Walter

Figured I'd ask here b/c if anyone does answer I might get some good info..

(Of course I might get told to take my ass back to the 41 too )

Anyways, a recent edition of VeloNews had a breakdown of benefits of various aero equipment on a TT bike. I have no plans to build a TT specific bike but living here in flat and at times windy SE Fla I'm beginning to look more seriously at the potential aero benefit.

(That is a paradiagm shift for me. I started back in the 70s and have long been of the school that only grams matter)

The VN dude touted aero wheels and stated that the front is much more important than the rear; basically saying that a rear aero wheel should be the last purchase.

Do you all agree in general? How about in the particular instance of a general roadbike as opposed to a TT specific set up? Obviously, purchasing a quality front wheel while continuing to run a lightweight rear has some cost ($) benefits but would it have performance benefits?

I'm interested in your thoughts.

carpediemracing 

Front wheel aero is good. I used to run a front TriSpoke (HED3) all the time, partially to learn how it handles, partially because I ran the TriSpoke for its aero benefits.

Other quick aero benefits (I haven't seen the article so if it overlaps my apologies):
1. Body/head position - probably the most important as long as it doesn't compromise power output too much.
2. Helmet - probably extremely cost effective, but you need to test. And long tail helmets aren't as safe in general conditions since the tail can cause additional injuries (catching on pavement etc)
3. Bottles (seat tube is best tube)
4. Shoes

After that it seems aero benefits taper off pretty quickly.

For 2010 I'm focusing on #1 and wheels. For track and cold weather road stuff I'm looking for a mass start helmet that is more aero too.

cdr

Enthalpic

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ead-click-here

Walter

True, but see highlights. In case I wasn't clear enough this is not about TTs.

Nate552

I would agree that the front wheel is much more important than the rear. If you are really trying to be cheap/aero then sure, just get an aero front wheel. How aero is up to your bike handling skills. If you can handle it, the HED 3's do well at greater wind angles, which would probably suit you well in a windy area. You can find them pretty cheap on various triathelte sites.

Walter

CDR: Thanks for the response. So you feel running a aero frontwheel is beneficial for fast road riding?

I've heard the same issue about long-tailed helmets as well and don't plan to ride with one unless I do take up TTs.

My wife keeps her bottles on the seat tube and likes it though today's ride on wet grimy roads does illustrate a disadvantage.

Walter

Thanks

Enthalpic

Did you take a link to useful information as some sort of insult? There is a bunch of information in there that will help you finish your fitness rides faster. Of course you'll never know how much faster because apparently you don't time yourself.

Walter

Insult? I don't know, maybe. I don't self analyze a whole lot.

Your point about timing is telling though not comprehensive. It has been many years and a very bad motorcycle accident since I was very competitive on a bike but I don't ignore ride data either.

Long story short is that I am finally putting the mental implications of the motorcycle accident behind me (the physical ones are permanent) and am trying to return to competitive riding. What degree or level is impossible to predict but I doubt that I'll ever get into a TT position. So, I'm curious about aero in general and if I can save some money by using an aero front on a roadbike to good benefit in particular.

Having said all that (and there's no way you could have known it either) I took your link to a TT thread to be a brush off. My apologies if it was not meant that way.

carpediemracing 

I think the front wheel makes more of a difference than, say, the rear. I've used just the rear, just the front.

Just the rear is a nice stabilizing thing. Tall profile rear wheels stabilize the bike - disk wheels or tall aero ones.

Aero front wheels are not as nice to stability, but I notice the difference in speed when I take them off. Unfortunately it's all mental until the speeds get up into the mid/upper 20s. I don't that fast very often so I apparently don't benefit too much from the wheels (at least while training). But they're fun when you get hauling. And pretty much all aero wheels sound cool when you're riding them.

I specifically don't like aero front wheels on long drawn out descents where I'm maintaining 45+ mph, but that should be an issue in FL.

I was going to link to a post but I actually haven't posted it. But I went for a ride in FL, Coconut Grove area, just before Hurricane George hit. Twin TriSpokes (we came to do the Coconut Grove race so we only had race stuff), we went really slow south, really fast north. 50 mph steady winds, 80 mph gusts. I went 60 mph for a mile, my all time record on flat or downhill or whatever.

cdr

DrWJODonnell

Do aerodynamics stop applying once you are not on a TT bike?

ridethecliche

Lol.

Grumpy McTrumpy

what sort of competitive riding?

Homebrew01

Where's that link to the chart comparing the aero benefit of various wheels ? Probably a bit out of date by now though.

Racer Ex 

You couldn't get everyone here to agree on water being two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. I agree though...front>rear for aero difference.

No diff.

Yes. To a point. I've had days where the crosswinds were so bad that I've dropped down to a 46mm rim in the front and a disc in the rear.

Where's my damn penny then?

Lots of stuff you can do to improve aerodynamics on your road bike, many of them are the same things you'd do on a TT bike so scanning the sticky might be helpful. Bottom line is you are the biggest drag (on the bike, not your personality). Dropping and narrowing your position if possible might save you more wattage than a front wheel change.

Walter

Gentlemen, thank you for your thoughts.I do appreciate you taking the time to share them. Definitely some stuff to think about.

CDR: Thanks again. The idea of an aero front and the cross winds does prey on my mind a bit. The Coconut Grove race has been going on for years. It was well established when I was first introduced to it as a teenager in the mid70s. It (and the Grove) are bigger and more sophisticated nowadays. Good for the race (probably). Not so much for the Grove. Hurricanes are great for tailwinds, so long as they're not coming ashore on top of you.

DrWJ: I certainly wouldn't think so, but what do I know?

Grumpy: Due to physical limitations probably not TTs. If I do it'd be on my roadbike anyways. No shortage of crits and circuit races here in FLA.

RacerEX: Do you take PayPal? Seriously, I appreciate the feedback. I'm actually due for some surgery in July that might be beneficial to my cycling. Maybe I can get a paid for advantage and a biological one too?

Flatballer

Blasphemer!

waterrockets 

Yeah, position can make a huge difference. I borrowed some deep CF wheels from Racer Ex and was on a winning State TTT team, using this ugly aero wonder:



I put on a used cockpit that cost me $60 and ended up here:

DrWJODonnell

forget wind resistance. You would go even faster with a little less WALL resistance.

:-)

Kai Winters

Aero bars and proper position are the two most cost effective and drag reducing measures the average cyclist can take.
If you go with deep dish wheels, etc. make sure to take time to learn how they respond in varied conditions.
I used a solid rear disk and Spinergy RevX front...nice combo but it took some time to learn how to get the most out of them. The disk was a bit heavy...much heavier than my normal racing wheels...and took more time to get it up to TT speed but once there it was easy to keep the speed where it needed to be. Cross winds were harder to deal with...seemed to want to fight them and counter them too much. Once I learned to relax and counter the cross winds gently it became much easier to use them.
I miss my TT gear lol.

waterrockets 

Tips from the best. Thanks!

mollusk

Ummmm ...

Pedaleur

Did they let you use that fairing on your seat stay?

waterrockets 

Yeah, I forgot to remove that, and won a state TTT championship with a frame pump on my bike. The Dork is strong with this one:

Nate552

Wish I was that dorky!