GETTING MORE AERO DOESN'T MEAN AN ATHLETE HAS TO LOSE POWER...HOW CAN YOU HAVE BOTH? 

 

When it comes to fitting an athlete for an aerodynamic position, there are many myths out there on what makes a person more aero. One of the myths is that a person loses power to the pedal when they become more aero. Allowing an athlete to produce high power and be very slippery in the wind is achievable - that is one thing we focus on when we optimize athletes in the FASTER Wind Tunnel. To achieve the balance between being aero and having optimized power, biomechanics, biometrics, and comfort we have to start with a solid foundation.

1. Solid foundation-comfortable connection points between rider and machine. 

Let's start with the feet and sit bones... A rider that has a weak foundation for their sit bones and feet will be limited by how aero they can get. When we are looking at a rider's foundation, we are mainly trying to keep the body in a neutral position. If a rider has a high arch, varus, or valgus feet, or if there is a leg length discrepancy, appropriate steps need to be taken so a rider can sit naturally on a bike. We want a rider to fall easily into an aero position. Along with the feet, we also do this by looking at their saddle and choosing a saddle that supports their body. By providing a solid foundation for the rider, their comfort on the bike will also improve.