Velodrome Tested – Finding The Perfect Cycling Position
Why Bicycles Stack Exchange recommends it
Bicycles Stack Exchange answerers point people to it when asking about aero position, bike fit and how hard it is to hold a tuck, since it shows real velodrome data and a strong rider struggling.
Recommended by 2 people across 2 different months, 2012 to 2017.
What it is
BikeRadar's Ben Delaney does velodrome testing with Jim Manton of ERO Sports to find which riding position is fastest for him, weighing aerodynamics against comfort and power. It shows how much speed is at stake between positions. The video includes paid product placement for Scott Sports.
What people said
Recommends KevinC · 2017-01 · Bicycles Stack Exchange · on “Do I really need a 90-degree arm/torso angle?”
That 90 degree suggestion is purely for getting an optimal fit for aerodynamics. By bending your arm to 90 degrees, you're not presenting any of your forearm to the wind. If you watch the pros ride, this is typically how they'll carry themselves on flats and descents. Ultimately, you need to be comfortable though, and if bending your arms that much causes you to lose that much power, then it's probably not the best position for you. It's possible that there are other modifications to your fit that could be done to correct this, but that would require experimentation and/or a professional fitting. Check out this video [this video] from BikeRadar. It addresses your question pretty well.
Recommends Adam Rice · 2017-10 · Bicycles Stack Exchange · on “Unable to get into a 'TT' position, is my bike fit wrong, or am I just fat?”
Regardless of your weight, holding an aerodynamic position isn't easy: it requires some core strength and flexibility. Even strong cyclists can have trouble with it. This video [this video] (jump to about 4:25) shows how much trouble a guy who can ride at 300 W (that's strong) can have holding a tuck for even a few minutes. So what I'm saying is, don't stop working on it, but remember you've got lots of company.
Cites R. Chung · 2012-06 · Bicycles Stack Exchange · on “How can one estimate drag for a bicycle?”
Your question is simple but a full answer is complex. The simplest answer is to point to Part 2 (especially chapter 4) of Wilson and Papadopoulos (2004) [LINK] , or the recent review by Debraux et al. (2011) [LINK] , or the paper by Martin et al. (1998) [LINK] . However, even these papers do not cover approaches that take better advantage of the data available from modern bicycle computers and GPS units. Some background on the power-drag equation will help you understand why there are so many different ways (with accordingly different levels of accuracy, precision, difficulty, and cost) of estimating drag. The equation to convert speed to power is well-understood. Total power demanded has fo