7 Aero Hacks To Cycle Faster | Smash Your Next Triathlon Bike Leg

[@gtn]

What is your #1 aero hack? Let us know in the comments below 👇

[@sebastiankellner5412]

Global Triathlon Network best Aero hack: get a sponsored aero-bike by canyon!😉

[@tobiasbouma4071]

By the way, as an alternative to the thru-axle, there are the "view-speed.com" non-QR skewers. They don't work on every bike so ask the owner or ask on forums whether it's going to fit (it does for my Trek Speed Concept 2019).

[@jackhammer40k_]

Amazing you didn't talk about where the most aero gains are to be made - body position

[@crispinhu8039]

The hair on your head is also another factor that increases drag. I would go for a hairstyle with really short sides and slick back my hair when I put my helmet on because mines not an aero helmet and my hair can be sticking out of the helmet thus increasing drag

[@themadhackermatt]

The rear bottle or tool box is really important. it helps fill the void behind you.

[@SOLDOZER]

Will putting tape over my mouth and shaving my butt help?

[@conormaguire7672]

Mark 'Hold on to I get the other bike *Whips out a Cervelo P5X*

[@alexandergeorgesgretener]

probably everyone had this exact thought

[@gearmonkey]

would love to see some the actual impact of taping bolts in a wind tunnel...

[@EricAbbottTri]

In addition to the helmet angle also pay attention to your head height. So many people ride with their head in a high position, face full sail into the wind. Keep the head down and sight over the top of your sunglasses.

[@ozan3076]

Imagine that electric tape got banned

[@BAM85]

It’s like painting your break callipers red on your car gives you 15 more horse power...

[@sepg5084]

Nope. I bet you did not even watch the vid.

[@mlegrand]

This was a great video! I was expecting to see the normal stuff like aero bars, aero helmet, Tri suit, etc. I liked the slightly neurotic bolt covering and helmet tilt suggestions. Other suggestions that border on crazy might include, shoulder shrug, high socks and/or shoe selection. I should probably make some sort of “Aero Crazy” video for my channel. Keep up the great content!

[@nfkb0]

putting the socks during a triathlon on will take more time that you're gonna save I think

[@mlegrand]

rémi nfkb You're absolutely right! But a nice pair of socks is so nice to have for the long run afterwards. Do you wear socks for long course triathlon? Or what distance do you start skipping the socks?

[@XmNfwvhhD66eL87Cja]

Shaving also makes cleaning your legs a lot easier when cyclocrossing :)

[@truthseeker8483]

Better for cross dressing too

[@cricket12ish]

That dam canyon behind you at the beginning is 11 thousand dollars!!!!! What's it made of.... Lance Armstrongs bones?

[@georgec2894]

That disappointing moment when a cyclist goes stalking out one, just one, aero gain and realizes, as always, that he’s already doing every single one of them.

[@markthrelfall3577]

George C fair play! I haven’t come across many people putting thick padding in the helmet to improve its tilt

[@georgec2894]

Mark Threlfall They are all great tips all the same :) I tried that initially to improve field of vision rather as my helmet-back gap was negligible. Another tip linked to this is to tape the base of the tail (can do this to an Aerohead to help transform it into the Aerohead ultimate for instance). Sure this reduces turbulence but haven’t wind tunnel tested it myself

[@TriGuy1978]

The key is to reduce your frontal area exposed to the wind. In regards to your body position, there are 2 ways to do it. One is by lowering your body position to be closer to the bike and the other is by being "thinner". this can be done be bringing your elbows closer together and bringing your legs closer to the frame (Q-factor). This second option may be better because you won't be losing power by being scrunched up on the bike. You can be a little more upright for power and breathing efficiency, but still have less frontal area.

[@shortswithcanva]

Not completely true. Bringing your elbows together Will lower your stability and Will make your (thinner) body rocking from side to side. + Your head Will (in most cases) come up higher. I've seen this time and time again doing aerotests in a variaty of riders (TrainYourDream.com/sports)

[@brettbale9535]

Half the weight of this bike is electrical tape.

[@only_james]

lmaoo

[@ceciestunpseudooriginal9837]

Don't care about weight when it's flat

[@ozan3076]

Can you show us the bike without front bottle and nutrition box? Thanks

[@georgec2894]

I can take the taping bolts a step further. Some holes are best taped, but for Allan key bolts I prefer to drop molten candle wax to fill the bolt head. There’s plenty of yaw-dependent, and temperature and/or air density dependent tricks as well... but I’m sworn to secrecy

[@Ryan-ud3kk]

Best aero hack? Drafting 🚴🚴‍♀️

[@heredianos]

No drafting on long triathlons allowed

[@gwhite1932]

DQ

[@Kanoemirate]

I ride for fun and doesn't need all those aero hacks. People in my Town always admire me riding a Raleigh mxr29er with a Chinese knock off helmet. I always feel like Peter Sagan when they hail me😂

[@bggalvan4973]

Yeah me too but im on an xc and reach 100kph on plain road without any aero but you could do those hacks it depends to your style and comfort

[@crnkspinnr5863]

I'm using quick releases that have a 5mm bolt to hold. No QR "wings" out there in the airflow.

