Discovering Your Aero: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All

We’ve all been there:  the pre-race transition zone when everyone is setting up their bikes. It’s like being a kid in a candy store as we check out all the bikes and hydration setups.  Then, when the race is underway, you see how they all stack up in terms of performance and we’ve seen it all:

• I’m on my well-fitted, comfortable and aero tribike and been passed by someone on ‘just’ a road bike. Okay, she was about 25 years younger than me - a small consolation, but still!
• I remember the day before my last Ironman race going out for my last pre-race ride and saw another woman who was staying at the same hotel as me. I’d noticed her bike at the hotel and it was impressive and cost three times as much as mine.  That morning — and several times during the race — I passed riders with bikes just as capable as mine. The difference? They weren’t using an effective aero position or not in their aero bars at all.
• I’ve been blown away by people on the identical ride set up as me and I’ve done the same to others.

Athletic potential and training aside (and those are both huge variables), we all know that at some level, your equipment matters. How do we each maximize the aero gains we can get from our equipment? With the same bike and the same wheels, how do we put it all together to get the most out of what we have — or what we can get?

The truth is, aerodynamics isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. Your body, your flexibility, your posture — even the way you breathe — all shape how you move through the air. Understanding your aero individuality isn’t about copying the pros; it’s about discovering the position, setup, and habits that let you perform at your best.  

An aggressive aero position that mimics your favourite pro won’t help you if it is too uncomfortable for you to hold for 180k, 90k or even 40k.

Everyone Wants to Go Faster

We all want to go faster with the same effort — and aerodynamic gains are where we look first. Since the sport’s inception, triathletes have chased aero improvements. Take aerobars, for example: originally invented by a ski company, they quickly became a hallmark of triathlon bikes.  From aerobars to the latest in aero helmets (no matter how they might look), the quest for marginal gains is nothing new.

In recent years, transparency among pros, bike designers, and engineers has given everyday triathletes access to testing data, new equipment options, and a better understanding of what has shown to work for the pros. But all this choice can be both tempting and overwhelming — we seek the benefits others have achieved and we can be tempted to try them all.  Sometimes, though, even the most determined athletes risk chasing gear over individual optimization.  We might follow by example rather than adopt change based on personal assessment and testing. 

The Three Pillars of Aerodynamics

1. Position – The Foundation of Aero

Your body accounts for 70–80% of aerodynamic drag. This means your position is where the biggest gains lie. Flexibility, mobility, shoulder width, and core strength all influence what’s sustainable.  The goal isn’t pain — it’s being comfortably fast. Focus on a position that you can maintain over the course, not just a number on a wind tunnel chart.

Years ago, I attended a bike fit workshop with John Cobb, who had tested more triathletes in wind tunnels than anyone else in North America. I thought my aero position was solid — I was flexible and could hold a low position for long stretches. But John took one look at me from the front and said, “Too bad about your shoulders.” 

 “What are you talking about?” was my response.  I have broad and square shoulders for a girl. I thought that might be an advantage in the swim if nothing else.  But as it turns out, I can’t roll them forwards to create a narrow front profile.  So, trying to minimize the front profile by narrowing the position of the aerobar pads wouldn’t work for me as well as it might for someone else.  

2. Equipment – The Tech Multiplier

 Once your position is dialed in, equipment becomes the multiplier:  we set up your position and then we build the bike and accessories around you in order to get the most aero gains while still maintaining your ideal position. 

 Helmets, wheels, frame design, hydration setups, and even clothing can stack marginal gains — but only if they’re built around your body, not the other way around.

That’s why our Dream Bike Program starts with the athlete first. We prioritize a position that’s sustainable and effective, then select equipment that enhances, rather than dictates, performance. Marginal gains are powerful — but they work best when everything else is in balance.

3. Priorities – Balancing Budget and Value

Aerodynamic improvements follow diminishing returns: each upgrade costs more for smaller benefits. What’s worth it depends on your goals: seconds saved per dollar, maintenance, and comfort. The big one — the biggest aero gain — is going from a road bike to a tri bike. Next comes optimizing your position on the tri bike — and after that, the equipment variables come into play.

Think of it as a personal optimization project rather than a status race. Every rider has a different sweet spot — some will invest in a few key upgrades, while others focus on getting the position right and sticking with simple, reliable equipment.

Real-World Perspective

Even the pros remind us that aero only matters if everything comes together. Equipment, position, and pacing all work together. Marginal gains on the bike only count when they’re part of a holistic approach — training, swim efficiency, run strength, and strategy all matter.

Bringing it Back to the Individual

At the end of the day, aero is personal. It’s about finding your best position, complementing it with the right equipment, and optimizing for your own goals and your budget. That philosophy drives our Winow Dream Bike Project: starting with the athlete — finding the right bike to create a setup that’s uniquely yours.

Because the fastest rider isn’t always the one with the newest gadgets — it’s the one who knows themselves and rides a setup that’s uniquely theirs.

Future Proofing Your Potential

The bike and optimal fit are the two key things to get right from the start. With these dialed in, you can continue adding aero gains over time — new wheels, updated accessories, or incremental tweaks as your training evolves.

The right bike grows with you. That’s the philosophy behind our Dream Bike Program: starting with the athlete, to find the right bike, to create a setup that’s uniquely yours.