A few years ago, the main concern of any cyclist was about weight. Whether that was the weight of your bike or the weight of yourself, the best way to cycle faster is to shred off the weight.
Nowadays, aerodynamics is the name of the game for cyclists. It can be tempting to spend money to be more aero but that doesn’t have to be the case, there are plenty of things you can do to go faster and won’t cost you a fortune.
Many cyclists who’ve been around in the scene will love aero stuff such as aero bikes, aero wheels, or aero helmets to increase their speed. But what does it really mean to be aero?
The main benefits that aero bikes provide are to reduce drag and be as slippery as possible in the wind. 85% of resistance a rider needs to overcome is from themselves, thus it makes sense to reduce a rider’s frontal profile as much as possible.
Here’s what you can do to be more aero on your bike;
1.Rider position
Humans are not designed to be aero, yet we still love a challenge against the elements. An aero position will result in more efficient power transfer, but if you can’t maintain power to actually drive yourself forward there’s no point.
Hence, try keeping your head low, your hands in the drops or on the hoods, and maintain a flat back as much as possible. Or, get yourself a bike fit with professional help to analyse your physiology.
Image via : Cycling Weekly
2. Resist the wind head-on
Head position is really important when dialling your position on the bike. You’ll have seen riders using aero helmets both on the track and road due to their unique design ensuring air glides over the top with as little drag as possible.
Some even have a visor to further ease the dispersion of the wind while your nose is in the wind.
3. Skintight is right
As time goes by, the advancement in fabric technology has widely spread in the cycling industry, however certain aero clothing has been banned from competition. You might have even seen officials measuring socks at the start of the races too.
If you are looking to get even more aero, try opting for a skinsuit rather than a two-piece jersey and bib shorts. You might find yourself flying on your next ride!
Image via : Runner’s World
4. Improve flexibility and core
If you’re struggling to maintain a lower position with a flat back on longer rides, you should work on your flexibility, focusing on stretching your hamstrings, glutes, and lower back.
Strengthening your core is equally important too, it will not only help you stay comfortable in a low aerodynamic position but will help in pedalling efficiency.
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