Wind tunnels… They are not what you think they are. 

They are both much more, and much less than what you have imagined. The Cyclologic crew gets to spend lots of time working with lots of cool athletes in lots of cool places. Over the years we have had the privilege to work in some of the best and some of the worst aero testing facilities in the world. We’ve answered questions, tested products, developed protocols, refined technology and helped make tons of riders faster and more efficient. 

During all of that time we’ve gained some pretty valuable insights into what wind tunnels can and can’t do, and we thought we’d take this opportunity to give you an inside peek behind the curtains. So settle in fellow bike geeks! Wind Tunnel 101 is about to begin! 

Wind Tunnel Testing is not Glamorous

You’ve seen the ads and the graphics and the videos. Anytime the bike industry releases a fancy new product, they want to show that they’ve done their homework. They want to show the wind tunnel. They want it to look cool. They want you to want that coolness for yourself. These ads and images all make wind tunnels look like they are secret rooms… hidden inside the Death Star. Darth Vader is likely to walk by at any moment, lightsaber in hand. Lasers and cool wisps of smoke may appear. Do you know what wind tunnels are not like? That. They are absolutely nothing like Star Wars. 

Wind tunnels are less Death Star, and more workshop. They are populated by engineers, not storm troopers. These engineers? They are not white lab coat wearing engineers either. They are field engineers. They carry tools. They have grease on their hands. Quite simply? They are highly capable people who get shit done. (Incidentally, people who get shit done are our favorite type of people.) Wind tunnels are not glamorous. They are much more like the garage you take your car to. 

Wind Tunnels Don’t Care About Your Feelings
(AKA not all of your questions will be answered)

Don’t get us wrong. If you are organized, and systematic, you will learn something every single time you go to the tunnel. That thing you learned may even be really, really cool, and even exciting. The reality though is that we almost always end up leaving with more questions than we had when we went in. The answers the wind tunnel gives you often come with strings attached. Yes… This helmet is faster in these conditions, but what about those conditions? What about this helmet on a different rider? These aero socks are wicked fast, but… what would have happened if we pulled them tighter? 

Unfortunately, you can’t test absolutely every single possible scenario. Wind tunnels are expensive to build. They are expensive to maintain. They are expensive to operate. They require experts who deserve their wages. When the air starts flowing? You start paying. Unless you have unlimited funds and time, the reality is that wind tunnel sessions leave you wanting more. 

Wind Tunnels Are Uncomfortable

If you are going to be scientific about it, and you want your data to be accurate, all of the variables have to be controlled. This includes temperature and wheel speed. Chances are that you will either be too hot, or (more often) way too cold. You are in front of a fan wearing super thin fabrics, and it is not unusual for athletes to start shivering during the session. To complicate this, most wind tunnels do not have the capacity to give the rider any resistance while pedaling. The wheels are spun on rollers for the athlete at a controlled rate, and the rider just has to keep tension on the chain. Keeping the chain tight is not enough work to keep you warm, so sitting there in a steady 25-30mph wind while practically naked definitely drops your core temp. 

Emotionally, time in a wind tunnel can be exhausting as well. People are moving around you. Talking. Pointing. Gesturing. You can’t hear anything because of the wind, and you are nervous (especially the first time) about the whole thing. It doesn’t matter that all of the talking and pointing and gesturing is about making sure the boxes are checked and that the next run is set up properly. Everyone around you is doing math, and you… you are not a math problem. You are an athlete who has invested time, money, and energy into this moment, and anxiety is completely understandable. But the air is on… the clock is ticking… money is being spent. Your exhaustion and feelings have to be dealt with later, because if we deal with it while the fan is blowing we won’t get the answers we are there to get. 

Wind Tunnels Are Not Just For Professionals

Does an amateur athlete need wind tunnel time to ride their bike? No. Do they need wind tunnel time to be competitive? No. There are a ton of national champions who have never set foot in a wind tunnel. So why go? The main reason for an amateur athlete to want to invest in wind tunnel time is…

BECAUSE YOU CARE. 

We are all heavily invested in our sport. It is more than exercise. It is more than stress relief. Being a cyclist is as much about love as it is about science. We read the articles. We wax our chains. We watch the videos. We keep our bikes inside our houses, and we stare at them more than we probably should. We are all a bunch of bike nerds, and a trip to the wind tunnel is incredibly cool. A couple of hours with the fan on will cost you about the same amount as a very nice set of wheels. That is not an insignificant investment, but the pay off is about much more than just speed and efficiency. Once you’ve been to the tunnel, and you’ve seen the differences that small tweaks can make, you’ll watch the Tour de France or Ironman Hawaii in a completely new light. You will see things in new ways. You will understand why the riders sit the way they do. You’ll have insight into why they chose a given bike for a given stage, and why they dump their empty gel packets out of their jersey pockets before they attack. Wind is your number one enemy on the bike. Not rolling resistance. Not gravity. Not drivetrain efficiency. The air you breathe is also the thing that you battle the most when you want to go fast. 

Are you a bike geek like us? Want to gain deeper insights into your equipment, your riding, and into the sport you love? You should seriously consider taking a trip to the wind tunnel. Shoot us an email, and let’s make it happen.