I know it looks silly, but does running a 30mm slick tire on a gravel bike with large tire clearance create big aerodynamic penalties? Doing a road race this weekend and can only afford one bike!
by Annual_Slice_4765
I know it looks silly, but does running a 30mm slick tire on a gravel bike with large tire clearance create big aerodynamic penalties? Doing a road race this weekend and can only afford one bike!
by Annual_Slice_4765
16 Comments
Yes you are going to lose 2/10ths of a second and you will have a terrible time and not win the race. Just stay home or get a whole new bike, poor person.
/s
I’ve seen some weird as aero study bikes that had way more clearance in the front, so probably its no difference at all.
At least you won’t feel it… you will feel some extra kg though
Shave your legs, will make more difference.
If you really want to stress about aero, I don’t think the tire clearance is much of a problem compared to what looks to be a pretty wide handlebar.
The vast majority of aero drag comes from your body and thus your riding position.
Oh wow, with clearance like that you might as well go back to round tubes and 44cm bars.
Real talk though, look at some of the latest aero super bikes, they have super wide fork clearance so it’s probably fine
No, it isn’t. The real issues (so to speak) limiting your speed and agility compared to a proper road bike are going to be geometry, bar width and riding position. Whether that will matter to you varies.
Ditto what others have said. You lkely won’t notice any aero penalties and will benefit from a bit less weight. I will say that there are some wider gravel tires that have better rolling resistance than skinnier tires and don’t suffer a big aero or weight penalty. Check out [Bicycle Rolling Resistance](https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/) for more data than you probably need. Also, it doesn’t look silly at all and you’re probably the only one who will notice.
You’re talking single digit in wattage. If you can notice it, you should be a pro lol
I mean take a look at the [Look P24](https://b2690749.smushcdn.com/2690749/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-LOOK-P24@louislegon-22837.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1), the olympic track bike for the french team. I think you are more than fine.
You’ll be totally fine, and it looks fine. The marginal gains in aero and bike weight will hold you back from getting a Tour de France stage win, but amongst amatuers its not enough to make much of any difference. Try to keep your body position aero and your fitness will be 99% the rest of the difference maker.
I have the same bike and race road on it. If there is a big penalty, than my god I must be fast on a real road bike. I run bars that are 36 on the tops and 43 on the drops. I have no problem in breaks, group, or solo. I can avg 32kmh or so in zone 2 and more than that with more effort, ect
Aero stuff aside….that is a slick looking bike! Just ride hard!
In the week you’ve got practice holding an aero position and tape a message to your handlebars “if you see this, get aero”
GCN did a video on this, IIRC.
TL;DR, the 30mm performed great.
Dude, your inverted pen15 creates more drag.
Just ride it.