Interesting yet non-scientific survey by GCN of pros and the type of bike they would prefer – aero or light weight. The results were 50/50 but more interesting was that some of the really big hitters opted for lightweight (Sagan, De Gendt). Just one more thing to make you go hmmmm. :thinking:

I think how that aero or light frame is designed and constructed is way more important than how the industry is trying to sell us aero v. light weight. At least that’s what I hear when I talk to good riders. It’s never a grams of drag v. gram thing. Always a handling and a feeling component that …

I’ll admit I drool over some of the Aero bikes but I’m a little bit of a weight weenie deep down.

I feel like aero makes the biggest difference when you aren’t in the peloton, such as a breakaway. So Sagan wouldn’t really find benefit in that. But how much does aero affect the sprint? They are only out in the wind for a short amount of time. I guess it comes down to whatever feels better for som…

Sagan won P-R with a 50km breakaway. But I’m not sure he’d choose to ride a lightweight on the cobbles.

It’s more of a global thought process

My vote would go to light over aero simply because I think weight makes more of an impact at the speeds and type of riding I do but pros running for long periods at say 35+ km/h then aero gains may start to have a noticeable impact. Varied lower speed riding over roling terrain or significant amount…

So the real question is: is “lightweight” synonymous with more comfortable? Are these pros really saying that over 4 - 6 hours, if I’m sitting in the bunch, I feel fresher when I need to go if I’m on a more comfortable bike the whole time? My completely unscientific guess is that this is the reason.…

Plus fully internal cables to clean up the front end. It would be a very interesting experiment to mount aerodynamic sensor (like one of these - Eurobike Aero Roundup: Notio, AeroLab, AeroPod, Swiss Side and other tidbits! | DC Rainmaker ) on pro riders bikes, and see what the trade-off is between r…

Was it when they talked to the Specialized wind tunnel guys on the podcast that they talked about the decisive moment in a race being most important for the pros? Like for a climber, even if there is 200k of flat and raw calculations show that an aero bike would be better for the whole stage, if the…

Aero vs Lightweight -- Pro Survey

Equipment

THowe February 19, 2019, 12:07am 9

I would guess that is probably it, lightweight may just be more comfortable for the amount of time they spend in the saddle every day. I wonder how close you could get to an aero bike if you used a more classic frame and added some deep section wheels and aero drop bars.

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Aero vs Lightweight -- Pro Survey

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Aero vs Lightweight -- Pro Survey

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