Cycling Myth Busters #1 – Reducing wind resistance

Triathletes have been known to deploy full disk wheels to reduce wind drag. The downside is difficulties in control when you get a cross wind. Did you know that your water bottle and cage adds drag?

Look at this table published in a report – Bicycle and Aerodynamics by Rainer Pivit published in 1990.

Aero Shopping List	Approx. Cost	Aerodynamic Advantage	Time saved over 40 km	Costs per % of Aerodynamic Advantage
Part	DM	%	seconds	DM/%
Remove water bottle and cage	0	2,8	26	0
Tape over shoe laces	0	0,8	7	0
Pump under top tube instead of in front of seat tube	0	0,8	7	0
Shave the legs	0	0,6	5	0
Remove the small chain ring	0	0,3	3	0
Fill the front tire gap at the rim	2	0,2	2	10
Benotto Aero bottle with cage	30	1,6	15	19
Smooth nylon socks	8	0,4	4	20
Pearl lzumi lycra shoe covers	32	1,4	13	23
Aero helmet. ANSI approved. Bell Stratos.	140	5,2	47	27
Aero front wheel: Araya aero rim, 28 Hoshi bladed spokes, Dura Ace hub, Avocet 190 g tire	180	4,8	44	38
One-piece skin suit, short sleeves and legs	180	3,2	29	56
Aero rear wheel: as above, but 32 spokes	90	2,0	18	45
Aero brakes and levers, Dia Compe AGC 300	200	2,0	18	100
Gloves with Lycra backs	24	0,2	2	120
Disk wheel in front	1000	7,2	66	140
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 Aero crank set	250	0,6	5	420
Shimano Sante aero Schaltung	320	0,4	4	800

FACTS: Surprising, aerobars did not come out tops for wind resistance reduction but aero helmets, bladed spokes, disk wheels and the attempt to make one as smooth as possible made the biggest impact (so maybe we will start to see more guys wearing compression undergarments since teletubbie tights are not available? Long pant/sleeve compression keeps your muscles tight and limbs smooth and cool under this hot humid weather. Our Number 1 always wears “full” gear

Looks like we will have some team MBS guys

with very smooth shaven legs and arms soon LoL