Aero Bike On Stock Wheels vs. Endurance Bike On Aero Wheels. Which Is More AERO In REAL World.

I couldn't believe the result of this test, so I made it again, with different approach... and was surprised yet again!
Here you can see all four rides:
1. Merida Reacto on stock wheels / strava
2. Merida Scultura Endurance on 80 mm wheels
/ strava
3. Merida Reacto on stock wheels (35 km/h)
/ strava
4. Merida Reacto on 80 mm wheels
/ strava
The bikes from this test:
www.merida-bik...
www.merida-bik...
The aero wheels:
www.dtswiss.co...
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[@tonymcnally9355]

Bike position is so important an alloy claris bike with a really good aero fit and upgraded tyres would be adequate for racing. I know lads winning races on 10kg alloy bikes because theyre strong. Loads of new cyclists think they need a carbon bike and carbon wheels to be able to compete, total bs.

[@arayapatil2136]

;)

[@jaspreetsidhu5708]

Exactly fitness is the biggest thing once you've gotten really strong only then will things like this make a major difference.

[@dreyn7780]

Tune for comfortable on couch. Tune for performance with bikes. Your aero tuning is completely different to your endurance tuning. The gearing cassette has a linear shape to it on that endurance bike. Its doing linear power. Regular racing bikes have compound gearing power. Unique means unique. There's NO comparison to unique items.

[@danmartin9086]

Agreed. All marketing hype aero this aero that. Bike weight and position are most important

[@JensHermann]

Huge difference. The aero wheels look cooler 😎

[@skandinav_nummer1]

Hah. Difference only in looking?:)

[@mmurmurjohnson2368]

Bike hack: Get an endurance frame, small as possible,preferably aluminum, slam the stem, add 53 tooth big ring, add deep dish wheels and what you get is nimble track bike geometry with key aero where it counts, and the added weight helps you bomb down hill faster than top end aero bikes at a cheaper price point, plus the wider tires are more stable at high speeds on real world roads. Trade aero in exchange for inertia. Try and see.

[@jamieb2865]

Weird. This last summer I swapped my wifes wheels out for my 50mm Aero wheelset. She averaged 2km/h faster over 6 rides on her usual routes. This was a blind test since she knows nothing about bikes and had no idea about the swap. 25km/h -> 27km/h Edited for clarity: Returning to the stock wheels showed a return to ~25km/h average speed. Because I wasn't giving up my wheels for the whole summer ;)

[@Nicky458itl]

may be she just stronger or not I don't know.

[@8paolo96]

if she keeps that kind of averages just the increase of training due to those rides may couse the increase of speed

[@stefanwagener]

Do you ride in a hilly region and your aero wheels are lighter too?

[@jamieb2865]

@@stefanwagener Yeah, tons of rolling hills are the aero wheels are lighter. That would defineitly add to it for sure.

[@roebbiej]

I see in the test that he is using different tires for the wheelsets. That's a variable that can cause massive differences. This is an improper test

[@dmytrotkachov6859]

SickBiker is the type of practical down to earth bike content that YT really lacks. million thumbs ups for the content 👍👍👍

[@wangshuishui2121]

I had done a similar experiment myself, 28mm 1.1kg, 50mm 1.6kg and 1.9kg 88mm wheels. Using 53/15 gearing and 70rpm constant. 28mm get me to 35kmh in the shortest distance but hardest efforts to maintain the speed over a 50km distance. The 88mm took the longest distance to reach 35kmh but the easiest efforts to maintain constant speed over the distance. Although there is a need to get use to fight the side winds on the 88mm wheels, once u get used to the wheels, u will use lesser efforts as u gain confidence and that will better yr experience with it.. ( we are not made of paper, we wont get blown away😁.) Just learn to sway a bit with the wind without fighting it. I dont have a power meter but i ride enough to know the level of efforts im putting into each rides 😅😅

[@dreyn7780]

Top speed for the era. Different eras have different top speeds. Endurance bikes try to corner in 4th gear instead of 3rd or 2nd gear. They try to use the least amount of braking power. The gears are linear instead of compound gearing. Cyclists are extremely uneducated.

