Thanks for starting this thread, NickB!
I just got back from a large block of velodrome aero testing, and finally got to read through this thread more carefully. I hope you don't mind if I share some thoughts on this. I hope this doesn't come across as an advertisement. It is meant a reminder that aero testing is becoming more and more important. And that, no matter how you do it (self-test, wind tunnel, test with us), you will be well served to do it.
A little background... In late 2009 I started working on what became Aerolab. I had been reading about The Chung Method, and had been exchanging ideas with quite a number of wattage list and Slowtwitch people. My thinking was that if we could only create a responsive interface with sliders, users could find the right Crr and CdA from power files. This became the Aerolab module in GoldenCheetah. Later, with a group of friends, we turned it into a business called Alphamantis Technologies. I have to admit that learning what needed to happen to get meaningful numbers has been a long, 5-year process. A long, humbling process, at that.
As it turns out -- and as Andy Coggan rightly pointed out -- a tiny puff of wind could really play havoc on the results. We've learned a lot more about aero testing since then, and have done most of our aero testing on velodromes. It's good enough for about 8 Pro Tour teams, including Team SKY, and a number of top triathletes. 6 olympic federations use our velodrome system on a regular basis. And we've intergrated the feedback they give us into better and better algorithms.
So, from our vantage point, we have seen the kind of gains that can be had from aero testing, especially the very first time. We often see 4-8% gains from a first time aero test. That can be anywhere from 5-20 watts. Imagine you have a rubbing brake that you don't know about. That's what's happening when you don't measure your aerodynamic drag. Even for riders who have aero tested before, bike positioning is never final, and aero gains are still sometimes substantial. Optimising for aero is an ongoing process, and has to be linked to high-quality bike fitting.
This year especially, we've seen a huge spike in the number of people who are asking to be aero tested. Perhaps they're being quiet about it, not to tip off their competition. We've also seen a huge spike in the number of pro teams that want to test. I'm sure there's a corresponding spike in demand at the various wind tunnels, too. It's a technology that we are trying to make more and more accessible to the masses, and that people are starting to see the value in.
This thread -- which we didn't start, btw -- is quite useful in helping us identify what will help add the most value to the triathlon and cycling community. Thank you for all the responses. You definitely have our attention!
AndyF
bike geek
I just got back from a large block of velodrome aero testing, and finally got to read through this thread more carefully. I hope you don't mind if I share some thoughts on this. I hope this doesn't come across as an advertisement. It is meant a reminder that aero testing is becoming more and more important. And that, no matter how you do it (self-test, wind tunnel, test with us), you will be well served to do it.
A little background... In late 2009 I started working on what became Aerolab. I had been reading about The Chung Method, and had been exchanging ideas with quite a number of wattage list and Slowtwitch people. My thinking was that if we could only create a responsive interface with sliders, users could find the right Crr and CdA from power files. This became the Aerolab module in GoldenCheetah. Later, with a group of friends, we turned it into a business called Alphamantis Technologies. I have to admit that learning what needed to happen to get meaningful numbers has been a long, 5-year process. A long, humbling process, at that.
As it turns out -- and as Andy Coggan rightly pointed out -- a tiny puff of wind could really play havoc on the results. We've learned a lot more about aero testing since then, and have done most of our aero testing on velodromes. It's good enough for about 8 Pro Tour teams, including Team SKY, and a number of top triathletes. 6 olympic federations use our velodrome system on a regular basis. And we've intergrated the feedback they give us into better and better algorithms.
So, from our vantage point, we have seen the kind of gains that can be had from aero testing, especially the very first time. We often see 4-8% gains from a first time aero test. That can be anywhere from 5-20 watts. Imagine you have a rubbing brake that you don't know about. That's what's happening when you don't measure your aerodynamic drag. Even for riders who have aero tested before, bike positioning is never final, and aero gains are still sometimes substantial. Optimising for aero is an ongoing process, and has to be linked to high-quality bike fitting.
This year especially, we've seen a huge spike in the number of people who are asking to be aero tested. Perhaps they're being quiet about it, not to tip off their competition. We've also seen a huge spike in the number of pro teams that want to test. I'm sure there's a corresponding spike in demand at the various wind tunnels, too. It's a technology that we are trying to make more and more accessible to the masses, and that people are starting to see the value in.
This thread -- which we didn't start, btw -- is quite useful in helping us identify what will help add the most value to the triathlon and cycling community. Thank you for all the responses. You definitely have our attention!
AndyF
bike geek
