Words: Michael Damiano Photos: ROKA SPORTS
1 HELMET
Modern aero road helmets – such as the Specialized S-Works Evade and the Giro Air Attack – are wind tunnel-designed to control airflow through and around them, minimising drag. Potential savings: 3 to 8 watts.
2 POSTURE
Try this aerodynamic position when you want to pick up the pace: Lower your torso by rotating your pelvis forward, so that your forearms are parallel to the ground when your hands are on the hoods. Potential savings: 30+ watts.
3 CLOTHING
Fabric flapping in the wind slows you down. Swap out your club-fit jersey for a form-fitting one – such as the Castelli Aero Race. Potential savings: 10+ watts
4 TYRES
Steinmetz recommends the Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II, Specialized Turbo Cotton, and Zipp Tagente, all of which have performed well on rolling-resistance tests. Go for tubes made from latex, which has lower rolling resistance than standard butyl. Potential savings: 15 to 25 watts.
5 WHEELS
Deep-section carbon rims aren’t cheap (prices start at about $1,500) and can be tricky to handle in a crosswind. But they work. Typically, the deeper the rim, the less the aerodynamic drag. Potential savings: 20+ watts.
6 DRIVETRAIN
For about $20 you can immerse yourself in data from Friction Facts, a lab in Colorado that tests components and lubes to find the combinations that produce the least mechanical drag. The easiest fix is switching to a fast lube, like the paraffin wax-based Squirt. Potential savings: 10 watts
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