Should Amateurs Worry About Being "Aero"? ⋆ CyclingScoop

In the modern cycling world, you can’t walk into your local bike shop or scroll through a forum without seeing the word “aero.”

But what does this really mean from the amateur rider’s perspective, and how does it differ from what the pros do?

Teardrop-shaped time trial helmets. Expertly hidden cables. Deep-dish wheels. For most of us, we really just know “aero” gear when we see it.

The basic principles make sense. But does the idea of optimizing for aerodynamics really make sense for the average cyclists? For the cycling industry, it might seem clear: yes, absolutely. The air ahead of you is the enemy, and you should do anything and everything to cut through it as smoothly as possible!

For the average rider who isn’t lining up for a World Tour race, do aerodynamics actually matter as much as you might think?

Embed from Getty Images

A history of “aero.”

The pro cyclists have been more obsessed with beating the wind than their rivals for decades at this point!

It’s easy to mistake all of it as a new fad, especially considering the excess interest in wind tunnels and Visma (and others) using suddenly horribly ugly TT helmets. But the use of what’s most “aero” has simply gone through a historical evolution.

In the early 20th century, riders moved from upright postures to “drop” handlebars to lower their profile, cutting through the wind better. Perhaps a famous turning point was the 1989 Tour de France, where Greg LeMond used aerobars and a streamlined helmet to come back from a 50-second deficit in the final time trial, winning the yellow by a mere 8 seconds.

The state of the arms race.

Today, the pursuit of aerodynamic perfection has really moved from the road to the wind tunnels and labs of the world.

Professional cycling teams spend hundreds of hours in wind tunnels and use techniques like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to shave off every possible gram of drag.

For a pro, it makes sense. Races can be won by millimeters, especially in a photo finish. So these “marginal gains” are the difference between a podium and a middle of the pack finish.

But what about for the amateurs?

Embed from Getty Images

A reality check: aero just doesn’t always make a difference.

The tech is impressive, but the physics of aerodynamics will work more against the wallet than anything…

Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed. Because pros ride so fast, at speeds up to 40–45 km/h, the wind is their primary enemy.

For the amateur averaging 20–28 km/h, does it matter? The “wall of air” isn’t nearly as thick. At these lower speeds, the energy required to overcome air resistance is significantly lower. In most cases, the expensive aero frame, special handlebars, or high tech skin suit are providing a benefit so small it’s often indistinguishable from a slight tailwind.

The truth is, for most of us, aerodynamics aren’t the limiting factor. Instead, we can look other places to fix: our own physiology and our bike setup.

What should amateurs focus on instead of aero?

If you want to get faster and enjoy your rides more, your time and money are better spent in a few areas that offer a much higher return on investment.

Improve your fitness.

No fancy carbon fiber bike can replace solid training. In fact, it might be the case that you won’t even get as much use out of that nice bike without putting in the miles.

Focus on building your aerobic base and power output. Keeping it simple will actually make you faster than any aero helmet or bike!

Upgrade key components.

High-quality tires with low rolling resistance and a well-fitted saddle will improve your ride quality and speed a lot more than parts built for aero.

Plus, a bike you enjoy riding is likely to get more use!

Reduce your weight… within reason.

For the amateur who loves climbing, the power-to-weight ratio is very important. Shed some weight from your bike (or yourself) to make those weekend hill climbs much more rewarding.

However? There is a limit. Don’t get so focused on weight that you ignore other factors, namely having quality key components or building up your training base. The lightest bike ever can still go slow if your legs aren’t in shape!

It’s not all about aero.

Aerodynamics is actually a fascinating science. Over time, it’s transformed professional cycling to be ultra-efficient! For the pros, thinking about it is a necessary evil and can be the difference between winning and losing.

But, for the amateur rider, it is often a distraction…

For the rest of us, how much of the joy of cycling comes from the legs, the lungs, and the scenery? And maybe not so much from obsessing over a few saved watts in a wind tunnel.

If you want to go faster, stick to the basics: keep training, keep your bike maintained, and just keep riding!

Let’s leave the crazy helmets to the pros for now!