Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit?

Sep 24, 23 23:15

Post #1 of 17 (2174 views)

So looking (again) at the many option of trisuits of the next Ironman races coming up.

Considering how much faster are the top-of-range fastest/slickest triathlon suits out there, vs the mid/low range suits.
I know MANY factors are important, but stroke-over-stroke, completely equal comparision, same rider, same position, let´s say super flat course at 40 kmh.

For example, and as Danish FUSION seems to be doing well with Laidlow, Ditlev & Bækkegaard, just to name a few, and I have been using this brand for 12+ years, comparing these two suits below:

Left is the FUSION Speedsuit V2 (on Bækkegård) at EUR 240 retail and on the right is FUSION TEMPO Suit (on Ditlev) retails EUR 400.

Maybe somebody did tunnel testing or can share some data, not necessarily on those two models, but in general top- vs mid-range. TIA

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [Mulen] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 0:35

Post #2 of 17 (2137 views)

they might even test the same in the wind tunnel, but the more expensive could be more comfortable, and thus faster, in the real world

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [jollyroger88] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 0:38

Post #3 of 17 (2132 views)

I own the Speedsuit V2 - and that is by far the most comfy suit I have ever worn, in all three sports TBH.

jollyroger88 wrote:

they might even test the same in the wind tunnel, but the more expensive could be more comfortable, and thus faster, in the real world

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [jollyroger88] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 2:22

Post #4 of 17 (2066 views)

jollyroger88 wrote:

they might even test the same in the wind tunnel, but the more expensive could be more comfortable, and thus faster, in the real world

Or the opposite, you sacrifice a little comfort for being super fast, which I think i read was the deal with the Fusion suit.

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [Mulen] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 6:00

Post #5 of 17 (1944 views)

The one that fits you better will be faster. Wrinkles add drag. We saw what happened in Ero's aero sleeve test when the ridges get too stretched. Some people will get them tailored.

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [mathematics] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 11:23

Post #6 of 17 (1815 views)

Interesting - and that makes heaps of sense. But what about "slick" material, as we see it in Aero-socks ?

mathematics wrote:

The one that fits you better will be faster. Wrinkles add drag. We saw what happened in Ero's aero sleeve test when the ridges get too stretched. Some people will get them tailored.

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [Mulen] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 11:46

Post #7 of 17 (1790 views)

Mulen wrote:

Interesting - and that makes heaps of sense. But what about "slick" material, as we see it in Aero-socks ?

mathematics wrote:

The one that fits you better will be faster. Wrinkles add drag. We saw what happened in Ero's aero sleeve test when the ridges get too stretched. Some people will get them tailored.

Slick aero socks probably won't have an advantage over shaved legs. The benefit comes from the ridges reducing the boundary layer and keeping airflow attached to the surface longer.

As a rule the materials should lay on your skin as flat and smooth as possible. Well-designed textures can be faster, but the odds of accidentally wrinkling your skinsuit in a way that makes it faster are basically zero.

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [jollyroger88] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 13:37

Post #8 of 17 (1682 views)

jollyroger88 wrote:

they might even test the same in the wind tunnel, but the more expensive could be more comfortable, and thus faster, in the real world

Under appreciated bit on suits. I've used several different brands and comfort, heat venting, and unrestricted breathing make a HUGE difference. 1 of my team suits which looks the best and is the cheaper option I can only wear in early season because it gets so warm.

IG - @ryanppax
http://www.geluminati.com
Use code ST5 for $5 off your order

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [Ryanppax] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 14:26

Post #9 of 17 (1646 views)

Just curious, in non-wetsuit races, would you wear a swim skin suit over a Tri suit, or is a Tri suit alone just as good as a swim skin?

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [vonschnapps] [ In reply to ]

Sep 25, 23 15:13

Post #10 of 17 (1627 views)

If you gave me one I would wear it. But I never found a good reason to spend my hard earned money on one

IG - @ryanppax
http://www.geluminati.com
Use code ST5 for $5 off your order

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [vonschnapps] [ In reply to ]

Sep 26, 23 7:51

Post #11 of 17 (1473 views)

vonschnapps wrote:

Just curious, in non-wetsuit races, would you wear a swim skin suit over a Tri suit, or is a Tri suit alone just as good as a swim skin?

A few trisuits use a swimskin like material in them. I would personally wear a swimskin w/the trisuit all the way on vs trying to put it on when wet

Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [vonschnapps] [ In reply to ]

Sep 28, 23 22:31

Post #12 of 17 (1203 views)

I am not an expert here, but I have seen several videos on YT, proving the benefits of a swimskin over a trisuit in the water. But we are taking a few secs per 100m or max a couple of mins in an Ironman. That you need to weigh up against the time to get it off in T1...

For myself, I can say, that swimming in above FUSION Speedsuit V2 has the consequence of taking in water on the front, where as my Sailfish Rebel swim skinsuit is much more closed up.

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [Mulen] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 23 2:57

Post #13 of 17 (1116 views)

Mulen wrote:

....... we are taking a few secs per 100m or max a couple of mins in an Ironman. That you need to weigh up against the time to get it off in T1...

A swimskin should take about :02-:03 max to get off. Even if you only save :01/100 with the swimskin the math still works out

Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [desert dude] [ In reply to ]

Sep 29, 23 3:40

Post #14 of 17 (1091 views)

In theory yes - unless you are Frodeno or Rasmus Henning :) the latter, who wore the swim skin all the way to T2 in Kona, one year ...

desert dude wrote:

A swimskin should take about :02-:03 max to get off. Even if you only save :01/100 with the swimskin the math still works out

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [Mulen] [ In reply to ]

Oct 5, 23 8:00

Post #15 of 17 (822 views)

Comfort matters

A top suit "may" be a little faster, but you still have to run at the end of the day. Faster on the bike doesn't mean faster overall if the suit is slower on the run.

A good snug fit on the bike that you can run in is always fast. The wild card is how hot/cold is a suit depending on conditions. A fast suit that gets too hot makes it an expensive slow suit overall.

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [Mulen] [ In reply to ]

Oct 5, 23 8:11

Post #16 of 17 (812 views)

To follow up even more, I've seen custom tailored/made suits that cost 4 figures test slower, significantly slower, than an off the rack suit while in the wind tunnel.

Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

Re: Aero advantage of a top trisuit vs mid-range suit? [desert dude] [ In reply to ]

Oct 5, 23 9:35

Post #17 of 17 (775 views)

Point taken, mate - thanks! My Speedsuit V2 fits super well, and has some good strategic pockets for gels on the run. Will stick to that.
Thanks again!

desert dude wrote:

To follow up even more, I've seen custom tailored/made suits that cost 4 figures test slower, significantly slower, than an off the rack suit while in the wind tunnel.

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