30% More Efficient? The Math Behind Aero vs. Steel

Most people think of aero gains as small efficiencies. They help, but they aren’t a big deal…right? Except maybe they are. Would you believe I was 30% more efficient than a friend over the same piece of road? Can aerodynamics really bridge a 70-watt power gap?

I dug into the data to find out. A friend and I covered the same 20-minute distance; he was on a steel bike, and I was on an aero setup. With both of us pushing as hard as possible, he was stronger but still slower. I break down exactly why he had to hold 288 watts to go slightly slower than me holding 221 watts. We also talk about how you can get the same advantage on your next ride and why no amount of “Weight Weenie” upgrades could ever help as much on the climbs.

Speaking of gaps, Jonas Vingegaard crashed earlier this week while apparently trying to drop a “stalker” fan who was following him on a descent near Málaga, Spain. The two-time Tour de France winner was bloodied, and the incident raises serious questions about fan interactions with professionals. I lived in LA, so I’m practiced at these interactions, but it turns out Lisa had her own moment of “stalking” a pro in Girona, and Levy embarrassed himself in front of an F1 driver.

In an unusual move this week, we also took time for listener Q&A. Levy, Lisa, and I answer questions about gravel bike suspension, including how Lauf’s leaf-spring fork actually compares to the Cane Creek Invert and why your Salsa Cutthroat is begging for a suspension upgrade. I also have to defend my critical take on Pinarello’s new Grevil MX mountain bike conversion, and there’s disagreement between the crew about LifeTime’s drop-bar ban at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race.