[@kk-dy5ye]

no matter aero or not , just get what you want and enjoy to ride🍺

[@MarkRiddellRacing]

Buy the bike that looks the best 😀

[@PhiyackYuh]

@@MarkRiddellRacing buy the best looking bike that doesnt match your fit just to look the part is the best 😝🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@wangshuishui2121]

The difference for me on the wheels is during the longer distance rides. The 80mm wheels are much heavier and slower to get to speed, but when u reach 40kmh it will show the benefits. 7km distance will let u know the agility, pickup speed differences of a wheelset, 50km distance will let u know the rolling speed, level of power to hold speed for a wheelset.

[@cannondany]

Thanks for the input! My DT Swiss 1100 Dicut are featherlite - 1500 grams. They are actually lighter, than the stock 34 mm wheels on that Reacto. At my speed, no benefit...

[@wangshuishui2121]

Try another similar experiment at a much longer distance, u will see the difference..😊

[@gregmorrison7320]

The biggest gains in an aero wheelset is the change from box sections to 35mm, which is great for me as a light weight because any wind tends to blow me around and we get a lot of wind where I ride, so 35mm wheels suit me fine. I've always been skeptical of the aero benefits of many so called aero bikes, the differences between them really are very small, in relation to our riding positions.

[@gerrylane3570]

Unless you are racing I don't think it matters which one is more aero, I'd rather be more comfortable on a long ride myself which is why I'd lean towards an endurance frame.

[@mddah01]

that was an extremely helpful video thanks. I think I will pick the most comfortable lightest bike I can afford and forget about all the other features

[@benturp3492]

Aero trumps lighter bikes on flat roads

[@tomasdikinis3489]

Aero wheels go "whoosh whoosh"

[@awesomesloppyjoe]

Thats really helpfull. If you want to get more aero as amateur rider. Just do your core workout and add a few stretches. Then Slam your stem and learn to be comfortable at the position. Cost Zero!

[@gerrylane3570]

Or if you can get comfortable on a real time trial bike, then by all means just use a time trial bike when you ride.

[@dreyn7780]

Wrong. Male gossip. The big guy is allowed to buy and ride both. They're unique bikes. They didn't get their calculations wrong.

[@mamilsg]

May I suggest, another set of test on the same aero bike and body position in the drops. One time with aero wheel and one time with non aero wheels. I am not sure if body position + wheels combo does matter.

[@rommelreyes2209]

thank you. i can delay the purchase of merida reacto. i'll still train my legs with my giant tcr advanced 2

[@larsborgman3443]

Agree but that endurance bike is far from a endurance bike. For me it is pretty much a aero bike

[@8paolo96]

just becouse it is carbon doesn't mean it is aero, that bike really has nothing aero, with that large seatstay junction and most importantly the very very upright position, it is probably a light and expensive endurance bike

[@dreyn7780]

Linear power vs compound power. Look at the shape of the cassettes. 1 is linear the other is compound. The endurance rider tries to conserve using gearing. They try to go around a corner using 1 less gear change. Most bikes will use 2nd or 3rd gear but the endurance bike will use 4th gear to go around that same corner. There's A BIG difference between 2nd and 4th gear. Slam on those brakes, get down to 2nd gear and blast out of the corner slamming the gears. Cyclists can be extremely dumb at times. More dumb than other hobbies.

[@janwillemkuilenburg7561]

I understood from various sources that deep section wheels would make you 2-4 km/h faster, depending on the yaw angle....

[@stefanwagener]

Probably not at 30km/h, maybe at 45km/h

[@JFomo]

Some graphics on the screen would be nice, I don't remember anything. Whats the conclusion?

[@ricardoubo8947]

Great content. I watch this channel all the time for Bike reviews and comparisons.

[@cannondany]

I appreciate that! I had a lot of fun doing this one, but I truly expected different results...

[@dreyn7780]

Wrong

[@thanh-dungnguyen8078]

Your Merida aero is a formula 1 👍It looks so nice.

[@dreyn7780]

Formula 1 is extreme racing, not even close to endurance racing.

[@BruceChastain]

very interesting thank for the video and tests.

[@davehause8571]

Awesome. Yep. Your result outcome matches independent wind tunnel tests.

[@razorree]

you could put at least handlebars on the same height, body position is the most important factor here....and it's different....

[@dreyn7780]

Height = lean or steer. Higher-up means you're leaning over more than you are steering. Lower means you're steering and not leaning over into turns. Everything else is male gossip.

