Aerowheel performance gain in a crosswind?

[rowskein]

Sorry if it's a daft question but apart from the handling issues, is there still a performance benefit using deep/deepish section aero wheels in a crosswind?

Are you better off just putting a set of ordinary light weight wheels rather than your aeros? For the purposes of the question lets say the crosswind is anywhere between 15-40mph and it's not a hilly course!

Thanks,

Keith

 

[daveryanwyoming]

Yes, deep section wheels typically have their best performance gains at yaw angles other than zero degrees (i.e. crosswind situations). It's not obvious, but that's what wind tunnel data shows.

Also remember that you rarely have a true net effective crosswind situation since the wind experienced by your bike and wheels is the vector sum of the true wind and the apparent wind caused by your ground speed. IOW, in most situations you end up with some form of partial headwind at some non zero yaw angle. For instance a pure 20 km/h crosswind coming in 90 degrees to your travel effectively becomes a 45 km/h wind from 27 degrees when your bike speed is 40 km/h.

-Dave

 

[rowskein]

Perfect thanks. That wasn't what i was expecting!