter, more
aerodynamic, and faster.

One factor to consider is shape; aero bikes often feature a “deep” section” wheelset where the
rim can run 40-90mm in depth. “Generally, deep section wheels offer significant aero drag
benefits over traditional shallow rims so that a rider can go faster for the same effort,” says Chris
Yu, Specialized’s head of aero and tech (23). The larger profile aids smooth air travel over its
surface and saves energy over a long ride. Many a cyclist has lusted after a pair of shiny deep
section aero wheels. Not only do they make you look cool, but they can make you faster as well.

A standard spoked wheel has been described as an “eggbeater,” creating many small eddies as
the tire rotates and thus creating drag (12). Disc wheels, while generally heavier than their
spoked counterparts, produce less wind drag and turbulence when they spin. Cycling Weekly put
this to the test, pitting standard wheels against deep section aero wheels and super aero disc/3-
spoke time trial wheels (13). When riding at 200 watts (average club run pace) for ten minutes on
an outdoor velodrome, the standard wheels travelled 5120m. The deep section wheels went
340m further for the same 10-minute effort, and finally, the full TT wheels travelled 60m further
than the deep section aero wheels. Aero wheels are an expensive upgrade, but there’s no doubt
they’ll make you faster.

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Aerodynamic
Handlebars

You might think that the shape of your handlebars would have little effect on aerodynamics, yet
a feature published by Cyclist magazine suggests that if you’re willing to spend big, there are
some gains to be made. Dropping your handlebars a few cm, can make a big difference to
improving aerodynamics because your frontal position incurs the biggest aerodynamic drag.

A more compact handlebar with a shallower drop reduces the difference between the hoods and
the drops, making riding in the aerodynamic position much more comfortable for non
professional riders (2).

They tested the uber expensive Enve S.E.S aero road bar against a standard handlebar and found
them to be six seconds (3.9%) faster over the 153 second control lap (7). That’s a respectable
difference, and no doubt aided by the more aero/tucked in position you can achieve with the
Enve S.E.S bars.

Currently, I have the Easton EC90 aero handlebar installed on my road bike. Using it over the
past years has given me satisfaction due to the stiff and lightweight carbon material along with
providing me complete control on quick downhill descents.

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Clothing
and
Helmets

If you consider a boat’s sail catching wind, it makes sense that wearing tight clothing would catch
less wind and help us cut through the wind. Your head, and helmet, are a big part of what hits
the wind so optimizing it can have significant benefits. In addition to positioning, small details like
clothing can also make a big difference in reducing skin friction (1) There’s been a dramatic rise in
the popularity of skin-tight aero clothing.

Tight-fitting synthetic clothing is worn by almost every professional rider both road and
mountain. Many recreational riders are also wearing bicycle clothes for the improvement in
aerodynamics as well as comfort. Fortunately, today’s aero road helmets and kits are better and
more comfortable than ever. Tested by BikeRadar, they have found that switching from a road
helmet to an aero helmet saved around 20 seconds in a 10-mile time trail at 25mph (10).

Scottish clothing brand Endura have produced a road cycling skin kit, which is about as aero as
they come, yet still useable for everyday riding. Made in collaboration with aerodynamics expert
Simon Smart, Endura claims that with a power output of 225 watts, this suit will save you 79m
seconds in a 40km time trial (11).

Personally, I use a Giro aero helmet on my rides for the comfort and breathing capabilities. The
differences I perceived after upgrading from a typical cheaply made helmet were drastic; my
head felt much lighter and cooler after long rides.

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Your Body

Between you and your bike, you are by far the bigger air disturbance of the two. Working on
your riding position to make it aerodynamically efficient is the number one thing you can do to
reduce aerodynamic drag and allows all the other technology to work better. While the human
body is not very aerodynamic in its natural shape, many new technologies and position
advancements have been developed over the years to reduce wind resistance in two ways:

1) Updating equipment design

2) Changing body position on the bike

Most cyclists will apply more force through the pedals and try and counteract the wind with
force, as opposed to changing body position or equipment. What makes wind resistance worse,
is speed: the faster you travel, the more wind you’ll experience, and the more effort that will be
required to overcome it. In Global Cycling Network’s video on ‘How to Pedal’, they talk about
pedaling efficiency and cycling techniques, along with how to improve it (14).

