*Tour Aero Bike Tests*

[timmerrr]

Call me crazy for not demoing one, but 99% certain I'm going with the S5D. Should be ordering tomorrow...

I loved my S5 so much, it just needed to be a little more compliant, which I hear the new model is.

Can confirm the S5D is in the same league of compliance as my friends XR4 which is pretty good. The one thing I'm most impressed in coming from my old bike is how well it cuts road chatter. On small bumps, cracks and chip seal the bike is really smooth.

[Kazyole]

Talking about aero frames and disc brakes...
Tirreno-Adriatico 2019 top five:
1. semi aero frame, rim brakes
2. non aero frame, rim brakes
3. non aero frame, rim brakes
4. non aero frame, rim brakes
5. non aero frame, rim brakes

Dont think anyone of us will be racing World Tour stage races anytime soon though. May be a more relatable comparison is bikes won in single stages and classic races? For sure if I race WT stage race with the chance to win I would be riding the lightest bike possible as to not hinder my chance on the most critical moments (steep climb).

For me the lesson is that you should probably get the bike that accentuates what you're best at. If the difference between an aero and a non-aero frame over 3 hours and 15 minutes on flat ground is 2 minutes, it's negligible enough that you should pick the bike that helps you win the way that you would win, or the job you would have to do. So if you're a climber, you should be riding a bike right at the weight limit. Or if you're not racing, considerably under it. If you're a breakaway specialist who spends a lot of time in the wind, or a guy working at the front to chase down the break for a teammate, you should probably be on an aero frame.

The especially crazy part for me is that the 2-4 minute gap is for a single rider riding alone for over three hours. In a race situation sitting 20 riders back in a group the difference that your frame is going to make is going to be infinitely smaller. Which is why I think we still see a lot of protected riders racing lightweight frames. They need the bike that is the absolute best for the time that they're in the wind, and for whatever the critical moment will be of the race they're running. Which is why you have a guy like Tom Dumoulin a world time trial champion who obviously values aerodynamics, riding a TCR the entire Giro (or this year I suspect an R5).

For us mortals, I don't really care if I get home 2 minutes earlier on my weekend solo ride so I'll get the bike that I like the best. That feels the best for me, accentuates what I'm good at, and that makes me want to get out and ride it the most. In my life that's a weightweenie build. I'm not winning a Grand Tour anyway. I just want to enjoy riding my bike.

[wheelsONfire]

+1

[RyanH]

For a stage race, you're going to want the bike that you're most comfortable on. Not just compliance wise but also handling and other nuanced characteristics. For example, the Bianchi XR4 seemed a little more twitchy with Corima MCC wheels than the Focus (meaning, every time I descended downhill, particularly in a straight line, I was aware of the front end whereas the Focus was dead stable). Dealing with a twitchy front end on speeds exceeding 70k multiple times a day and days on end would end up creating additional stress/fatigue.

At the end of the day though, buy what you like the most. You're not going to get dropped (or begin dropping people) because of your bike. Trust me, I can string a large group ride out just as well (maybe for a little shorter duration) with a Litespeed Classic and Nemesis wheels (read: as unaero as a brick) as I can on your latest wonder bike. Why? Because regardless of bike, I can get up to or over 48kph (52kph is usually the magic number when all hell breaks loose) and hold that for at least a couple to few minutes regardless of equipment and most cyclists, even if sucking wheel, struggle with that.

[spdntrxi]

yep..

I cant climb with a 12lb bike and yes a little worse on a 16lb one
I ride solo often enough so aero is important
If I was to race (again) in a team environment, I would be a sprinter but not likely to make it to end if there is any climbing involved so likely I'd work closing down stuff more then anything.

obvioulsy Aero is the proper choice for me and I like the way they look

[Stueys]

The Specialized guys and Cervelo both summed it up really well.

Specialized on a recent trainerrod podcast said that the Pro's chose their bikes based on when they think the decisive race moment will be, so if it's a GC climb that's going to be the key moment they will go for the lightweight climbing bike, even if that's the slower bike for 98% of the course. If it's going to be faster on the 2 miles it matters then that drives the selection. They themselves have messed this equation up slightly by making the Venge pretty close to the Tarmac weight wise, their comment was that Sagan might take the Tarmac if he wasn't chasing anything as it was just a more comfortable place to spend 6 hours.

Cervelo a few years ago said that they didn't understand why the R series bike sold so well as the S bike was always the faster option. They figured that people liked the classic look of the bike more.

[Calnago]

Let's not rely too heavily on what Specialized PR folks say the reasons are for the pros choices, and double especially when it comes from Specialized. Lest not we forget midway through 2017 Tour de France, when Marcel Kittel had been thumping the disc brake Venge to a victory sprint or two. But when one of those "key moments" actually came, midway through the tour when there was the real potential of not making the time limit on a wet mountainous stage, where you'd think discs would really help, and of course aero is always a win, guess which bike he rolled out with... an old Tarmac with rim brakes. Damn the marketers. Anyway, just keeping things in perspective here. Completely agree that the bike you're most comfortable on is the one that is, in the long run, the one you'll want to keep around.
And there was a funny comment earlier saying " I ride solo often enough so aero is important". I had to chuckle, because of course I knew what he was saying, but on the other hand I was thinking... "Huh? Why? You're alone, who are you trying to beat?" But he likes the look of it, so that's cool too. I could never live with an ugly bike either, but that's pretty subjective and individual.

