Some of you interested in aero road bikes may have some experience with road bikes. Perhaps you're considering one as your second or third bike, you're confident in your physical fitness, and rocketing along at high speeds is your stress reliever. You want to see what lies beyond, to push for just a little more, an extra few km/h.

That's incredibly encouraging!

Today, I'd like to explore the world of aero road bikes with you.

About Aero Road Bikes

As you already know, aero road bikes are superior at high speeds but are weaker on inclines and susceptible to crosswinds.

While this is true, the reason we can confidently state this is because ICAN has accumulated extensive experimental data. Here, we'll share the basic information we've gathered.

Aero Road Bike Performance

To numerically assess how little air resistance there is, we use a power meter that can display riding resistance. Of course, there's a difference between the data and the actual feel, and we'll discuss that as well.

For comparison, we'll use ICAN's AERO A9 aero road bike as the aero representative, and a normal bike with nearly equivalent specifications, a carbon bike. There's a weight difference of about 500g, with the aero bike being heavier.

① Flat Roads

Aero road bikes are clearly superior to normal bikes on flat, smooth roads.

Numerically, the aero bike has an advantage of about 10W on the power meter.

This difference in air resistance between the two bikes is quite noticeable in terms of feel. The sensation of speed and momentum on an aero bike is overwhelmingly satisfying.

However, it goes without saying that this assumes a reasonably trained body.

Flat roads are particularly susceptible to crosswinds, which can lead to losses. In such cases, the crosswind acts as lateral riding resistance, hindering the aero effect.

So, what about wind tunnel experiments where there's no crosswind? As expected, the data clearly shows that aero bikes have an advantage.

② Uphill Climbs

The weight of the bike, especially the wheels, plays a significant role, giving the edge to regular road bikes. The difference can be as much as 13-15W. The difference in feel is also substantial.

The impact of weight on riding is in the following order of increasing importance: human body < bike frame < wheels/tires. In this regard, bikes with lighter, lower-profile normal wheels are advantageous on hills.

③ Downhill Descents

As you might imagine, aero bikes excel in this scenario. While not reflected in numerical data, a difference in handling stability can be felt. This experiential difference is also quite significant.

How to Ride an Aero Road Bike "Aero-Like"

To maximize the low air resistance of an aero bike, you need to pay attention to your equipment.

Wear aerodynamic clothing, keep your bags tidy, and pay attention to their mounting positions.

Currently, the trend for tires is gradually toward wider sizes due to their recognized low rolling resistance, but for aero benefits, it's probably best to stick to around 25C. You should also experiment with various tire pressures to find the sweet spot that suits you.

Differences due to tire type (clincher, tubeless-ready, tubular) can also be considered, but these are more about tire characteristics than aero effects. Light tubulars are still advantageous on climbs. Clinchers are advantageous on flat roads, and from an experiential perspective, comfortable and smooth tubeless-ready tires are advantageous.

The rim depth of ICAN's AERO A9 was 40mm, while the normal road bike used for comparison had 25mm. ICAN recommends aero wheels with a rim depth of 40-50mm, but 40mm might be the best all-around size.

About ICAN's Aero Road Bike AERO A9

 Let's reintroduce the model we used for comparison here, the ICAN AERO A9.

The AERO A9 is ICAN's masterpiece in the upper-mid-range aero bike category.

It uses high-grade carbon materials, TORAY T800 and T700, achieving both aerodynamics and lightness.

The carbon wheels are ICAN's highly regarded AERO40, which are of such high quality that you won't feel the need for an upgrade in the future.

The components feature the promised Shimano Ultegra, with the luxury of electric DI2.

The brakes are also Ultegra disc, so you can see that the specifications are absolutely impeccable. The price is 392,052 yen including tax.

You can see the details on the following website.

ICAN AERO A9

Finally,

Aero road bikes are the ideal choice for riders who enjoy high-speed touring.

However, even the strongest have weaknesses.

Keeping this in mind, venture into the world of aero road bikes.

A new world surely awaits you.