Video summary

Szosówka vs Czasówka: Która jest szybsza? | Test Aero

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product/Topic Tested

The video tests aero advantages for time-trial setups versus conventional road biking, focusing on:

  • Leg shaving (unshaved vs shaved)
  • Aero calf wraps
  • Time-trial (TT) bike vs road bike
  • Triathlon/aero helmets (including a comparison where one helmet performed much better)
  • Aerodynamic clothing suits (two different aero suits)
  • Cockpit position tweaks (e.g., moving water bottles, grip/arm position)

It is not one single “product”, but a controlled aero comparison of commonly discussed performance upgrades (shaving, wraps, bikes, helmets, suits).

Key Findings (with numbers mentioned)

1) Shaving Legs (aero benefit)

  • Shaved legs were fastest in the “basic setup” compared against:
    • calf wraps vs shaved legs vs the initial unshaved state
  • Reported effect from the shaving test: ~4–6 seconds per kilometer advantage (vs the relevant comparison condition(s))
  • In the final verdict, the host states shaving makes sense from an aerodynamic perspective if you race against the clock.

2) Aero Calf Wraps

  • Calf wraps produced a smaller benefit than shaving in this test.
  • Outcome described:
    • Shaved legs were faster than calf wraps
    • Wraps didn’t help you effectively when compared against a freshly shaved leg baseline
  • Later, Piotr mentions cases where wraps can be +2.5–3 W faster for some riders, but also:
    • can be neutral or negative depending on individual fit/conditions (and heat/cooling)

3) TT Bike vs Road Bike

  • On the road bike in an aggressive road position, much more power was required to match speed:
    • At ~40 km/h: ~210 W (road helmet + road clothes) vs ~240.5 W needed on the road bike to match the same pace
    • Difference: ~31 W
  • With TT positioning (more “lying down” and integrated aero setup), the gap shrinks operationally.
  • The host emphasizes:
    • TT riding position is easier to sustain aerodynamically.
    • The road bike requires more “sensory/effort” to keep the same aero body position—so watts alone don’t tell the whole story.

4) Aero Suits (Triathlon Skinsuits)

Host compares:

  • Ryzen Verge (pro)
  • Fusion Tempo 2 (more amateur-friendly)

Key points:

  • Fusion suit was slightly slower, and the difference depended on repetition (they suggest results might converge with more runs)

  • Price difference:

    • Ryzen Verge: ~2,500+ PLN
    • Fusion Tempo 2: ~1,200 PLN
  • Verdict:
    • If aerodynamics are “similar enough,” for long-distance value the choice should lean toward Fusion (better for the wallet/comfort).

5) Helmet Swap (biggest single gain mentioned)

  • Helmet choice can be either “very fast” or “very slow.”
  • One helmet (described as better across many riders) delivered:
    • ~8–9.5 W improvement at ~40–42 km/h
  • Piotr also adds additional reasons:
    • the better helmet is lighter
    • has better ventilation
  • (The subtitle includes unclear wording about pace/time conversion, but the intended takeaway is a large measurable gain.)

6) Cockpit Adjustments (water bottle / position)

  • Moving components (e.g., bottles) can meaningfully change aerodynamics.
  • In the final helmet/water bottle context, Piotr suggests:
    • improper bottle angle/placement likely cost some speed
    • lowering bottles further could have improved the position further (not fully quantified)

Pros / Cons (as stated through the test outcomes)

Pros

  • Leg shaving: clear aero advantage in this test when conditions allow (fresh shave).
  • TT bike + proper aero fit: reduces required power dramatically at equal speed.
  • Right helmet: potentially one of the largest watt/time gains in the whole package.
  • Cockpit tuning: small equipment placement changes can add watts.

Cons / Limitations

  • Leg shaving is individual and situational:
    • wraps vs shaving depends on rider fit, heat, and cooling needs
  • Calf wraps are inconsistent:
    • can be positive for some riders, but not universally helpful
  • Road bike is harder to keep aero position:
    • even if watts differences seem small, maintaining posture is more tiring
  • A helmet can perform poorly for some riders:
    • selection matters—wrong choice could mean losing time

User Experience Notes from the Video (practical feel)

  • The host initially struggles with:
    • track banking
    • braking position in the TT test (lower access to brakes delays reaction time)
  • After a few laps:
    • confidence improves
    • aerodynamic positioning improves
  • He also notes discomfort and fatigue differences when switching between road and TT setups.

Comparison Summary (what was better)

  • Shaved legs > calf wraps (in their baseline “fresh shave” scenario)
  • TT bike > road bike for maintaining an aero position with less power required
  • Right helmet > wrong helmet (one helmet yielded ~8–9.5 W at speed)
  • Fusion Tempo 2 suit:
    • better value and only slightly behind the more expensive suit in tested conditions
    • Ryzen Verge not clearly superior enough to justify cost for all riders

Unique Points Mentioned (consolidated list)

  1. Test setup used an Olympic track + professional aero testing team
  2. They measured CDA (air drag coefficient × frontal area) and drag coefficient/CD
  3. Aerofitting = adjusting position for aerodynamic efficiency (not just comfort)
  4. Aerofitting checks whether going “lower” reduces CDA in practice
  5. Initial trial showed ~4–5 seconds/km difference depending on grip/position for the same watts (baseline fitting/position effects)
  6. Aero calf wraps tested due to triathlon community interest; performance measured
  7. Leg shaving tested directly as “does it matter aerodynamically?”; shaving won in basic comparisons
  8. TT vs road compared at comparable pace/power; road required ~31 W more at ~40 km/h in the aggressive road position scenario
  9. Suits compared:
    • Ryzen Verge (~2.5k PLN+) vs Fusion Tempo 2 (~1.2k PLN)
    • Fusion recommended for long-distance value if aero difference is small
  10. Helmets can swing results massively; best helmet yielded ~8–9.5 W at ~40–42 km/h
  11. Cockpit element placement (notably bottle position/angle) affects aero results
  12. Aero improvements are packaging dependent (helmet, suit, bike, position all interact)
  13. Some helmet outcomes depend on rider group; helmets may rank worst-to-best depending on fit
  14. Competition/giveaways:
    • bike fitting from Veloart worth 1,000 PLN (prize mechanism described)

Different Speaker Perspectives (as reflected in subtitles)

Host (main narrator / test participant)

  • Frames the “is shaving worth it?” question
  • Emphasizes practical experience (track, stress, comfort, grip/braking differences)
  • Concludes shaving is worthwhile for TT/time-trial racing

Expert Piotr Klin (aerodynamics/aerofitting explanation + interpreting results)

  • Explains aerofitting, CDA, CD, test methodology
  • Adds nuance on why wraps can be inconsistent and stresses holistic decisions (fit + heat + cooling)
  • Interprets helmet variability and ties gains to position/ventilation/helmet suitability
  • Comments on cockpit tweaks (e.g., bottle placement) potentially affecting results

Concise Verdict / Recommendation

If you race against the clock, the video suggests the best ROI improvements are:

  1. Choose a properly fitting aero helmet (can be a large watt gain)
  2. Optimize TT positioning (TT bike + aero fit beats road bike)
  3. Shave legs if you can do it fresh (shaving was fastest in their baseline comparison)
  4. Calf wraps are less reliable—may help some riders, but don’t outperform shaved legs consistently in this test
  5. For suits, Fusion Tempo 2 offers strong value if aero differences are small, especially for long-distance use

Original video