[spdntrxi]

Let's not rely too heavily on what Specialized PR folks say the reasons are for the pros choices, and double especially when it comes from Specialized. Lest not we forget midway through 2017 Tour de France, when Marcel Kittel had been thumping the disc brake Venge to a victory sprint or two. But when one of those "key moments" actually came, midway through the tour when there was the real potential of not making the time limit on a wet mountainous stage, where you'd think discs would really help, and of course aero is always a win, guess which bike he rolled out with... an old Tarmac with rim brakes. Damn the marketers. Anyway, just keeping things in perspective here. Completely agree that the bike you're most comfortable on is the one that is, in the long run, the one you'll want to keep around.
And there was a funny comment earlier saying " I ride solo often enough so aero is important". I had to chuckle, because of course I knew what he was saying, but on the other hand I was thinking... "Huh? Why? You're alone, who are you trying to beat?" But he likes the look of it, so that's cool too. I could never live with an ugly bike either, but that's pretty subjective and individual.

always trying to beat myself Cal... or atleast stay stagnant with my times as I get OAF

[Calnago]

Yeah, I was going to add that... "who are you trying to beat, yourself?" lol. Good for you. That's probably the biggest reason I like powermeters (and heartrate) these days myself. When you ride all the time with one, you get pretty in tune with things, say an average day for a hill, a good day, a bad day, etc. I think over time, it will be nice to know that stuff to compare going forward, not for training or racing, just to sort of take stock of how things are on this lovely day compared to what I remember last year, or 5 years ago. Not really forcing me to do anything about it, just nice to know, and maybe feel good if I improve, or pass on the donut if I'm not. Hell, skip the last part... I'm never passing on the donut. Hmmm... perhaps if I had an aero bike I would be so fast as to get there with enough time to spare to indulge in two!

[AJS914]

I used to think that aero for my riding was meaningless but I've come around. I started doing fast group rides again plus I'm riding with guys decades younger. A full aero bike plus aero helmet and tight fitting aero kit is worth like 70+ watts at faster speeds. It's enormous advantage. Or, if you are sucking wind and trying to hold a cat 1s wheel it's an enormous help.

I also recently moved to a flat area so a weight weenie bike is useless here.

I've been eyeing the Madone since it has the ISO speed and would be perfect on the rough roads around here but I still can't wrap my mind around spending $8 or $10K on a new bike when I already have four nice bikes. I split the difference and bought some 50mm aero wheels and I just picked up a ballista helmet (worth 10 watts). The next new bike I buy will probably be an aero bike.

[diegogarcia]

Conversly, I remember meeting a Specialized guy at a bike show, Dave Alexander the UK dandy SBCU guy, quite the thespian. He said that they felt a rider should buy a bike to mask a weakness on a bike. Can't climb ? A Tarmac will help. Not so powerful on the flat ? A Venge will do it and so on.

This was back in 2011 however Gen 1 Venge and the waters have been muddied since then with psudeo aero frames now in production - Tarmac, R5, F8/10 et al.

The other caveat to this is how some bikes simply just 'feel' fast. My SL TCR does not 'feel' fast on the flat overall yet going up, it feels like a rocket ship.

[Calnago]

Conversly, I remember meeting a Specialized guy at a bike show, Dave Alexander the UK dandy SBCU guy, quite the thespian. He said that they felt a rider should buy a bike to mask a weakness on a bike. Can't climb ? A Tarmac will help. Not so powerful on the flat ? A Venge will do it and so on.

Well that settles it then, at least for me. I need an all-rounder, so I’m good .

[guyc]

Ditto!!

[diegogarcia]

Conversly, I remember meeting a Specialized guy at a bike show, Dave Alexander the UK dandy SBCU guy, quite the thespian. He said that they felt a rider should buy a bike to mask a weakness on a bike. Can't climb ? A Tarmac will help. Not so powerful on the flat ? A Venge will do it and so on.

Well that settles it then, at least for me. I need an all-rounder, so I’m good .

Me too. Sacked off all the crap and invested my hard earned beautiful wifes money into an Emonda SLR with Bontrager XXX 47mm wheels

Best bike I have ever owned.

Til the next one

[KarlC]

I used to think that aero for my riding was meaningless but I've come around. I started doing fast group rides again plus I'm riding with guys decades younger. A full aero bike plus aero helmet and tight fitting aero kit is worth like 70+ watts at faster speeds. It's enormous advantage. Or, if you are sucking wind and trying to hold a cat 1s wheel it's an enormous help.

I also recently moved to a flat area so a weight weenie bike is useless here.

I've been eyeing the Madone since it has the ISO speed and would be perfect on the rough roads around here but I still can't wrap my mind around spending $8 or $10K on a new bike when I already have four nice bikes. I split the difference and bought some 50mm aero wheels and I just picked up a ballista helmet (worth 10 watts). The next new bike I buy will probably be an aero bike.

Whatttttttt ? 70+ Watts reallyyyy ??

.