Whether it’s for time trials or road riding, flexibility is a key factor for anyone who wants to ride
fast.

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Body Position
Too often overlooked is the fact that holding the most aero position places huge, highly specific
demands on your body: aerodynamics and fitness are intrinsically connected. Let’s take a look at
each of the basic road cycling positions, and which you should use to ride faster, more efficiently
and safer.

The first is an upright position with

the hands-on top of the handlebars. Here
most of the cyclist’s torso is presented to the
wind, so it is not expected to be a very
aerodynamic position (17).

The second position puts the rider’s

hands lower on the handlebars in what
cyclists call the “drops”—it leans the rider
further forward and is a typical racing position
both on flat terrain and on the descent (17).

Before you head out and start buying

the most expensive aero gear, consider that
your body catches a lot of wind, which means
your body position matters (17). To get more
aerodynamic, you can try to get smaller to
reduce the area that catches wind. Most
simply, you can lower your torso and narrow
your hands on the bar.

An article released by Eindhoven

University looked into modelling the riding
style of pro cyclists, to see which one created
the least air resistance (8). The standard time
trial position was the fastest, with a more
traditional upright riding style creating a
whopping 19.9% more air resistance. That’s a
huge difference for any cyclist.

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Science of Aerodynamics
What is the definition of aerodynamics?

Aerodynamics is the study of the properties of moving air and the interaction between air
and solids moving through it. Of all the forces you have to overcome on your bike, the two
forces that use the most watts are: air resistance and (when the road tilts up) gravity (21). Even
on a perfectly windless day, you create a lot of wind as a cyclist, and the faster you go, the
harder it blows. At speeds over 9 mph, it’s the dominant force of resistance. By the time you hit
about 30 mph, 90 percent of your power goes into overcoming air resistance, or what scientists
call aerodynamic drag (4). There are two major types of drag you face: pressure and skin friction.

Pressure drag: Skin Friction:

As you ride, you slam into air particles,
which get compressed when you hit them and
then become spaced out after they flow over
you. The difference in air pressure from your
front to your back creates a drag force.
Aerodynamic shapes reduce this pressure
drag by minimizing that difference in pressure
and allowing the air to flow more smoothly
over your front and reduce the low-pressure
wake behind you (9).
Forces that act on the bike and cyclist
There is friction between your body
and the air particles moving over you, as well
as friction between the layers of air around
you. The air over your body is stationary; the
air passing over you is fast moving and free.
The transition between those areas creates
friction that creates drag. Skin friction drag
can be manipulated to reduce overall drag, as
you see with dimples on a golf ball or
texturized materials on the shoulders of a
skinsuit (9).

• V: wind direction
• P: propulsion force
• D: aerodynamic drag force
• G: gravity acceleration
• R1, R2: ground reaction

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In the picture above, we can clearly see that the only force preventing the rider from
cruising is the aerodynamic drag force (25). Therefore, drag is a very important factor in defining
the performance of a bike and why cyclists invest a significant amount of time in optimizing the
shape of the bike and the equipment, as well as the rider’s position to achieve maximum
performance.

How can an ordinary racing cyclist improve aerodynamics? The aerodynamic drag of a
conventional racing cycle without the rider is about a third that of the bicycle and rider
together (15). Thus, it is already clear that it doesn't make sense to ride an aerodynamically
optimized racing bicycle wearing aerodynamically unfavorable clothes (e.g., normal everyday
clothing).

Below is an aero shopping list assembled by Kyle (16), shows possibilities for reducing
aerodynamic drag. The costs are rough estimates; the proportional reduction of aero drag are
relative to a conventional racing cycle and a rider with the usual racing clothing (cycling shorts,
jersey, cotton socks, gloves with knit backs) and without a helmet; the time gained is with respect
to a 40 km time trial at approximately 37 km/h - elapsed time 1 h 5 min. At higher speeds, the time
gained is reduced because of the shorter riding time.