[@raouloehmen6198]

You can also get hex bolt skewers for rim-brake bikes. Just remember to put the tool in with your spares!

[@roatre3260]

Confirmed, I'm finally shaving my legs.

[@truthseeker8483]

ooohhh

[@ajc4950]

Aero tips; get low, slim fast and take a shit before your TT = Faster than me😎

[@Bendersnatchling]

Now THIS is proper content! Well done. I'm already getting out my electrical tape :)

[@kaicolbert6099]

The aero gain was sacrificed by the weight of electrical tape. 😂😂

[@Petros98223]

you did not address the clothing, many years ago I was part of a team of engineers that developed cycling gear for use by US Olympic team. We did a lot of wind tunnel testing on components and gear. We found that if the rider wore clothing that did not breath it would reduce the drag of the rider by several ounces, without any other changes. This is significant on a long race. Not practical to wear fully sealed fabric, but if the front and sides of the shirt and shorts did not allow air to penetrate the fabric, it would reduce the drag significantly.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

There's better materials now, no need to have any part of your suit not breathing

[@NinjaElephant]

7:53

[@fallbrightt9223]

Shaving legs also works on the swimming leg

[@ciaranfitzgibbon8286]

First thing to do to get more aero is lose weight - the body is circa 90% of the aero drag

[@gdswghdsCjiirwe]

Gentlemen, shave your beards. Ladies, shave your moustaches.

[@magnemmar4869]

The rules aren't wishy-washy about helmet modifications at all. "5.9 Helmets. (a) Type of Helmet. All participants shall wear a protective head cover, undamaged and unaltered, which meets or exceeds the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and which is clearly labeled by the manufacturer as satisfying such standards.....Any violation of this Section 5.9(a) shall result in disqualification." The ITU equivalent rule is, "(iii) An alteration to any part of the helmet, including the chin strap, or the omission of any part of the helmet, including an outer cloth cover, is prohibited;" Adding extra padding to a helmet is a modification / alteration, and is a violation of USAT and ITU rules. Whether a referee does anything about it (if they notice or are notified by someone) is a separate matter, but they absolutely can issue a disqualification for violation of that rule.

[@TechSavvyFacts]

To your first hack. The SF SLX shout have a small channel in the extension spacers. There you can press this cable in. At leased that was what I did with my bike. Keep up the good work!

[@nfkb0]

same here :)

[@DorZ1983]

Non of what is mentioned here except the bottle and the helmet will give you even 1% of change... you have to remember that aero comes to play a big role after 30kph, most age group triathletes do not ride at an average of 30kph for 180k in an Ironman... the biggest aero thing everyone can do is adjust their body position to be as comfortable as they can to stay in an aero position and loosing weight...

[@liamjones9088]

Whats the best aero bottle? I see a lot of pros use the elite crono but now they've come out with a new design. Is one better/more aero than the other?

[@leesloan8216]

Shaving the legs was not originally meant for aerodynimics, it was originally to prevent reactions to embrocation, which when put on hairy legs it would cause boils and sores on the legs, and in some riders long hair on the legs can cause cramp.........apparently! so some older cyclist told me when i was a teenager ( i'm now 51)

[@enijland7562]

What about shoe covers?

[@dallenmiller2688]

I have a sram red crank it has a hole in it i have covered it with a plastic sticker i can fit most of a flat kit in it for training is that potentially a bad idea??? Since it is so close to the bottom bracket?

[@thuglifeyoloswag]

thanks for the vid, however i just cant stop gazing at the bike in the back 🤩

[@tommyaleksandersen7700]

You can start with taking off that integrated aero bottle on the Canyon bike. I know because I did ;) You will notice straight away, but I assume you are sponsored by them so can't say so or do so. That will be against their sale argument...

[@nfkb0]

Tommy Aleksandersen hello ! I guess you have tested this in the tunnel ? What about Frodenos and other Canyon Pro ? Business only ?

[@theis8233]

I haven't tried this myself, but how about shaving your arms? Any known testing on this? There must be some kind of drag.

[@williamvardy2753]

I haven't done any official testing, but I've always had the same thought. I shave my arms for each race.

[@fiddleronthebike]

Specialized has done this testing in their Wintunnel; small benefit, but not nearly as much as with shaved legs

[@nfkb0]

fiddler on the bike thx, is there white papers on this ?

[@fiddleronthebike]

rémi nfkb kzbin.info/www/bejne/npCmaX5vrZlqp5I this is the video they made; they say shaved arms save 19 s over 40 km, while shaved legs saved 70-82 s (other video)

[@550sized]

Just curious, but are you sponsored by Park Tools??? lol

[@panini1899]

the other trick is to have protruding nose and a hunchback😈

[@markthrelfall3577]

panini1899 I like this one

[@andrewcurrie9506]

*coughs* excuse me but do you really need that much tape on your bike? If you cut your tape down you could save at least 1g!