[@benjaminhunt283]

Sickbiker. I have giant defy advanced pro carbon 2 as summer bike. Recently purchased Merida Silex 400 with fenders for winter bike use. Both set up same for body position. What's interesting is after a number of rides on the Silex(in wet and cold), on the same rides(about 35km) the average times are extremely close. I cannot get my brain around this at all?!

[@gerrylane3570]

Nothing to really get your head around. Minute aero properties on a aero frame do not matter until you are going at very high speeds. The key aero property is body position and how low your actual body is. If you are racing every second counts so naturally you want the best aero frame when racing. When you are a weekend rider like 99.9% of cyclists the difference is negligible, and more so psychological. Like sickbiker said, aero wheels can make a the biggest difference at low speed, and of course body position(in the drops, out of the drops). The lower your drops the more areo your body is. Arguably you might be more comfortable in the drops on an endurance frame since you are slightly higher. And the more you are in the drop bars the faster you will go. You could flip the stem on an endurance frame and make it less upright and more "racy" as well.

[@dreyn7780]

You're following gossip. Comfortable is male gossip. You steer round corners. You don't comfort around corners. You lean into turns. You don't comfortable with turns. You adjust how much steering and how much leaning you want for corners. If you want comfortable get a couch.

[@benjaminhunt283]

@@gerrylane3570 just seen this. Thanks for your input. Makes sense what you are saying

[@1000750]

Great now I can't convince my loved one that I need a new fancy aero bike and wheels, stuck with my old bike. 😂😁🤣 Love your vids 🤙

[@cannondany]

Good one :)

[@dlevi67]

Nah. Tell your loved one that without a new bike you won't be able to go as fast as you want to go.

[@1000750]

@@dlevi67 lol yeah I just can’t seem to shave that 15sec off a 2 mi segment on my local route for the KOM 😂 🤙🏻

[@viniciovieirajr.]

I agree 100%!!! I already had that perception. Good job!!!

[@dreyn7780]

But you're wrong. If they had different top speeds, you could say 1 isn't a racing bike. They must go to 2021 level for top speed. They're unique bikes.

[@Thracium]

Thank you for the valuable review! Good Luck!

[@dreyn7780]

It wasn't helpful.

[@event4216]

6:13 I though, ahhaaa, there comes test racer

[@arifazhari7598]

Peter sagan on alloy claris equipped bike is faster than a couch potato people on canyon aeroad. I am just saying. Most people don’t even put 300 watt ftp or maintain 200 to 300 watt in a hour. I say comfort over aero. If you can’t slammed your stem on aero or race bike you better slammed it on endurance bike. Just be sure size down one size with a taller head tube.

[@hansschotterradler3772]

aero bike in climbing position doesn't really make much sense in my opinion. Re-do the test in the drops for both bikes and the aero bike will win.

[@djseitz425]

He was trying to maintain the same.body position on both bikes.

[@godswitness3105]

Likewise drop the bars on.an endurance bike over any arro bike and it will win. He clearly states that body position is far more important than wheels or frame. I prefer aero wheels when racing road crits as they are definitely faster on a non windy day. On a windy day I'll.take 35mm wheels all the time. Fighting against a side wind with aero wheels is exhausting it robs power and can be dangerous. They both have their benefits.

[@mountainbiker9330]

It sounds like you are casting some magic spells😂✌️

[@rolandcolavizza5368]

did you use the same tyres?

[@volodymyrkomliev5849]

Great comparison for understanding usual cyclists what the difference in bicycle equipment!👍

[@dreyn7780]

Wrong.

[@stanL9]

Is your position the same on both bikes? Doesn't seem like. 1. Rider position 2. Wheels 3. Frame aero'ness

[@Physicist999]

If we want to compare to frames, the everything mattering should be remained same from body position to equipment. Could you do this ??

[@lambda3374]

People focus more on aerodynamics on frame intead of aero of rider itself, this is nonsense

[@stefanwagener]

Right, after winter my belly is now more aerodynamic ... :)

[@dreyn7780]

NO, cyclists are gossips and copy cats.

[@Thracium]

Thank you! Good Luck!

[@bowencheng2515]

Very interesting result. Thank you

[@dreyn7780]

It wasn't helpful at all.

