So I’ve been reading all the threads/articles on getting low/aero and they all seem to point towards one conclusion: Faster = lower, until you start to loose power.
My question is: how do you know when you are in that sweet spot? I’ve been moving lower and lower all winter and really can’t feel any difference on my trainer.
When should I say enough is enough? I’m on a P3C, no spacers, 90mm stem(-40deg).
I was a gymnast growing up so I’m crazy flexible.
Is there any way to tell without a power meter?
Other factors:
Comfort over longer distances (will your neck muscles hold up? your lower back?)Ability to take/process nutrition (will your stomach function if you are ultra-low?)Others?
There’s a point were lower stops being more aero as well. That point is not always easy to find without a wind tunnel, with competent people to help you, or some serious field testing.
So I’ve been reading all the threads/articles on getting low/aero and they all seem to point towards one conclusion: Faster = lower, until you start to loose power. both of your suppositions are questionable. Sometimes, lower isn’t faster. Sometimes it’s worth giving up some power.
My question is: how do you know when you are in that sweet spot? I’ve been moving lower and lower all winter and really can’t feel any difference on my trainer.
When should I say enough is enough? I’m on a P3C, no spacers, 90mm stem(-40deg).
I was a gymnast growing up so I’m crazy flexible.
Is there any way to tell without a power meter?
I think you’ll have a tough time figuring out both the supply and demand sides of the equation without a way to measure power. I’m not saying it can’t be done, just that it would be a lot of trouble, and may lead you to some false conclusions.
Lower is slower after a certain point. Besides, the lowest most aero position means squat if it’s not comfortable. Are you doing a sprint or an IM? Remember that guy named Lance. He was never super low. Neither are most of the top IM.
There’s a point were lower stops being more aero as well. That point is not always easy to find without a wind tunnel, with competent people to help you, or some serious field testing.
As you already know, lower does not always equal faster.
Sometimes lower *becomes *wider which may be less aerodynamic.
To answer your specific question specifically, I would stop lowering the front end when:
A power meter tells you your wattage at a given level of exertion starts to drop off, presumably due to mechnical factors here. You can no longer effectively steer the bike at high speeds. You can no longer use the bike’s hydration systems at race speeds. Your visibility up the road is impaired by having to hold your head in an unsustainable posture. Cornering at high speed is no longer possible. The result of going lower on the front end actually begins to increase your overall frontal area.
Those are fctors that weigh in on the decision.
I was losing power from being too low but did not know it… until I got a powermeter. Looking back, I should have noticed that my hip angle was too closed off. If you don’t have a powermeter, hip angle might be predictive. On the other hand, I’m no gymnast.
Is your bike the right size- with no spacers and a -40 stem? As others have said- if you can get your back flat/parallel to the road and the top of your head is at the same level as your back- you will probably be in a very aero position- back/head wise. You also don’t want your arms/forearms wider than your hips- slightly in is probably better. I’ve been to a tunnel along with my brother- these were two truisms- that worked well for us. And as others have said- you don’t want to feel like you are losing power- you might lose 20 watts of power being at your current position- and if you had a 20 mm spacer- you might fully get back that 20 watts- but only lose 5 watts to aerodynamics… it’s a balancing act power and aero.
I’ve actually noticed the opposite trend in the cycling world recently. Article after article is telling of pro cyclists who are actually raising their setups slightly while improving their head position and narrowing their elbows for increased power with the same (or lower!) drag numbers.
Lower doesn’t always equal better. It’s just too bad that you have to get wind tunnel tested to find out if it does for you!
do you mind posting your body dimensions, frame size and handlebar drop at this point?
I’m 5’7 and on a 51 Cervelo i am able to get ~17cm of drop with the right aerobars and neg. stem, and i run with this on flat courses with quite little loss of power vs sitting up on the basebars.