Aero bikes

[Andywinds]

Are these generally for flatter fast rides rather than touring and climbing, the gearing on some of these look fairly high, mostly standard doubles and the odd semi-compact.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Are these generally for flatter fast rides rather than touring and climbing, the gearing on some of these look fairly high, mostly standard doubles and the odd semi-compact.

Pretty much. The faster you go, the more aerodynamics aff cut speed and energy requirements and that also includes the shape of the rider on the bike which has the biggest impact.
For a racing whippet or time trailer there is a small but not unreasonable benefit, for touring and climbing there's none.
There are no downsides to owning an aero bike as long as it does what you need/want it for in all other aspects.

 

[Andywinds]

Pretty much. The faster you go, the more aerodynamics aff cut speed and energy requirements and that also includes the shape of the rider on the bike which has the biggest impact.
For a racing whippet or time trailer there is a small but not unreasonable benefit, for touring and climbing there's none.
There are no downsides to owning an aero bike as long as it does what you need/want it for in all other aspects.

So really of your 15 stone and not slim an aero bike would not help much! lol. So if you wanted you could keep the road/touring bike and just get a TT bike if you like riding fast on the flats?

 

[Fab Foodie]

So really of your 15 stone and not slim an aero bike would not help much! lol. So if you wanted you could keep the road/touring bike and just get a TT bike if you like riding fast on the flats?

Correct, the gains from the aero tubing will be fairly minimal compared to the 15st body atop of the bike. To go fast on the flat the biggest improvemeny on any bike will be a more aero position. Aero bars make a big improvement of you can tuck the aero-belly away, make sure your clothes are not flapping in the breeze and find a good crouch that allows you to pedal and breathe effectively. I've put aero bars on my Audax bike and a noticeable improvement in speed and effort is achieved even with full mudguards etc.
In short, yep, fit a light stiff bike with aero-bars and why not a pair of semi-aero-profile wheels and you'll go faster, you don't need to by a Specialized Venge, or Dura-Ace to do that.
TT bikes tend to put the rider a bit more forward over the BB and tend to have a little shortened reach to allow a good crouch. You'd have to look into good TT positioning and set-up.

 

[2IT]

Are these generally for flatter fast rides rather than touring and climbing, the gearing on some of these look fairly high, mostly standard doubles and the odd semi-compact.

I have the aero Fuji transonic. Ride it over hilly courses and I like it. Scary fast on the downhills. The only knock is I would like a softer ride. But the older I get I don't know if it will ever be soft enough anymore.

You can save a lot on aero with helmet, tight fitting clothing and shaving your legs.

Aero bikes help more if you're riding alone vs. with a group.

 

[Andywinds]

I have the aero Fuji transonic. Ride it over hilly courses and I like it. Scary fast on the downhills. The only knock is I would like a softer ride. But the older I get I don't know if it will ever be soft enough anymore.

You can save a lot on aero with helmet, tight fitting clothing and shaving your legs.

Aero bikes help more if you're riding alone vs. with a group.

I've been wearing long tights/bib when out so no need to shave! but I would not be against shaving lol. Just out of interest, what gearing do you have on your TT?

 

[2IT]

Just out of interest, what gearing do you have on your TT?

With 170 cranks which makes the gears a little bit bigger, I run a 50/36 and 11-25 cassette (11 speed) . Do have 12-28 available if headed to mountains.

 

[Vertego]

According to GCN it's 1 - position, 2 - clothing, 3 - bike


View: https://youtu.be/9I02BKm4ZiM

 

[machew]

I have the aero Fuji transonic. Ride it over hilly courses and I like it. Scary fast on the downhills. The only knock is I would like a softer ride. But the older I get I don't know if it will ever be soft enough anymore.

You can save a lot on aero with helmet, tight fitting clothing and shaving your legs.

Aero bikes help more if you're riding alone vs. with a group.

If you want to save aero by shaving your legs, only shave part of them. To quote Chris Boardman
"You can shave in a certain way so that you leave your legs rough down the front edge but smooth at the side, creating an aerodynamic effect.

Aerodynamics is really important. Human beings are a really crappy shape – a collection of tubes ostensibly – and 90% of the energy you produce on a bike goes towards pushing the air out of the way, so anything you can do to reduce drag has got to be a good thing."

and to quote Mike Burrows

"If you've got a little bit of hair on your legs it will turbulate [sic] the air so you get a better flow. Now this in itself creates friction, so you don't want all your leg hairy you just want two thin strips, each about 10mm wide, just before the sides of your legs – though you will look really stupid.

You need the turbulent boundary layer – provided by these strips of hair - to get the air around the corner, and you need a smooth layer for it to flow over. But the leg is such a rubbish shape that ideally you want an aerofoil on the back of it."

But to go really fast you need to grow your sideburns as modeled by Sir Wiggo.

 

[Racing roadkill]

The only thing I found a bit unnerving about switching to an Aero bike, was the temptation to eat it at the coffee stops, and the fact it melted a bit when I left it in the sun.

 

[Bimble]

... and the fact it melted a bit when I left it in the sun.

really?

 

[Racing roadkill]

really?

No, not really .

 

[Bimble]

Ah, yes, erm ... well ... - How stupid do I feel now?

 

[Racing roadkill]

But seriously, the larger side on section of the deeper rims, and frame, can be a bit if you get hit with a sudden side gust of wind.

 

[Tommy2]

really?

I love that you were more concerned about it melting than him saying he wanted to EAT his bike