Why Aerodynamics is Better for Slower Riders

Introduction

Many cyclists think:

“Aerodynamics is for the pros.”
“Below 40 km/h, it doesn’t make much difference.”

That’s wrong.

The laws of physics are identical for everyone.
And in reality, aerodynamics can represent a much more decisive time-saving lever for amateurs than for professionals.

Let us explain.

What physics tells us

From around 15 km/h, aerodynamic drag already represents more than 50% of the total resistances opposing a cyclist on flat terrain.

In other words:
Even at “moderate” speed, air is already your main opponent.

The misinterpretation

We often hear:

“Pros ride faster, so aerodynamics matters more for them.”

That is partially true… but incomplete.

The reality is that when aerodynamic drag is reduced by 10%, the power saved is also close to 10% as early as 20 km/h. This leads to a speed increase of around 3% at constant power.
This reality is true for everyone.

Concretely, that means going from 40 km/h to 41.2 km/h, and from 20 km/h to 20.6 km/h.

So yes, the faster you ride, the greater the impact aerodynamics has on your speedometer. And gaining a few tenths of km/h may seem negligible at first glance…

And this is where a huge misunderstanding causes amateurs to lose a lot of time on their results…

👉 Let’s talk about time gains

When you ride at 40 km/h, 1 km takes 1 minute 30 seconds. At 41.2 km/h, it takes 1 minute 27 seconds.

When you ride at 20 km/h, 1 km takes 3 minutes. At 20.6 km/h, it takes 2 minutes 55 seconds.

In other words, when a fast cyclist improves aerodynamics by 10%, that’s 3 seconds gained per km. For the amateur riding half as fast, that’s more than 5 seconds gained per km!!!

Amateurs therefore have much more to gain on their overall times by optimizing their aerodynamics.

The image above shows the gains you can target when moving from an upright position to an optimized aerodynamic position on a road bike or on a time trial (or triathlon) bike. And yes, your position can help you gain up to 20 seconds per kilometer when riding at 20 km/h… The effect is amplified over long distances, and on an Ironman (180 km), the impact becomes even more spectacular. When an amateur is aiming to beat cut-off times, position therefore becomes crucial.

Concrete example: 40 km

Let’s imagine two cyclists who both improve their aerodynamics by 10%. One initially rides at 45 km/h, the other at 32 km/h.

Estimated gain:

• At 45 km/h → about 1 minute 40 seconds over 40 km
• At 32 km/h → about 2 minutes 20 seconds over 40 km

The time gain is therefore always greater for the slower cyclist.

What this changes strategically

For an amateur:

• Increasing FTP by 20 watts requires months of training.
• Reducing CdA by 8 to 12% can be achieved in a few weeks.

And above all:

👉 Position is a free lever.

No need to buy a $10,000 bike.
No need for exotic sensors.

It is about learning to:

• Optimize your position
• Hold that position
• Be powerful in that position

Why this lever is underused

Three main reasons:

1. Lack of real-time feedback
2. Difficulty in feeling aerodynamic drag
3. Excessive focus on power

Power is visible.
Aerodynamics is invisible. But AeroX definitively changes that !

Therefore, it is neglected.

Conclusion

Aerodynamics is not reserved for elites.

It is even more profitable for amateurs.

The real question is not:

“Do I ride fast enough for aerodynamics to matter?”

But rather:

“How many minutes am I willing to leave on the road?”