General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ? Rss Feed  
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2008-04-05 3:06 PM

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Veteran
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Subject: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
This should be an interesting topic – Aero Helmet or Wheel Cover. I’m doing a OLY this year and wanted to toss a few $$ trying to improve my bike time. I just bought a B-12 and had a fitting, so the next “upgrade” I would like to do needs to be a “bang for the buck” purchase. I see the Aero Helmets going for $150 or so and the Wheel covers going for $75.

The Question – What will give me a faster time over 25 miles ?


2008-04-05 3:14 PM
in reply to: #1317807

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
I would get the helmet.  Really a front aero wheel is more important than the rear I have heard so really putting a disk on the back probably won't save you much time.  BTW, you can get an Aero helmet for less than $150.  I think I got mine for around $80 but it is the least aero of the LG's.
2008-04-05 3:20 PM
in reply to: #1317807

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?

Save your $....train harder.  

 Seriously though, over a 25 mile course there isn't going be a huge time savings. Plus it also depends on the course itself. Is it flat or hilly? If you have to come out of the aero position to contend with hills then the effectiveness of the helmet decreases.

What I would do is buy the wheel cover and then take some packing tape and cover the vent holes in your present helmet. It's been said that covering the holes gets you about ~75% as much drag reduction as a real aero helmet. Ain't as pretty or sexy but it's cheap. 

2008-04-05 3:48 PM
in reply to: #1317807

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Master
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
Just rode my wheel cover for the first time today... LOVED it.

Have no idea really how much faster it made me, but I felt fast as heck
2008-04-05 4:13 PM
in reply to: #1317807

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Cycling Guru
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
A disc wheel (or wheel cover in this case) will give you more of a time advantage.  The reason people say to get the aero helmet over a disc is that FOR THE MONEY SPENT the benefit of the aero helmet is more.  But a disc rear will gain you more time overall.
2008-04-05 4:21 PM
in reply to: #1317807

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
Go with the helmet. I am saying this because for a disk wheel to even get much benefit you have to be going at least 26miles per hour.


2008-04-05 4:33 PM
in reply to: #1317807

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?

Actually there's an article right here on BT that addresses the aero wheel question.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1099

2008-04-05 4:56 PM
in reply to: #1317876

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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?

Triboy77 - 2008-04-05 4:21 PM Go with the helmet. I am saying this because for a disk wheel to even get much benefit you have to be going at least 26miles per hour.

This sounds pretty definite, do you have a source for this? It's my understanding that aero is aero, in fact slower riders get more of a benefit simply because they're out on the course longer.

2008-04-05 5:03 PM
in reply to: #1317923

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Cycling Guru
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?

Now that's an atypical Bear response .......... must be a nice day in the bayou .....

2008-04-05 5:05 PM
in reply to: #1317891

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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
peby - 2008-04-05 5:33 PM

Actually there's an article right here on BT that addresses the aero wheel question.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1099

Even though it was an interesting read, I still put little credence in everything I read on that when it came out.  There are plenty of other articles on the topic that are a lot more scientific and wind tunnel/road tested.

2008-04-05 6:11 PM
in reply to: #1317934

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Master
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?


2008-04-05 6:23 PM
in reply to: #1317876

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
Triboy77 - 2008-04-05 4:21 PM

Go with the helmet. I am saying this because for a disk wheel to even get much benefit you have to be going at least 26miles per hour.


Oh good grief. I thought this bit of conventional wisdom was bad enough when the number thrown around was closer to 20 mph. 26 mph? Are you kidding?

So since none of the pros even ride at this speed, none of them should be riding a disk?

Everyone benefits from aerodynamics, regardless of speed. Faster riders save a larger percentage of time. Slower riders save a larger absolute amount of time.
2008-04-05 7:11 PM
in reply to: #1318018

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2008-04-05 7:14 PM
in reply to: #1318076

Bob
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
JeepFleeb - 2008-04-05 8:11 PM

dgunthert - 2008-04-05 6:23 PM
Triboy77 - 2008-04-05 4:21 PM
Go with the helmet. I am saying this because for a disk wheel to even get much benefit you have to be going at least 26miles per hour.

Oh good grief. I thought this bit of conventional wisdom was bad enough when the number thrown around was closer to 20 mph. 26 mph? Are you kidding? So since none of the pros even ride at this speed, none of them should be riding a disk? Everyone benefits from aerodynamics, regardless of speed. Faster riders save a larger percentage of time. Slower riders save a larger absolute amount of time.

x2 for Dennis. Everyone is affected by aerodynamics, regardless of how fast you go.

For the question at hand: wheel cover. It's the better choice because it will always work. Aero helmets are dependent on the design of the helmet and the position of the individual rider.

It's entirely possible that a given aero helmet could be less aero than a given road helmet. I've tested the LG Rocket (old version) and the Giro Advantage 2 in a wind tunnel and they both created more drag than my road helmet.

Stay tuned for the BT video article.

Excellent point Aaron!!! The wind tunnel must have been an awesome experience!! 

2008-04-05 7:19 PM
in reply to: #1317816

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2008-04-05 7:59 PM
in reply to: #1318094

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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?

JeepFleeb - 2008-04-05 7:19 PM
peby - 2008-04-05 3:20 PM
...then take some packing tape and cover the vent holes in your present helmet. It's been said that covering the holes gets you about ~75% as much drag reduction as a real aero helmet. Ain't as pretty or sexy but it's cheap. 

Bear, would this be considered a 'fairing' or 'additional equipment to reduce wind resistance' under the USAT rules?

