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How much aerodynamic penalty? (pic)

NorthCascades
NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
This is a cool mounting system to keep your bars clean, but what does it cost in terms of air resistance? Anybody have a guess?

DSC_1603_thumb.jpg

Replies

  • scoii
    scoii Posts: 160 Member
    I wouldn't think nit much more than the same kit mounted on the bars, given they are directly in front of the stem as well, it could be better than bar mounting.

    A professional racer may care but anything below elite would struggle to tell i would guess.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    I'm used to keeping my Garmin on the stem, like in the pic below. Lately I just use a wrist watch unless I'm doing intervals. I keep a headlight mount on my bars permanently and take the light on and off as needed. I guess that's what I need to compare against.

    But a vote for negligible is good news to me. :smile: I'd prefer to move the light off the bars. Thanks @scoii for your input!

    29500020115_5a23f95248_o_d.jpg
  • JetJaguar
    JetJaguar Posts: 801 Member
    Practically negligible. Might even be slightly better since the GPS is more directly in your sightline, so you don't have to tip your head down as far to read it and can stay in an aero position longer. Unless you're competing for a TT world championship, I wouldn't sweat it.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Probably less than a five watt differences one way or another.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    What a view!
  • richardpkennedy1
    richardpkennedy1 Posts: 1,890 Member
    Negligible
  • scorpio516
    scorpio516 Posts: 955 Member
    Wahoo claims the new element bolt with its aero mount saves 1.5W (12.6s over a 40k TT) vs either an edge or regular element.

    That light is gonna cost a lot more. 5-7w would be my guess.

    But the bigger question is why you are racing with a 800 lumen light out front :smiley:
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    It's minimal. Triathletes use that location for bottles pretty frequently because it's so efficient (compared to other locations).
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Shave your legs and you will have negated the extra drag - does depend whereabouts you are on the "Chewbacca Scale" though..

    http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/shave-seconds-shaved-legs-2-136525
  • scorpio516
    scorpio516 Posts: 955 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    It's minimal. Triathletes use that location for bottles pretty frequently because it's so efficient (compared to other locations).

    It's efficient between the bars because your arms are up there. You don't race on the hoods ;) . that and it's easy to drink out of without leaving aero
  • JetJaguar
    JetJaguar Posts: 801 Member
    Yup. When I used to do tri's, I had a bottle between my aerobars mainly so I could drink without leaving my aero tuck.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Thanks, everybody!

    I'm not racing, just wondering how this will affect things. I'd like to get the light mount off my bars, but I don't really want to spend the money, and "it'll slow you down!" is a good excuse not to. :smile:
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    What a view!

    :smile:
This discussion has been closed.

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