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