Aero bikes and the Pro peloton...

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parajba
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Location: London, United Kingdom

by parajba

Why is it that professional cyclists don’t use aero bikes when racing? If they were so superior surely they would be all over it, regardless of the fact that they draft in a large pack etc.
I own a Cervelo R3 and a Cervelo S2 from 2010 and the R3 rides much better than the S2.
I am thinking about my next bike, was almost set on a Venge or Aeroad, but I am not convinced anymore and I might go back to a ‘traditional’ bike, perhaps the Tarmac SL6, Canyon Ultimate, Cervelo R5 or a BMC.

They successfully adopted aero wheels, aero helmets but the frame is not happening.

Thoughts?

Hexsense
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by Hexsense

My guess:
1.) Win are gain on the climb more than on flat. It's hard to have succesful break away in flat when they aren't head and shoulder stronger than others. You stay with the pack most of the time. Maybe Aero bike is good for sprinting time but not much for staying with the group. Climbing hill is a different story, the group tear up easily. So bikes that give more advantage on steep hill is preferable.
2.) Comfort. They ride few hundreds km per day for multiple days, up to 3/4 of the month in a row in grand tour. Whatever they feel most comfortable with is preferable.
Last edited by Hexsense on Tue Nov 27, 2018 11:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Noctiluxx
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by Noctiluxx

Other than Team Lotto Jumbo which prefers the Aero XR4 over Specialissima no other team use their aero bikes frequently.
Bianchi Oltre XR4, De Rosa SK Pininfarina, Trek Madone SLR, Giant TCR Advanced SL, Cervelo R5 Disk, Giant Revolt

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taodemon
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by taodemon

I thought I saw several riders on the new venge or on the madone on this past tours flat stages. When they hit the mountains most seem to abandon the aero bikes though. I'm pretty sure all of the sprint stages both quickstep and bora won were on the new venge. GC guys in general I don't see switching up bikes all that often. That said, I think all of Sky ride the F10 which is an "aero" bike.

TobinHatesYou
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by TobinHatesYou

Parcours matters. Even on a flat stage with climb at the end, most GC types will pick the light bike. A breakaway artist might choose an aero bike. On a pure climbing stage, especially one with very steep grades, the lightest bikes win out. On a pan flat stage, you should go aero, though anyone that finishes with the peloton will receive minimal gains. Mat Hayman notably won Paris-Roubaix on a Foil in 2016.

The 6.8kg lower limit compounds things. Semi-aero bikes like the Dogma F10 and Tarmac are both at the weight limit and decently aero. As already mentioned Jumbo uses the XR4 in the mountains...I guess the Specialissima really isn’t that light?

Noctiluxx
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by Noctiluxx

TobinHatesYou wrote:
Tue Nov 27, 2018 11:21 pm
Parcours matters. Even on a flat stage with climb at the end, most GC types will pick the light bike. A breakaway artist might choose an aero bike. On a pure climbing stage, especially one with very steep grades, the lightest bikes win out. On a pan flat stage, you should go aero, though anyone that finishes with the peloton will receive minimal gains. Mat Hayman notably won Paris-Roubaix on a Foil in 2016.

The 6.8kg lower limit compounds things. Semi-aero bikes like the Dogma F10 and Tarmac are both at the weight limit and decently aero. As already mentioned Jumbo uses the XR4 in the mountains...I guess the Specialissima really isn’t that light?
The Specilissima is very light with a 750 gram frame weight and super stiff. Thats why its preplexing it rarely gets used.
Bianchi Oltre XR4, De Rosa SK Pininfarina, Trek Madone SLR, Giant TCR Advanced SL, Cervelo R5 Disk, Giant Revolt

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silvalis
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by silvalis

I've always assumed that the XR4 just rides better.
Chasse patate

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wheelsONfire
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by wheelsONfire

taodemon wrote:
Tue Nov 27, 2018 11:12 pm
I thought I saw several riders on the new venge or on the madone on this past tours flat stages. When they hit the mountains most seem to abandon the aero bikes though. I'm pretty sure all of the sprint stages both quickstep and bora won were on the new venge. GC guys in general I don't see switching up bikes all that often. That said, I think all of Sky ride the F10 which is an "aero" bike.
Riding Pinarello, what else could they ride?
Only other choice is F10 Light.
Bikes:

Ax Lightness Vial EVO Race (2019.01.03)
Open *UP* (2016.04.14)
Paduano Racing Fidia (kind of shelved)


Ex bike; Vial EVO D, Vial EVO Ultra, Scott Foil, Paduano ti bike.

spdntrxi
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by spdntrxi

Primarely in the TDF in front of a bigger audience (cameras)... (except for Lotto Jumbo, who ride them all the time as Noctiluxx stated) The Colnago equipped team was also on V2-R primarily as well and ofcourse Sky with F10's.
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LeDuke
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by LeDuke

Did the OP and I watch a different TdF?

I’m fairly certain aero bikes were ridden to 7 stage wins. Maybe 8.




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alcatraz
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by alcatraz

Aero bikes don't feel as good on longer rides probably.

Probably has to do a lot with road quality too. If conditions were perfect and stages below 3h maybe aero would win.

In a peloton aero doesn't matter as much.

MMW
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by MMW

But the Venge is only like 200g heavier than 6,8kg, and you could probably WW it down, whit shallower wheels, lighter bar tape....


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diegogarcia
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by diegogarcia

Aero has been lost in marketing translation. In reality, the bikes are no faster. But they are being sold to all as such. The word they should use is effort. An aero bike might take 10-30 watts less than a non aero bike over any given stage which as we all know might give a rider the kick over the line feeling marginally fresher, but in reality do it all bikes, Tarmac, R5, Emonda, C64 and co are just a more rounded better riding bike which is why they likely ride them. As discussed on here 'low hanging fruit' helmet, kit, bars, wheels all help a regular bike. Also back in 2014 I was riding a Defy SL which was a great bike and certainly trumped all over an aero bike for poor road performance moving forward, not skipping from side to side in motion.

Also despite us all knowing someone who cites an aero bike as being a 'really good' or 'good' climbing bike, once you have ridden uphill on Tarmac, Emonda, R5 and co you realise how poor aero bikes are going up ^. Like dragging a led weight at the back wheel....

izza
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by izza

1) The pros ride what they are told to ride

2) what are the aero benefits of any bike in the middle of a 100 person Peloton?


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mattr
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by mattr

3) most pros ride bikes significantly over the 6.8kilo limit anyway.

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