I’m looking for thoughts or opinions about aero calf guards vs an aero sock for 70.3 and up distance tri. I’m putting socks on in T1 regardless so saving time by putting a calf guard on before the swim wouldn’t matter. I’m looking at rule 28 products so the general design of both are pretty similar. So give me your insight. My gut reaction is I just don’t like the way calf guards look, but I could change my mind on that pretty easy.
*I guess the questions is: Is there a reason to use a calf guard vs just a aero sock if I’m putting socks on in T1 anyway.
The shape of you calf is least aerodynamic at the top near your knee where it’s shaped like a triangle, as opposed to nearer your ankly where it’s more circular. The aerodynamics of both are greatly helped by keeping the airflow attached longer, and there’s reason to believe the gain for a top-half aero sock would be greater than a bottom half aero sock, although I haven’t seen any testing or research on it. There is little doubt that a well fitting aero calf sleeve will be faster than a well fitting aero sock.
*Well-fitting: It’s entirely possible that wrinkles and fold in the socks can be such a detriment that you’re better without them. I understand the “I’m putting socks on anyway” side, but putting aero socks on tautly takes more time than standard ankle socks. If I were racing to win I would use the calf sleeves every time.
It’s really hard to go wrong here, especially if starting from a non-shaved baseline. There is no reason to use one vs the other as long as it is properly designed. To be on the safe side, you need something 1-2 mm thick that trips the flow just a bit before the apex of your lower leg, which will be changing all along it. So whether you get something with a strip sewn into, or a sock with thicker embossed knitting in places, just make sure you can stretch and position things to be in the right place to trip the flow.
I usually wear tall aero socks, and I’d prefer to use the calf sleeves plus short socks at this point, assuming I found some calf sleeves I liked. The good aero socks need to be really tight and I find it very difficult to get them on when I’m wet and adrenaline-filled. I feel like could save at least 20-30s or more by switching to calf sleeves and shorter, more comfortable socks. It seems like a win/win to go with the sleeves for a wetsuit legal swim. Without a wetsuit, I think it’s a little trickier, but I since I haven’t tried calf sleeves, I could still imagine that to be the best option, but probably by a smaller margin.
The difference for me is calf guards stay up.
Have tried Rule28 and Nopinz Aero socks and they both end up round my ankles.
We experienced similar issues with the Rule 28’s in our recent testing. No such problem with the Silca’s and they tested the same for most riders, so our video, dropping today or tomorrow, just ended up a Silca aero sock video.
Aero testing these is awesome because even though I just recommended sleeves + socks, I had already bought some Silca socks… they arrived today and I love them already. Given my only experience is the first time use comfort and ease of putting them on, it’s great to hear that they test well, too!
I suppose that means I should retract my recommendation for sleeves and say instead to get the Silca aero socks.
Aero testing these is awesome because even though I just recommended sleeves + socks, I had already bought some Silca socks… they arrived today and I love them already. Given my only experience is the first time use comfort and ease of putting them on, it’s great to hear that they test well, too!
I suppose that means I should retract my recommendation for sleeves and say instead to get the Silca aero socks.
Silca video will drop tomorrow, but then calf sleeves in two weeks. Calf sleeves are great, too, when they work for you. It’s been interesting. I would say that calf sleeves, if they work for you, tend to be a bigger savings, which make sense; however, we’ve found a little more consistency with the Silca’s. If your legs are unshaven, sleeves will have a greater impact (again, this is logical).
Lots of crazy, and pretty irresponsible, drag savings claims being thrown about right now. We’ll be keeping everyone in check. The bigger the claim, the more data you’re going to have to produce to prove it. We’ll always test with multiple athletes and, when we believe it warrants it, we’ll throw in a tunnel test as a check as well. Not everyone will be happy we’re testing their products. We’re not here to sell product, we’re here to inform the consumer.
Just thinking out of the box here for a non-wetsuit swim. What about well-placed K-Tape like the Danish pursuit team used at the Olympics? Surely on could wear that in the swim and not go afoul of the rules.
Aero testing these is awesome because even though I just recommended sleeves + socks, I had already bought some Silca socks… they arrived today and I love them already. Given my only experience is the first time use comfort and ease of putting them on, it’s great to hear that they test well, too!
I suppose that means I should retract my recommendation for sleeves and say instead to get the Silca aero socks.
Silca video will drop tomorrow, but then calf sleeves in two weeks. Calf sleeves are great, too, when they work for you. It’s been interesting. I would say that calf sleeves, if they work for you, tend to be a bigger savings, which make sense; however, we’ve found a little more consistency with the Silca’s. If your legs are unshaven, sleeves will have a greater impact (again, this is logical).
Lots of crazy, and pretty irresponsible, drag savings claims being thrown about right now. We’ll be keeping everyone in check. The bigger the claim, the more data you’re going to have to produce to prove it. We’ll always test with multiple athletes and, when we believe it warrants it, we’ll throw in a tunnel test as a check as well. Not everyone will be happy we’re testing their products. We’re not here to sell product, we’re here to inform the consumer.
The difference for me is calf guards stay up.
Have tried Rule28 and Nopinz Aero socks and they both end up round my ankles.
We experienced similar issues with the Rule 28’s in our recent testing. No such problem with the Silca’s and they tested the same for most riders, so our video, dropping today or tomorrow, just ended up a Silca aero sock video.
Have to say I also have some Silca Aero Socks and they do stay up and kind of make every other aero sock I have tried look not fit for purpose.
Duathlete here. I wear Velotoze calf sleeves. Do they make a difference? Dont know but its no biggie putting them on prerace and they stay up no problem while running.
The difference for me is calf guards stay up.
Have tried Rule28 and Nopinz Aero socks and they both end up round my ankles.
Yeah, the quality of the Rule 28s were just terrible. One fitted ok, the other one looked it had been stretched beyond its limits and will not stay on my calf. I might try the Silca.
Just thinking out of the box here for a non-wetsuit swim. What about well-placed K-Tape like the Danish pursuit team used at the Olympics? Surely on could wear that in the swim and not go afoul of the rules.
