Key Points:
- Improve your aerodynamics to increase your speed at no cost. On flat terrain, most of your energy is spent overcoming air resistance.
- Think lower and narrower to reduce your frontal surface area. Lowering your shoulders and head can decrease wind resistance by over 25%.
- Bend your elbows to a 90-degree angle. Riding on the hoods with bent elbows can be more aerodynamic than being in the drops.
- Consider shaving your legs. This can provide a small but measurable aerodynamic advantage.
- Introduce these changes gradually to build comfort and confidence in your new, more aerodynamic position.
- For precise results, consider a professional bike fit or advanced aerodynamic testing.
…Better aerodynamics!
It sounds simple, but if you can improve your aerodynamics on the bike, your speed will increase—no matter how fast you already are, or what training plan you are on.
On flat roads, most of the energy you put into the pedals is used to overcome air resistance. While you could spend £1000s on a more aerodynamic bike, you can often gain more speed just by reducing how much of your body is exposed to the wind—for free!
Think lower, think narrower.
If you want to go faster, reduce the amount of your body hitting the wind—your frontal surface area.
Here are a few simple ways to do that:
Lower your shoulders, lower your head
Close off your chest to the wind—this can reduce your surface area by at least 20%.
Lower your head so the top of it is in line with the highest point of your back—another easy 5% gain.
Bend your elbows more
Aim for a 90-degree bend in your elbows. Ride on the hoods with your wrists close to the bars. This actually creates less frontal area than being on the drops.
Shave your legs
Hear me out, gents! It makes a small difference. Think about how much wider your legs are with hair compared to without. There’s your s(h)aving.
If you usually ride quite upright, introduce these changes one at a time. Build confidence with each before layering on the next. Do this for longer periods at a time to develop your comfort.
But How Do I REALLY Know I’m More Aerodynamic?
The best way to know if the position you are in is really the most aerodynamic is to go to a windtunnel or use specialist sensors (coming to Efficient Endurance in early 2026!).
The next best way is to get a proper bike fit. I always recommend the guys at Triharder.co.uk if you are local to the area!