Eh, that rule says there must be "no protective shield, faring, or other device on any part of the bicycle (including frame, wheels, handlebars, chain wheel and accessories) which has the effect of reducing reistance." Tape on the helmet would be a pretty picky interpretation of those rules, but I'll ask the muckity mucks up above and let you know what they say.

I have seen people tape up the valve stem access hole on their disc wheel, too.



2008-04-05 9:31 PM
in reply to: #1317807

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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
Riding more will make you faster.
2008-04-06 5:15 AM
in reply to: #1318287

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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?

PintoRacer - 2008-04-05 9:31 PM Riding more will make you faster.

Well duh. I don't think anyone asks these types of questions wondering if equipment will make you faster than training. The question here, rather, is: after you ride more, will you be faster racing with a Wheel Cover or with an Aero Helmet?

2008-04-06 6:32 AM
in reply to: #1318523

Elite
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?

Daremo - Now that's an atypical Bear response .......... must be a nice day in the bayou .....

PintoRacer - Riding more will make you faster.

the bear - Well duh. I don't think anyone asks these types of questions wondering if equipment will make you faster than training. The question here, rather, is: after you ride more, will you be faster racing with a Wheel Cover or with an Aero Helmet?

That's more like it.



Edited by sty 2008-04-06 6:33 AM
2008-04-06 7:18 AM
in reply to: #1317807

Veteran
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Long Island
Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
This topic has created the buzz I was looking for.

It just seems that Wheel Cover will give you a good bank for the buck.

We all want the ZIP wheels, but not to many people can drop $1000-$2000 for this toy, so in my view paying $75 for this toy / upgrade is cost effective.

This kind of reminds of younger days trying to upgrade my 1981 Z28 ……If I turn the airfilter cover over will it make the car go faster :-)
2008-04-06 9:01 AM
in reply to: #1318565

Master
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?

eburg - 2008-04-06 7:18 AM This topic has created the buzz I was looking for. It just seems that Wheel Cover will give you a good bank for the buck. We all want the ZIP wheels, but not to many people can drop $1000-$2000 for this toy, so in my view paying $75 for this toy / upgrade is cost effective. This kind of reminds of younger days trying to upgrade my 1981 Z28 ……If I turn the airfilter cover over will it make the car go faster :-)

If we are only talking about $225 for both the cover and the helmet, then get both!!!!

 



2008-04-06 9:05 AM
in reply to: #1317816

Master
2006
2000
Portland, ME
Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
peby - 2008-04-05 3:20 PM

 

 Seriously though, over a 25 mile course there isn't going be a huge time savings. Plus it also depends on the course itself. Is it flat or hilly? If you have to come out of the aero position to contend with hills then the effectiveness of the helmet decreases.

 

I never understood this arguement. Timesavings is time savings regardless of the distance. I would actually think that in shorter races it is more important as flatout speed is more important than endurance.

2008-04-06 11:36 AM
in reply to: #1317934

Expert
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Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
Daremo - 2008-04-05 5:05 AM

peby - 2008-04-05 5:33 PM

Actually there's an article right here on BT that addresses the aero wheel question.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1099

Even though it was an interesting read, I still put little credence in everything I read on that when it came out. There are plenty of other articles on the topic that are a lot more scientific and wind tunnel/road tested.



As the author of the article cited, I will chime in here...

The article was meant to compare highly aero wheels to not so aero wheels, not to compare wheels to helmets; thus may not be relevant to the discussion here. One can't compare helmets to wheels using separate studies because the methodology may be different. One would need to test a bike/rider/normal wheel and helmet to a bike/rider/normal wheel aero helmet and then to a bike/rider/aero wheel normal helmet. Such a study would be relevant to that rider, on that bike in that position. Results could be used, but may be different to a different rider, on a different bike in a different position. To my knowledge, such a test hasn't been published. PM me if you know of one.

Hijack on...

I won't be conducting wind tunnel studies, but I can evaluate and extrapolate those studies to possible performance gains. The Nordgren data that I used was based upon wind tunnel studies. The time savings cited was based on data taken from the Nordgren article and extrapolated to my times in the 2006 Tri Minnesota series.

I am not altogether satisfied with the article. There is too much room for variation. There is more data out now, but most is still put out by the manufacturers of the wheels as they are the ones that can pay for the time. Those manufacturers are quite tight with their experimental methodology and therefore the data can't be objectively evaluated. Sources of error are many and may be significant. The wind tunnel studies themselves can not duplicate real world conditions and are thus an imperfect source of data.

I would like to reevaluate the article, update the methodology and include the latest data. Hed is very good at posting data (but not the methodology) for comparison and I may use their data. PM me sources spoken of for evlauation and possible inclusion in a future article.

  • ..Hijack off

  • Thanks.

    Edited by B-One 2008-04-06 11:40 AM
    2008-04-06 11:39 AM
    in reply to: #1317807

    Extreme Veteran
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    Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
    TO be truly faster on the bike spend more time in T1 resting from the swim, that is what they are recommending for all Vineman 70.3 30-34 contestants.

    I want to look into making my face more aero, I hear that duct taping your ears back saves more time than a propeller on your butt, and even faster than extra training.
    2008-04-06 6:28 PM
    in reply to: #1317807

    Extreme Veteran
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    Subject: RE: Wheel Cover or Aero Helmet ?
    Do you still get the net benefit of the wheel cover if you are riding with a front wheel that is not considered an aero wheel but may have a little bit of depth(mm) to it?
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