[@markthrelfall3577]

Andrew Currie haha I do seem to like electrical tape

[@niftyfiftyphoto]

80% your body, 0.1% an untaped cable....

[@klqc4915]

nice bike😏

[@andhib]

So you tape over allen heads on flush bolts, but leave the exposed unused bottle cage bolts sticking out!?! why not replace with slim dome head bottle cage bolts or just remove and tape over the holes...incomplete job otherwise.

[@sportkanone3912]

what's with shaving the arms? Is it saving watts?

[@ForzaJonesy]

Spend less time taping ur bike and more time training in tribar position and dieting would help way more

[@waxymud7609]

Mark, Now you have a brand spanking new Canyon, can I have your Cervelo please??? :D

[@jimboydonayre9697]

its that your aero water bottle in your Canyon is capable in any tribike like Blue Triad tribike

[@marksmits1911]

I should focus on the frontal area fo the bike because thats wat the wind hits first. Maybe tilt the handlelbars slightly up for a mantis position. Thats suppose to work.. but good fit is key

[@TheWhiteSB]

Whats the saddle on the Speedmax please?

[@nfkb0]

you have different choices when buying, i got one from ISM PS 1.0, for a tiny guy like me a PN 1.0 might be better

[@eddytjhia1131]

you dont have to shave your leg using leg sleeves supposed to saving watts too

[@nfkb0]

what about a magic cream team lotto jumbo has used several monthes ago ? have you tried it ?

[@s.vektor]

I don't think that the cable will affect

[@markthrelfall3577]

You'd be surprised. It will, it has been proven. Hence most pros and professional cycling teams going to the effort

[@santiagoaviles2866]

Here's my hack, works wonders: Pedal Harder. Pedal Faster. You're welcome.

[@bggalvan4973]

Agreed

[@sharathgvk]

hi, can i know the details of tap stick on the breaking bar.

[@rajanthakkar7049]

How can you make this video unironically ?

[@javicarmonagalvez]

When I get into an aero position my neck and eyes hurt for being in a very extreme position, am I doing something wrong? Or I just have go get used to it?

[@kylebrown4293]

have you had a bike fit? if not that would be everyone's go to. another thing you can do is rotate your neck and stretch it out every so often perhaps when you get out of the saddle to stretch your legs up a hill. additionally you can look up exercises online to make you neck muscles stronger which may also help

[@javicarmonagalvez]

@@kylebrown4293 Actually no, but If I get one I will have to do it myself as I am a student, I will watch videos on the subject, Thank you! btw I have never done a triathlon, I'm just here because of the tips

[@phxrsx]

Start with aero pads completely level with your saddle. Ride in that position for a while and once you get used to it then gradually drop the pads. Focus more on dropping your head between your shoulders rather than slamming the pads straight away.

[@javicarmonagalvez]

@@phxrsx I don't have aero pads, just a normal handlebar, it isn't even a road bike, but for what you have said maybe I am dropping too much into the handle bars. Thank you for answering

[@fiddleronthebike]

since when do you ride the bike? And how regularly? It is a fact, that the muscles in your neck will become stronger over time and more used to this work, so if you are relatively new to cycling - don't worry, things will get better, much better.

[@mikoajlipowski6750]

what about shaving arms and hands?

[@ericoschmitt]

AFAIK taping holes and bolts is illegal...

[@samuelrybar4763]

Where can I get that sandpaper please?

[@dallenmiller2688]

Also what helmet is that ik it is kask but which one?

[@SrHide-iz7pf]

Yes, I'm disappointed

[@trbeyond]

How is grip tape more aero than bar tape?

[@veganpotterthevegan]

It's much thinner. Also, no rows from overlapping tape

[@valerianardelean9235]

That's too extreme lol

[@leopers9225]

I think pros shave more due to massages etc, not aero

[@markthrelfall3577]

LeoPers that’s what they all claim... maybe they just like it 😜

[@fiddleronthebike]

yes - but nonetheless the aero advantage is a fact

[@nicolasvandecasteele9901]

Its a first april movie?

[@gregwallwork5288]

Just lose 5 pounds. Often the biggest hinderance to aerodynamics is the "engine"

[@crrimz]

Once at speed your weight doesn't matter that much. It's the wind resistance that slows you down.

[@petewatson7031]

A bit irresponsible to show peope how to bodge a helmet with a roll of foam

[@markthrelfall3577]

The foam is actually more padded than that of most helmet padding. It's just less breathable. It's thicker for starters. As mentioned, you can of course stick to standard padding, and get the increased thickness or double up

[@uknowbass]

If you have quick release skewers, eliminate the release handle and go Allen key with Styx Aero Skewers tririg.com/collections/parts/products/styx-aero-skewers