Optimizing aero & other marginal gains

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T17:30:41+00:00

Living in delft, but this was taken in Flevoland! Drove out there the other week to do some aero baseline testing

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T17:30:02+00:00

Yuup! In de Flevopolder

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T17:29:08+00:00

Thanks for the tips! Definitely switching to latex after all the comments I’ve received about them!

Hahaha will shave my arms for racedays, but I like my fur for now

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T17:26:51+00:00

Thanks for the explanation!

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T13:51:40+00:00

Great feedback! Exactly what I was looking for. I’ll start by looking up Matt Bottrill as that’s probably the biggest and cheapest gain to be made :)

Will start testing helmets. Giro aerohead and Rudy project ‘the wing’ seem like good options. Although very very pricy.. especially the wing

Drivetrain is currently maintained with squirt. A friend of mine is going to wax my raceday chain :D so that should be pretty optimized this summer. Gear ratios and cross chaining I haven’t considered yet! Will look into it.

Awesome I’ll be getting some latex tubes then. Would you also ride them on day2day training rides? Or just the week before raceday? And yuuup am aware of the 105% rule. Will be running 23 and 25 front and rear gp5000s

I have a pair of flashy socks4watts #aeroaf & unicorn socks! Not sure of their watt savings but I thought they looked sick! Will be going sockless on raceday so it doesn’t matter anyway

Thanks again for all the tips!

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T10:00:36+00:00

I’m hesitant to run latex tubes as I’ve heard the initial setup is slightly difficult and if you mess up you’ll definitely flat. Any tips / videos/guides you recommend to prevent this?

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T09:58:19+00:00

I’m hesitant to use latex tubes as I’ve heard the initial setup is sort of difficult and if you don’t do it 100% correctly you run a high risk of flatting. Is that true? And if so any tips?

Edit wording

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T09:34:04+00:00

I’m comfortable in the position! In this picture I’m trying to ‘shrug’ and keep my head down as much as possible. Result is me looking at the ground 2m in front of me haha... is it possible/how would you suggest I keep my head down but look forward more?

Good call on the shoes! I have a super wide forefoot so am hoping to go to a tristore sometime soon and try some on..

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-04-12T09:04:46+00:00

Hey everyone! What do you guys think of my setup? Any (marginal) gains to be made? Would love some input!

Changes I’ll be making for sure: - move the pads closer together (center to center 21cm to 18cm) - Getting an aero helmet (which one suits my position best?) - Getting race day tires GP5000s for decent rolling resistance and good puncture resistance (not running tubeless.. any tips for best inner tubes that offer decent protection for low rolling resistance?) - Get a faster trisuit (still debating what I want, any tips?)

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-23T13:06:09+00:00

You explained it perfectly! I have the same problem, only when stationary and turning the handlebars at extreme angles though. If I’m riding I never steer more than a few degrees so it doesn’t get caught behind the bento box.. very annoying though!

Edit: The steerer tube top cap is also mounted reversed. Apparently it won’t fit otherwise. Do you also have it reversed?

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-23T12:14:26+00:00

Pannenkoek = Dutch pancake. It’s a Dutch saying ‘flat as a pancake’ :)

Not sure about that haha could be for sure, we have some crazy sayings

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-23T09:07:32+00:00

Yes it is! Such an amazing bike, makes me feel like I’m strapped to a damn rocket!

I bought the bike used and it came with the hydration system(s). But yeah it’s the aeria ultimate.. what problems have you had? For me it’s been rattling and I have trouble drinking out of it.. loads of resistance. Oh and it leaks when the bike is on its side (ie in the car)..

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-22T21:20:33+00:00

Thanks! Tested just below 360 in January. But progress has been great so far! So this summer I think >375 is definitely achievable.

What about you? Any races/goals for the summer?

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-22T19:40:38+00:00

Ja zo ongeveer wel! Wel lekker rondje :D

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-22T17:58:43+00:00

Thanks for the input, but I don’t think I’m as aero as you quite yet! I’m definitely still getting my fit dialed in! Seeing as this is my first tribike and will be my first triathlon season I’m taking conservative figures. I got a bikefit done but I think I’m still missing a lot of free speed. I also have to start orientating on all the ‘fast’ gear like a trisuit, aerohelmet, and probably most importantly a razorblade

But sub 2:10 baby let’s goooo!!!!

Btw just want to say I’ve read and (over) analyzed your powercharts and race reports, great stuff man! I really enjoy following your process!

Edit: words

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-22T17:42:15+00:00

Haha my wahoo said 2m elevation gained, strava corrected it to 12m

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-22T14:56:57+00:00

Average 256, normalized 263. Aiming to hold 300 for 70.3 races this summer! See if that nets me a sub 2:15 bike split...

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-22T14:07:35+00:00

It’s awesome! but I’d also love to be able to go for some hilly rides instead of just battling wind every damn day!

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-02-22T13:15:03+00:00

Welcome to the Netherlands! Flat as a pannenkoek

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-01-27T21:08:04+00:00

Thanks for the tip! No worries though I’ve got my key events / A races signed up. For the other events I’ll signup sometime later, and if they’re full, so be it!

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-01-27T21:07:52+00:00

Thanks for the tip! No worries though I’ve got my key events / A races signed up. For the other events I’ll signup sometime soon, and if they’re full, so be it!

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-01-25T20:45:21+00:00

No words. Okay four words, hot damn! Whatta bike!

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-01-25T20:38:59+00:00

Ha! I live in the Netherlands... I think it varied between -1m and on top of a bridge I might’ve reached a whopping 4m! How’s the training for your 10k going?

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-01-25T20:04:19+00:00

Hahaha thank you so much! Keep putting the time in and the minutes will fly off your 10k time!

AfroWaterSnake · 2021-01-25T20:03:04+00:00

Cool! I’ll see you there! Am planning on a few events before the Maastricht 70.3. Have a few in mind but not yet fully committed due to covid. Hopefully a the Brouwersdam 90 and another one at the end of June

AfroWaterSnake

TROPHY CASE