Perfected, streamlined, fast. Our aerodynamic top ten promise savings of over 100 watts. With these tips you can bring your second discipline to the highest level in terms of material technology. But even that has its price. On the following pages you can find out how much each improvement will cost you.
The sport of triathlon was and is regarded as a pioneer of many new aerodynamic developments. In the early days of the sport, it was still a small sensation when, for example, Mike Pigg's crooked Giro helmet had three new ventilation slots or the down tube of Kenny Souza's Felt bike was flattened. At that time the first drinking systems for mounting behind the saddle came on the market, HED and Zipp sold the first Aerowheels - later also increasingly in 26 inches - Mark Allen won on the legendary Kestrel 4000 and rockets like Jürgen Zäck used a special Hooker front fork with only 60 instead of 100 millimeters flange spacing.
More triathletes, more choices
Well, back then the choice of aerodynamic equipment was pretty easy - there wasn't much choice. For aero wheels, teardrop-shaped helmets or special frame shapes, there were usually not even a handful of suppliers, but only a few small outfitters whose products could not be bought in just any bike shop.
Today the world of triathlon equipment looks different. Despite, or perhaps because of, the UCI, which has a strong regulatory impact on the "big brother" in terms of material, cycling, most of the real high-end developments today come from the field of road cycling. And because, for example, the Zipp wheels, which were considered good form 15 years ago in triathlon, are now standard in the peloton, there are now numerous suppliers of various aero equipment on the market. Not to forget: the triathlon community is many times larger and therefore has more purchasing power than 15 years ago, so the market is larger and correspondingly more interesting for larger manufacturers.
Carbon instead of condition
The advantages for the triathlete are obvious: competition is good for business. Accordingly, the selection of aero equipment is larger, the pricing is regulated more by the market and the development pressure on the manufacturers is much greater. So it is not surprising that numerous new developments come onto the market every year that actually bring measurable advantages – albeit small ones – compared to the aero equipment that is already available.
The triathlete is spoiled for choice: where to start investing the hard-earned dollars? Which piece of equipment is the most worthwhile and where is only the optics and not the technology outstanding?
Aerodynamic top ten
This is where we want to start and help - with the top ten of the best pieces of equipment. Based on numerous measurement rides on the closed cycle track (a standard procedure for aerodynamic material and seat position studies), the know-how from the wind tunnel and years of experience from various workshops and seminars with recreational triathletes, we have made a list: where and how is it best to invest in it noble material?
From free to 500 euros per watt saving, there is a lot on offer. Here are the ultimate tips for optimizing your aerodynamics...
This is where we want to start and help - with the top ten of the best pieces of equipment. Based on numerous measurement rides on the closed cycle track (a standard procedure for aerodynamic material and seat position studies), the know-how from the wind tunnel and years of experience from various workshops and seminars with recreational triathletes, we have made a list: where and how is it best to invest in it noble material?
From free to 500 euros per watt saving, there is a lot on offer. Here are the ultimate tips for optimizing your aerodynamics...
Position 10 : position of the spoke magnet
Actually, this aspect does not count, because no piece of equipment has to be newly purchased. Do you ride spoked wheels with deep carbon rims? Then mount your speedometer magnet as close to the hub as possible, even if the pickup on the fork has to reach far down. Why?
The hub, strictly speaking the axle, moves with the wind just as fast as you drive. However, the top part of the impeller has twice the speed. Now maybe you have a great aero wheel with a high rim, which basically takes away the fast-spinning part of the spokes, you use knife spokes and maybe you even have the round spoke nipples hidden in the rim? Then it makes little sense to mount the bulky spoke magnet at the top of the rim.
Power savings: up to five watts
Cost: none
9th place: Triathlon handlebars with flat lower handlebars
The flat TT handlebar combinations are very common today. But be careful: the differences are in the details. Only the really flat lower links, which are not too high, actually offer any advantages. In addition, the construction of the aeroextensions should be as clean as possible. So without protruding screws, thick brackets etc.
Power savings: almost 6 watts (about 120 euros/watt)
Cost: around 700 euros
8th place: Aero drinking bottle
Many special aero frames already do not have a holder for normal drinking bottles. Frames that still have these recordings should be equipped with the flat drinking bottles. These bottles can even be an advantage in cross winds. If you don't have any mounts on the frame, a drinking bottle on the handlebars is a good idea.
It doesn't matter whether normal bottles lie aerodynamically in the handlebars or special aero bottles that are sunk between the extensions in front of the head tube - both variants are aerodynamically neutral.
If you need more fuel: drink reservoirs mounted low behind the saddle are also neutral and offer sufficient capacity.
