Do smaller wheels provide important Aero advantage?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do smaller wheels provide important Aero advantage?
Hello, I know that bigger 700c wheels provide higher gain per spin, effectively increasing gear ratio.
But given the same frame, 26" wheels will sit lower than 700c wheels, thus providing lower air resistance (Or does only the difference in wheel size matter here? Not the overall height?).
Is this difference in air resistance insignificant or can it actually be more important then wheel size at some speeds?
But given the same frame, 26" wheels will sit lower than 700c wheels, thus providing lower air resistance (Or does only the difference in wheel size matter here? Not the overall height?).
Is this difference in air resistance insignificant or can it actually be more important then wheel size at some speeds?
Last edited by Skinner; 09-30-12 at 04:43 AM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Vlaamse Ardennen, Belgium
Posts: 3,898
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Smaller wheels are obviously more aero, but not always feasible ... more importantly ... they aren't allowed by the UCI.
In triathlon people use smaller wheels to gain aero advantage.
In triathlon people use smaller wheels to gain aero advantage.
#3
Professional Fuss-Budget
As a general rule of thumb, smaller wheels are stronger and more aerodynamic, but are more responsive, have more rolling resistance and are less comfortable. The drivetrain will also be slightly lower to the ground.
Gear ratios don't affect speed, it only means you need slightly different gearing.
The tri community went through a spasm of pushing 650 a few years ago, partly due to the aero advantages, but they've pretty much gone back to 700c.
In terms of performance, it's pretty much a wash.
Gear ratios don't affect speed, it only means you need slightly different gearing.
The tri community went through a spasm of pushing 650 a few years ago, partly due to the aero advantages, but they've pretty much gone back to 700c.
In terms of performance, it's pretty much a wash.
#4
Boyd Cycling owner
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 412
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
Most triathletes now run 700 wheels because they roll better, smaller riders (usually under 5'3" will use 650 because it allows them to get into a more aero position as the handlebars don't have to sit up as high.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Not if the frame is designed for that wheel size. My bike with 20" wheels has the same pedal to ground clearance as my 700c bikes.
In addition to smaller wheels having less wind resistance, a smaller front wheel also allows the rider to draft more closely behind another rider in a paceline. But, as already mentioned, there are drawbacks in rolling resistance and ride comfort on rough roads. In comparing rides with my 20" wheeled bike to those with 700c wheels I find both the advantages and disadvantages to be rather minor.
In addition to smaller wheels having less wind resistance, a smaller front wheel also allows the rider to draft more closely behind another rider in a paceline. But, as already mentioned, there are drawbacks in rolling resistance and ride comfort on rough roads. In comparing rides with my 20" wheeled bike to those with 700c wheels I find both the advantages and disadvantages to be rather minor.
#7
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,569
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1102 Post(s)
Liked 2,135 Times
in
1,440 Posts
I used to do lots or tri's and then stopped until recently. The thing that surprised me geting back into the sport is no one, except very short people, use 650 wheels now.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: chicago
Posts: 781
Bikes: cannondale crit 3.0, specialized allez, old giant mtb/hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
industry standards... plus the difference in real world physics is negligible.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,859
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
IMO the only advantage is that you have less rotational mass and the wheel is easier to get it rolling, besides that probably the aero gain part is minimal compared with a 700c wheel.
We got TT track funny bikes back in the day with 650 wheels in the back, 58 chainwheel to compensate for the wheel, the bikes were pretty easy to get them rolling but once in the race personally I did not notice big differences in relation to a regular aero track bike, same stuff.
650 is a good creation of short people so they are able to get some seatpost showing and a descent fit, besides that the % of improvement unless we are talking into super high performance atletes, probably the regular john doe wont even notice the difference.
We got TT track funny bikes back in the day with 650 wheels in the back, 58 chainwheel to compensate for the wheel, the bikes were pretty easy to get them rolling but once in the race personally I did not notice big differences in relation to a regular aero track bike, same stuff.
650 is a good creation of short people so they are able to get some seatpost showing and a descent fit, besides that the % of improvement unless we are talking into super high performance atletes, probably the regular john doe wont even notice the difference.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
FlashBazbo
Road Cycling
54
07-01-10 06:38 AM