It’s obvious that pushing through the wind is the biggest chore whilst riding to work, but I had no idea that lowering my stem height could yield a potential 5% decrease in drag.

I’d often thought that some kind of small fairing in front of the bars could aid my average speeds, but it appears not. I found the following article interesting so thought others may fancy a look…

http://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/aerodynamics-of-real-world-bicycles/

Think I’ll be working on my tuck position!

but I had no idea that lowering my stem height could yield a potential 5% decrease in drag.

Or it could mean you’ll use the drops more and reduce your drag.

Or it could mean you’ll use the drops more and reduce your drag.

Arms either side of the stem is even better.

It’s even better if you stare at your stem.

I was going to suggest doing a bit of Chris Froome stem staring for an added reduction, but the honeybadger beat me to it.

Or it could mean you’ll use the drops more and reduce your drag.

or not, i seem to remember Garmin coming out with numbers that riding on the tops can be more aero than the drops. It is todo with the angle and position of your arms and hands.

If you want to go aero, sort the riders position and clothing they are the biggest problem.

But baggy clothes are the uniform; how will people know you’re a mountain biker? 😉

Yes, I think it’s more frontal area on the arms if you’re on the drops. If you can get your body in a good aero position on the tops then it’s meant to be better. I guess some people’s chest drops down more when they’re on the drops making them more aero overall. Mine doesn’t move that much and it always feels faster on the hoods.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXphEuZF6aU[/video]

Mmm, couldn’t find anything in the text about those tights though – they look like a 40000% increase in drag

I always thought that i was most aero on the drops but actually i’m more aero with hands on the hoods and elbows dropped (and that’s with a -17 stem slammed). Its surprisingly comfy, but if i don’t fancy that, then dropping my elbows when i’m on the drops helps a lot (ie in the wind in a chaingang)

The thing I’ve found is that riding with hands on the hoods, forearms basically horizontal is quite comfy for a sustained period, you are at least supporting your upped body weight well on your arms, eventually you will have to shift back to the drops, but it works for a reasonable amount of time, just riding on the drops is still better significantly than sitting up holding the the tops, the most physically comfortable, least tiring / stressful position is unfortunately also the least aerodynamic and does incur noticeable drag I find…

Holding on either side of the stem (as I’ve seen some do) I really don’t find anything like as good comfort wise, you might have a marginally reduced frontal profile but you don’t support your upper body weight as well, and just end up a bit more fatigued…

Beyond that you’re probably looking at clip on tri bars if you want more a more aero, sustainable position, which might be OTT for most commuters…

of course the most “Aero” position is no good if it’s also an increased stress position, there’s a balance to be struck between drag and discomfort… IMO of course, I ain’t no TTer though…

Real world aerodynamics works, a winter ride with chaps wearing baggy waterproof tops that flap in the wind convinced me; I was quicker downhills and when we turned around into the wind to come home, I was quicker uphill too when I would normally have been well behind.

It was a day so windy that we climbed back on the drops…

Get rid of your helmet, easy 5% there.

fourbanger Get rid of your helmet, easy 5% there.

You sir, have obviously not seen my afro.

Get a swimming cap over it!

Don’t forget to tape your ears back.

And gaffer tape your nostrils.

a winter ride with chaps

Young man,that’s where you’re going wrong

Surely the real answer is “recumbent”.

Only if the question is ‘Where would you most like to find a drunken Alex Kingston wearing her best nightie?’.

i think when your on the drops, the straight arm downwards counter the benefit of your slightly lower body profile.

I agree with the comments that arms bent so the forearm is horizontal when holding the hoods is the best aero position for commuting work and grinding against the wind.

I do sometimes put a set of tri-bars on the commuter from time to time. I reckon that if your grinding against a strong wind, then the difference between sitting up and holding the hoods and leaned forward with arms on the tri bars equates to between 1 and 2 mph at the same effort. The flip side is that over a period its a bit harder to sustain the tri-bar position.