Costs per % of
Aero Shopping Approx. Aerodynamic Time saved
Aerodynamic
List Cost Advantage over 40 km
Advantage

Part DM % seconds DM/%

Remove water
0 2.8 26 0
bottle and cage

Tape over shoe

0 0.8 7 0
laces

Pump under top

tube instead of in 0 0.8 7 0
front of seat tube

Shave the legs 0 0.6 5 0

Remove the small

0 0.3 3 0
chainring

Fill the front tire

2 0.2 2 10
gap at the rim

Benotto Aero
30 1.6 15 19
bottle with cage

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Smooth nylon
8 0.4 4 20
socks

Pearl Izumi Lycra

32 1.4 13 23
shoe covers

Aero helmet.
ANSI approved 140 5.2 47 27
Bell Stratos.

Aero front wheel:

Araya aero rim,
28 Hoshi bladed
180 4.8 44 38
spokes,
Dura Ace hub,
Avocet 190 g tire

One-piece skinsuit,
short sleeves and 180 3.2 29 56
legs

Aero rear wheel:

as above, but 32 90 2.0 18 45
spokes

Aero brakes and

levers, Dia Compe 200 2.0 18 100
AGC 300

Gloves with Lycra

24 0.2 2 120
backs

Disk wheel in
1000 7.2 66 140
front

Clipless pedals 240 1.0 9 240

Disk wheel in back 1000 3.6 33 280

Cinelli aero bar 80 0.2 2 400

Edco Competition
250 0.6 5 420
aero crankset

Shimano Sante
320 0.4 4 800
aero derailleur

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Jean-Paul Ballard, a Formula One team engineer and aerodynamicist, states that when travelling
at 25mph, 70-80% of the power you put through the pedals is used to overcome the resistance
from the wind (3). Anyone who has ever held their hand out of the window of a moving car
knows what it feels like when wind resistance increases exponentially with speed. At twice the
speed, the wind resistance is four times as high. This means that being aero is a vital
consideration if you’re keen to get faster. There is nothing we can change about the physical
laws to be more aerodynamic, but two aspects can be improved: the air-flow around the bike
and the rider, and the frontal surface area of the rider.

Jim Martin, Ph.D., has discussed a study that showed how decreases in frontal area of 5-20%
affected times over a 25 mile time trial (18). He used a combined rider/bike weight of 176
pounds and an average power output of 300 watts. A mere 5% decrease in frontal area
translated to nearly a minute saved over 25 miles. An aero improvement of 15% was good for
almost 3 minutes. About a minute was saved for each 5% less frontal area.

An example of manufacturer’s wind tunnel testing, which show the differences in aerodynamic
drag of its latest wheels. Source: Zipp.com (22).

According to Martin, you don’t need a sophisticated and expensive wind tunnel to achieve a low
frontal area (18). You can do it with the help of a mirror and a friend to observe you while you
pedal on a trainer.

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Conclusion
Ask yourself: does my aero-power balance need attention?

Like many key questions in cycling, there is no straightforward answer. Clothing,

aerobars, helmets and body position form the bulk of the aero equation, and by making
some smart adjustments to these areas you can really save minutes. If you’re prepared to
put in time and effort, then the value of achieving a super slipper aero position is
unquestionable and I can guarantee that it’ll pay off with faster cycling.

I hope you have found this guide enjoyable and at least somewhat useful, even if you
aren’t a die-hard cyclist fanatic.

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Works Cited
1) Anderson, Mike. “Six Ways to Improve Aerodynamics on the Bike.” Road Cycling UK, 3

Dec. 2015, roadcyclinguk.com/gear/six-ways-improve-aerodynamics-

bike.html#elPDc65hpOTfY5rJ.97.

2) Arthurs-Brennan, Michelle. “Bike Handlebars: How to Choose Them and Six of the

Best.” Cycling Weekly, 30 Aug. 2019,

www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/bike-handlebars-345953.

3) Ballard, Jean-Paul. “The Aerodynamic Revolution in Cycling” Talks at Google, 10 July

2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmqdqcOvrlc

4) Beer, Joe. “Cycling Equipment: The Effect of Aerodynamics and Drag on Cycling

Performance.” Peak Performance, 1 July 2018,

www.peakendurancesport.com/endurance-products-and-
technology/equipment/cycling-equipment-effect-aerodynamics-drag-cycling-
performance/.

