Poll: Aero or lightweight bike?

Vonhelmet · 23 May 2016 at 13:59

touch said:
You cant race without plugs though :/

Helpfully, the Aeroad has an integrated tampon holder in the headset

Well, duh, you put the plugs back in afterwards.

My mate's Mrs has been known to ride around with a flower in the top of the headset on her Canyon

randomshenans · 23 May 2016 at 14:36

That's the old stem. New one has aero-cockpit so no tampon holder. You can probably fit a fair few in the bars though.

lordrobs · 23 May 2016 at 18:16

I voted lightweight personally because I think it looks nicer

Really though the reason it would be pointless for me having an aero bike is that as a rider I am very non aero

Sgt_Pepper · 23 May 2016 at 19:07

I'd choose lightweight, I don't go anywhere near quick enough to get aero advantages.

SDK^ · 23 May 2016 at 19:56

Lightweight wins :eek:

FrenchTart · 23 May 2016 at 20:04

Ignore the results...get aero

SoliD · 23 May 2016 at 20:06

Sgt_Pepper said:
I'd choose lightweight, I don't go anywhere near quick enough to get aero advantages.

See this is a misinformed opinion. You'd be surprised how little speed you need to go to get the benefits of aero, and then the gains to be made from the power you're putting out are greater. Reduced effort means you can go faster for longer on a ride for the same energy output. Either way going aero with discs is just a disgusting choice.

FrenchTart · 23 May 2016 at 20:21

SDK^ · 23 May 2016 at 20:49

SoliD said:
Either way going aero with discs is just a disgusting choice.

This country warrants disc brakes.
I've done so many sportive rides in wet conditions meaning no/little brake stopping power when coming down hills. Having no braking confidence means I drag the brake all way down to maintain a controllable speed which is slow.

Also, riding through winter/wet gritty conditions destroys the rear calliper resulting in reduced rear braking performance.

Raptor · 23 May 2016 at 21:02

Sgt_Pepper said:
I'd choose lightweight, I don't go anywhere near quick enough to get aero advantages.

SoliD said:
See this is a misinformed opinion. You'd be surprised how little speed you need to go to get the benefits of aero, and then the gains to be made from the power you're putting out are greater. Reduced effort means you can go faster for longer on a ride for the same energy output. Either way going aero with discs is just a disgusting choice.

Haha, so true.

After going out in my MTB gear today, I'm considering changing my vote to Aero.
In WA state and didn't expect to be on a road bike, it could also have been the gradients, but i'll stick to the flappy top and shorts excuse for my terrible performance today.. lol

SDK^ · 23 May 2016 at 21:41

saitrix said:
http://cyclefit.co.uk/uploads/Weight_vs_Aero_White_Paper_Cervelo.pdf

Edit - As people have said, you need the flexibility for an aero bike though.

An interesting article - thanks for posting.

oli collett · 23 May 2016 at 21:43

SoliD said:
See this is a misinformed opinion. You'd be surprised how little speed you need to go to get the benefits of aero, and then the gains to be made from the power you're putting out are greater. Reduced effort means you can go faster for longer on a ride for the same energy output. Either way going aero with discs is just a disgusting choice.

I'm not sure why anyone ever thought aero was only relevant at high speed, it's one of those zombie facts of the cycling world. Also goes with everyone pointing out 40km/h wind tunnels are pointless as only pros go that speed, but of course relative velocity is what matters and most reasonable cyclists can maintain 30km/h in a 10km/h headwind

SDK^ · 23 May 2016 at 21:53

The Specialized Win Tunnel video series is helpful.

This one answers the slow speed aero benefit question.

Win Tunnel playlist link : http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcmaLnqmqDnmn_bCR0RJ-soSCDKCKR97t

touch · 23 May 2016 at 22:25

For shame:
Berger, Bunka, DanF, Dis86, grudas, lordrobs, mattyfez, platypus, Raptor, Sgt_Pepper, topgun06

SDK^ · 23 May 2016 at 22:39

The problem for us non pro's chasing free speed aero gains is open roads.

A rider can spend lots of pounds changing to an aero frame, helmet, clothing, wheels and an aero position to gain several minutes over 40km, but if they hit a red light, traffic or junction at the wrong time then the aero gains are all lost because you are stopped.

Vonhelmet · 23 May 2016 at 23:14

Can you gain whole minutes over 40km? Maybe on a TT bike, but I wouldn't have thought aero was enough to do that over such a relatively short distance.

Bear · 24 May 2016 at 06:54

SDK^ said:
The problem for us non pro's chasing free speed aero gains is open roads.

A rider can spend lots of pounds changing to an aero frame, helmet, clothing, wheels and an aero position to gain several minutes over 40km, but if they hit a red light, traffic or junction at the wrong time then the aero gains are all lost because you are stopped.

Then dont think of it just in speed terms then, think of it as energy conservation. Aero allows you to travel at the same speed as a lightweight on the flats using less power

FrenchTart · 24 May 2016 at 07:46

Bear said:
Then dont think of it just in speed terms then, think of it as energy conservation. Aero allows you to travel at the same speed as a lightweight on the flats using less power

This. For longer rides anything that means that I either get to my destination quicker or (arguably more importantly) use less energy in the same duration of time is a good thing.

xdcx · 24 May 2016 at 08:12

SDK^ said:
This country warrants disc brakes.
I've done so many sportive rides in wet conditions meaning no/little brake stopping power when coming down hills. Having no braking confidence means I drag the brake all way down to maintain a controllable speed which is slow.

Also, riding through winter/wet gritty conditions destroys the rear calliper resulting in reduced rear braking performance.

Jesus Christ.

lordrobs · 24 May 2016 at 08:27

touch said:
For shame:
Berger, Bunka, DanF, Dis86, grudas, lordrobs, mattyfez, platypus, Raptor, Sgt_Pepper, topgun06

My excuse is that I'm fat and slow and would therefore look way too try hard or 'all the gear no idea' on an aero bike. Truth be told the same applied to a lightweight bike which is why I happily ride an entry level aluminium jobbie