Sebastian Schluricke on Aero Testing

Endurance Innovation

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• 4:30 the real, race-tested value of aero testing in pro athletes at 70.3 Maine and IM Hamburg
• 9:45 equipment and tactics required for low-accuracy aero testing (error of +/- 5%)
  • GPS-enabled bike computer
  • Single-sided power meter
  • Any 1000m route
  • Deep wheels
• 11:15 equipment and tactics required for medium-accuracy aero testing (error of +/- 3%). Same as above plus
  • A dedicated speed sensor
  • A test route without strong head / tail wind and minimal traffic
  • Low-depth wheels
  • Dual-sided power meter
• 15:00 equipment and tactics required for high-accuracy aero testing (error of +/- <2%). Same as above plus
  • Crank-based power meter
  • Excellent position control
• 15:15 the value of an accurate power meter
• 21:45 test route analysis on Aerotune
• 23:45 difference in testing outdoors vs in the velodrome
• 24:45 learning to hold position
• 39:30 improving testing accuracy without buying new sensors
  • Use the 1000m testing option
  • Repeat your setups more times
  • Find a test route with some solid tree cover
• 43:00 faster tires = immediate, substantial speed gains
• 46:45 confounding possibilities during testing
  • Unstable body position
• 48:00 listener Q: how much do beards affect aero drag?
• 50:30 listener Q: what can you test if you only have one helmet and one suit?
  • Leave saddle alone
  • Front end stack
  • Front end reach
  • Pad width (distance between pads)
  • Head position
  • Hip rotation
  • Shoulder shrug
  • Just start testing!
  • Test with your friends / teammates
• 59:00 aero implications of bottle placement on a road bike
  • Results here

For more context, have a listen to our first chat with Sebastian and also the one with his partner Bjorn Kafka. Check out the platform and do your own testing.