If you remove the round bottles from the frame, you save around five to seven watts depending on the frame model, which – depending on the alternative used – corresponds to almost 10 euros/watt.
Power savings: around 5 to 7 watts (makes around 10 euros/watt)
Cost: around 30 to 60 euros
7th place: aero brake lever
The small levers, which are almost shaped like small paring knives, disturb the wind only a little. Depending on the handlebar used, almost seven watts can be saved compared to normal, large and round levers, which corresponds to a quotient of around €13/watt.
Power savings: around 7 watts (about 13 euros/watt)
Cost: around 90 euros
6th place: aero frame
If you replace your normal frame with an aero frame, you can ride faster. The cars play to their strengths particularly in crosswinds. But beware: if you buy such a part, you should be very sure beforehand how it sits optimally on the bike.
It should also be noted that most models work with integrated stems and handlebars - if you don't like that, you should keep your hands off it.
The advantage to be achieved can reach a good ten watts – compared to a normal frame. However, the cars also cost several thousand euros. One watt saving here costs between 250 and 500 euros.
Power savings: up to 10 watts (about 250 to 500 euros/watt)
Cost: around 2,000 to 7,000 euros
5th place: disc wheel
In reality, disc wheels can save up to ten watts compared to an average aero rear wheel. This corresponds to approx. €160/Watt for the HED models and up to €180/Watt for the Zipp Super 9. But beware: some frames do not offer enough space for the thick panes - check with a specialist dealer beforehand!
Power savings: up to 10 watts (about 180 euros/watt)
Cost: around 1800 euros
4th place: Tri- or Fourspoke
Spoked aero wheels are top aerodynamically, but at the relatively low speeds in recreational sports (especially over long distances) they are not the first choice. It is only at high speeds that the influence of any side wind is so small that the spoked models with deep carbon rims can fully exploit their advantages. When driving slowly (below 40 km/h) and normal wind conditions, the classic aero wheels generate a disproportionately high air resistance.
The trispoke all-purpose weapon can help here. Although the design is more than a decade old, the models are still great. Because in crosswinds, the three-spoke wheels behave like a disc wheel: the air resistance drops the windier it gets and, above all, no matter how slow or fast you drive.
Anyone aiming for Hawaii or Lanzarote should think about the special version with the additionally raised rim: Developed in 1999 for Lance Armstrong, the massive-looking propellers went on sale in greater numbers in 2009 after extensive wind tunnel tests. Why?
Although originally built for the Tour de France series winner, it was shown that the trispokes with the extra high rim can even outperform the disc wheel in terms of aerodynamics, especially in a set as a front wheel and rear wheel.
This offers a real alternative to the classic disc, even for windy areas. The normal trispoke front wheel is already able to save up to 12 watts compared to an average aero wheel with a rim that is around 40 millimeters high. Costs: around 1400 euros for the Hed H3 Plus front wheel, for example. The set with an extra high rim saves up to 35 watts in the wind with an investment of approx. 2900 euros.
Power savings: up to 35 watts (makes about 70 to 75/watt)
Cost: around 2900 euros
3rd place: Relocate brake and shift cables or replace them with Nokon
Moves you can't see are good moves. Hide your cable housing from the head tube if the frame allows it. Everything else should be as close to other tubes or the frame as possible.
Anyone who uses a Shimano DI2 circuit has already eliminated 50 percent of the problem.
But still: hide your moves as well as possible. The Nokon cables often provide a remedy, since very narrow angles can be realized with them, which is particularly advantageous for small frames.
If you lay your trains well, you can easily save 12 to 15 watts, at a cost of approx. 150 euros for the set of Nokon trains (if necessary) this makes about 10 €/watt.
Power savings: around 12 to 15 watts (about 10 euros/watt)
Cost: around 150 euros
2nd place: aero helmet
The aerodynamic "plastic caps" are considered good form even in ambitious recreational sports. The helmets are now so well ventilated that you can always wear them under normal conditions.
Power savings: up to 15 watts (about 13 to 17 euros/watt)
Cost: around 150 to 250 euros
1st place: Optimizing the seating position
It is hardly surprising that this optimization of the human-machine system offers the greatest potential - 2/3 to 3/4 of the air resistance is generated by humans, not by the bike. At a competitive speed of 36 km/h (corresponding to a bike split of five hours), the usual savings are in the range of 15 to 35 watts, which corresponds to a performance gain of around five to ten percent.
At the usual measuring speed of 45 km/h, it is correspondingly more. You can't do more with any training method or piece of equipment.
Power savings: around 15 to 35 watts (about 12 euros/watt)
Costs: 150 to 500 euros, half a day