[@THEPASTORization]

Thanx so much always wanted to know..awesome

[@FGIRAFFE]

Nice conclusion !

[@dreyn7780]

Wrong

[@ellerybice3787]

More than anything Areo wheels were meant to fleece you, not release you from side drag.

[@dlevi67]

Aerodollarics?

[@thomasfox6391]

By that logic, the aero bike + deep wheels should be as slow as the endurance bike with shallow wheels. Not sure I believe that.

[@luant16]

Can you make another video for amateur Normal road bike with higher power let say 210 watts vs highend aero bike with 200 watts, so it can give an idea for newbie whether to upgrade bike or increase ftp.. i think 10 watts increase in ftp is achieveable if we serious about biking..

[@Minecraftrok999]

At that low wattage and speed you definitely don't need an Aero bike. 10W increase on power will be faster than aero bike for sure.

[@dQw4w9WgXcQ_bobtheskeleton]

@@Minecraftrok999 yea i think i agree with you, it can save money too by not upgrading before needed..

[@stefanwagener]

Even on an aero bike your goal should be for 10 watts increase in ftp :)

[@GALERI.TRUK_ID.]

SEMOGA SEHAT SELALU MUDAH REZEKINYA AMIN

[@sylvainbernaers]

honest review

[@JPHET37]

I love like weight bikes 🚲, I had a custom carbon frame build to be within 13 lb-14lb a mixed of Dura ace and Ultegra parts it’s expensivve but no more than $2500

[@ArteUltra1195]

Yeah sure, a „13-14lb“ custom bike with dura-ace/ ultegra for under 2500$

[@benturp3492]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@shadigif8916]

Sick bike

[@detolerandisstultorum]

Why is it not scientific?

[@stefanwagener]

Scientific is e.g. when you can eliminate all other influences. During the test a tiny bit in wind change can already have influence in the result. Also the result might change if the wind is not coming from 10o'clock but 12o'clock. Maybe the temperature had changed by half a degree during the test cycle. As riding position has probably the most significant influence but as humans we are not able to behave 100% exactly the same as before. So if you can't guarantee that other conditions didn't change even a tiny bit, you can't consider it as scientific. I think the different riding position, especially the "climbing" position by placing the arms narrower to the body had more effect than the wheels. But this praxis comparison is still nice to see even though I would be curious about more comparisons like effect of aero different riding positions (drop vs. hood), and different wind conditions (0 windspeed, 12 o'clock wind).

[@dreyn7780]

Doesn't have university degree.

[@DDGB08]

😊

[@TnFruit]

You proof, that it doesn't matter if you take a normal bike with aero wheel's or an aero bike with normal wheel's. If you want to prove that kit doesn't matter, you should compare a full earo kit vs a normal kit at amateure speed. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@WeProvokeThought]

I believe it is more about the amateur rider/"Weekend Warriors" that barely ride above 20mph...are not going to experience the benefits that come with the "Pro" equipment. As many have proven the biggest Aero benefit or deficiency is the Body.

[@TnFruit]

@@WeProvokeThought there are benefits, but they are less if you are slower. Aerodynamic in bicycle begins at about 16km/h. If you have headwind it's earlier. 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@dreyn7780]

Wrong. Endurance racing is about tuning for conservation of energy. Aero racing is about tuning for slip streaming. The aero bike can have aggressive gearing. The endurance bike cannot. Look at the cassette shape, it's linear not compound. Top speed is limited by your effort. You MUST tune these bikes completely different. They're already unique at the beginning and you further tune them away from each other. The more you specialize the tuning the more your ride will expose their unique ride.

[@dreyn7780]

So If you go around a corner in 3rd gear on an old general purpose racing bike, the aero bike will go around that same corner in 2nd gear. The endurance bike will go around that same corner in 4th gear. aero will accelerate quickly but endurance won't. Top speed is whats acceptable for 2021. The 2031 bike will have a greater top speed.

[@user-bj6rf3yx6e]

You are wrong but you cannot accept that cause you already own aero bike more than 8 kilos for many bucks listen now my endurance bike is 7.660 kilo with pedals with 53 teeth cassete and it's significant better than your poor expensive aero bike for the bucks of 2000 euros keep it mind in normal wind I can hold pretty high speed on my bike cause of the crankset