Over the past few weeks, I’ve been exploring how aerodynamics affect the performance of my triathlon bike. The goal was simple: find out how small design changes can reduce drag and save power on the bike.
I created several custom components and tested them in a virtual simulation environment that replicates real airflow around the bike. This process makes it possible to see how air moves, where turbulence appears, and how different shapes influence aerodynamic efficiency.
My first project focused on a fin mounted behind the seat post. I wanted to know whether adding small 3-millimeter ribs on the surface would help or hurt aerodynamics. The results were clear. The version without ribs performed better, saving about 1.6 watts at 40 km/h. It might sound like a small difference, but over a long-distance triathlon it can translate into valuable seconds.
Next, I designed two front-mounted bottle holders. One version featured a half-sphere shape in front of the bottle, the other did not. The streamlined version with the sphere showed less drag, saving roughly 0.6 watts at 40 km/h.
These experiments confirmed that even the smallest design tweaks can make a measurable difference. In a sport where every second matters, aerodynamics can either waste your watts or save them.