- In a recent video we talked about how much of a benefit
you could get by getting more aero on your bike
even when you are climbing.
However, that was using an online bike calculator.
- That's right.
So we decided that we'd actually better come
and test it out in real life so we've come back
to the very same climb Cheddar Gorge in the UK
and to see exactly whether or not it was right.
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How are we going to test this then?
Well to put it simply we're each
going to ride up the climb twice.
The first time riding on the tops,
so in a really upright position,
and the second time in the most aero position we can manage.
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Here we go then, run one.
We're riding at different prearranged power outputs.
Dan is holding 290 watts and I am going to try for 350.
And as you can see, this is the non-aero run.
The climb itself is 3.3 kilometres long
at a gradient of 5%.
Oi stop sniggering, that's actually pretty long for the UK.
It's very much a climb of two halves though
so the bottom kilometre is an average of 8%
with one section up to 17% whereas the top is just 3%.
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(sighing)
Run number one.
Non-aero, feels a bit weird doing that.
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Right then, run number two, aero.
We are riding two very different bikes
as I'm sure you've noticed.
I've got my Canyon Aeroad with Zipp 454s,
all about aerodynamics.
And then Dan is on his Orbea Orca
with lightweight DT Swiss 1400 wheels.
Is that gonna affect the results?
Data is collected in the same way on both bikes though
with Quarq Dzero Powermeters and Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt head units.
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Now as usual, with the results we've got to give
a little shout out to your Wahoo head unit.
These also have been beamed instantaneously
to our phones to be analysed.
Dan, what are you?
- Well I got a little bit carried away on the steep section
at the start when I was in the aero position
so I did four watts more and I saved five seconds.
And on the second bit I did do exactly the same
so 287 on the second part both times
and saved a further nine seconds so in total
that's a saving of 14 seconds so roughly actually
what the bike calculator predicted.
- Really, because I didn't have such good results actually,
I was only nine seconds faster for all the extra effort
that going aero entails.
And so my conclusion on that is although I was quicker
I wouldn't bother to go fully aero.
I'd compromise somewhere between the two
and ride in my preferred position holding on to the hoods.
- Yeah, I was gonna say that I found the second run
a lot harder than the first one.
I don't think I'm used to being in an aero position
quite as much anymore now that I no longer need
to go as fast as I possibly can everywhere I go on a bike.
I do wonder whether had I just gone as hard as I could
on both runs, I would've been a lot faster
in my normal position because I'd have been more comfortable
putting out more power.
- Yeah, I think probably that would've been the case.
There you go then, conclusion.
Aero is important but it's not everything when climbing.
- Although, we should mention it once again,
we caught Cheddar Gorge with a distinct tail wind
up the climb so maybe that skewed the results.
Possibly we could revisit with a headwind at some point.
- Let's have a rest first shall we?
- Right, if you would like to subscribe to GCN
just click on the globe somewhere on the screen right now
and then here's two more videos for you.
Just down here is our experiment to see
how much difference body weight makes
when you're on a climb.
- Yeah, or what about bike weight?
Can you buy yourself more speed when climbing?
That one is just down there.