5) Bigham, Dan. “Performance Blog.” WattShop, 29 June 2019,

www.shopforwatts.co.uk/blogs/news.

6) Blocken, B. J. E., Defraeye, T., Koninckx, E., Carmeliet, J., & Hespel, P. (2013).

Surprises in cycling aerodynamics. Europhysics News, 44(1), 20-23.

https://doi.org/10.1051/epn/2013102

7) Challis, Sam. “How Much Time Can Aero Kit Save?” Cyclist, 22 Mar. 2019,

www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/534/how-much-time-can-aero-kit-save.

8) Crouch, Timothy N., et al. "Riding against the wind: a review of competition cycling
aerodynamics." Sports Engineering 20.2 (2017): 81-110.

9) “Cycling Aerodynamics – Introduction.” Science Learning Hub, 22 Feb. 2012,

www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1359-cycling-aerodynamics-introduction.

10) Delaney, Ben. “A Wind Tunnel on Your Handlebars: How Real-Time Aero

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Measurement Could Be the next Big Thing.” BikeRadar, 15 May 2019,

www.bikeradar.com/features/a-wind-tunnel-on-your-handlebars-how-real-time-
aero-measurement-could-be-the-next-big-thing/.

11) Endura. “D2Z Road Suit Black.” Endura Sport, 2019,

www.endurasport.com/D2Z-Road-Suit/p/bE5043.

12) Howland, Bob. “The Physics of Aero Bicycle Wheels.” Road Bike Rider Cycling Site, 4

Mar. 2019, www.roadbikerider.com/the-physics-of-aero-wheels-d1/.

13) “How Much Faster Are Aero Wheels?” Youtube, Cycling Weekly, 10 Feb. 2017,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHsLMCTkFso.

14) “How to Pedal.” Youtube, Global Cycling Network, 8 July 2015,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPcR6MQ5dJo.

15) Kyle, Chester R.: Improving The Racing Bicycle System. in: Second International

Human Powered Vehicle Scientific Symposium. Proceedings, 1984. pp. 22 - 40

16) Kyle, Chester R.; Zahradnik, Fred: Aerodynamic Overhaul. Streamline Your Body and

Your Bike. Bicycling, Jun 1987, pp. 72 – 79

17) Marc, Lindsay. “Everything You Need to Know About Road Cycling Positions:

MapMyRun.” Under Armour, 31 May 2018,

blog.mapmyrun.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-road-cycling-
positions/.

18) Martin, J.C., A.S Gardner, M. Barras, and D.T. Martin. Aerodynamic Drag Area of

Cyclists Determined with Field-Based Measures. Sport Science 10, 68-69, 2006.
Published, 12/2006.

19) “Road Bike Frames Buying Guide.” Road Bike Frames Buying Guide Comments, Chain

Reaction Cycles, 2019, hub.chainreactioncycles.com/buying-guides/frames-and-

forks/road-frames-buying-guide/.

20) Robson, Rick. “Different Types of Road Bikes Explained.” Merlin Cycles Blog, 6 Apr.

2016, www.merlincycles.com/blog/road-bike-types-explained/.

21) Smits, Alexander. “Aerodynamics of Bicycles.” Princeton University, The Trustees of

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Princeton University,
www.princeton.edu/~asmits/Bicycle_web/bicycle_aero_old.html.

22) “Speed Weaponry |.” Zipp, 2019, zipp.com/technologies/aerodynamics/firecrest.

23) Yu, Chris. “Aero Is Everything.” SBCChinaSite, 2019,

www.specialized.com/cn/en/stories/aero-is-everything.

24) “Why Aerodynamics Is Important to Cycling.” Body Rocket, 12 Feb. 2018,

bodyrocket.cc/aerodynamics-important-cycling/.

25) Zabala, Mikel, and Stephen Cheung. “Testing to Find the Fastest Bicycle Wheels.”

Hambini Engineering, Hambini Engineering, 3 Oct. 2019,

www.hambini.com/blog/post/bicycle-wheel-aerodynamics-which-one-is-fastest/.

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