Nullwinds Aerodefender - independent review
#1
Nullwinds Aerodefender - independent review
Looking for unbiased reviews from someone who has actually used them. Anyone here have first-hand experience with them, or pointers to articles with test results that were *not* sponsored by the manufacturer or resellers?
#2
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 21,153
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy Viscount Aerospace Pro Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Liked 7,489 Times
in
4,189 Posts
Look weird.
__________________
#3
With a mighty wind
There was a guy, possibly he made this company, that’s had something like this for years. His were more prominent, they extended down to maybe half the wheel.
I’ve read his justification. It totally makes sense. I’m not fast but I am vain. I could never justify them.
I’ve read his justification. It totally makes sense. I’m not fast but I am vain. I could never justify them.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 10,367
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Liked 3,473 Times
in
1,820 Posts
jan heine does similar but not as big
Wheel Fairings
At gravel speeds and with gravel tire widths, aero wheels and bladed spokes don’t make much sense, but we can improve the wheels’ aerodynamics in other ways. The top of the tire moves at twice the speed of the bike. (The bottom grips the road surface, so it doesn’t move at all relative to the ground.) Let’s say you descend at 36 mph (58 km/h)—the maximum I reached on the gravel of Unbound XL this year. At the top of your tires, the tread slices through the air at 72 mph (116 km/h). Wind resistance goes up with the square of speed, so tire treads at 72 mph have four times as much wind resistance as they would at 36 mph.
That’s where the Rene Herse’s fender fairings come in. (They may look like shortened fenders, but they are not intended to keep the rider dry.) By shielding the tops of the tires from the airstream, they reduce the wind resistance. Now the airstream is hitting the fender fairing—which moves at 36 mph—rather than the tire at 72 mph. We optimized the shape of these fender fairings in the wind tunnel, until they decreased air resistance by 1-2%—almost as much as a set of aero wheels on a racing bike. In road racing, fairings are illegal, but these rules don’t apply to most gravel races.
If you have doubts about the aerodynamic benefits of fenders, look at a Moto GP bike. The 2022 Suzuki above has fenders shielding the tops of the tires. The coverage of the Suzuki’s and the Rene Herse’s fenders is almost exactly the same, if you factor in the effect of the fairing at the bottom of the motorbike’s rear wheel. (It’s nice to see that our wind tunnel tests and those of a well-funded Moto GP team show the same results.) Do these fender fairings really provide a benefit? Moto GP teams spend a huge amount of time in the wind tunnel, and they wouldn’t add parts to their bikes that don’t provide measurable benefits.
Wheel Fairings
At gravel speeds and with gravel tire widths, aero wheels and bladed spokes don’t make much sense, but we can improve the wheels’ aerodynamics in other ways. The top of the tire moves at twice the speed of the bike. (The bottom grips the road surface, so it doesn’t move at all relative to the ground.) Let’s say you descend at 36 mph (58 km/h)—the maximum I reached on the gravel of Unbound XL this year. At the top of your tires, the tread slices through the air at 72 mph (116 km/h). Wind resistance goes up with the square of speed, so tire treads at 72 mph have four times as much wind resistance as they would at 36 mph.
That’s where the Rene Herse’s fender fairings come in. (They may look like shortened fenders, but they are not intended to keep the rider dry.) By shielding the tops of the tires from the airstream, they reduce the wind resistance. Now the airstream is hitting the fender fairing—which moves at 36 mph—rather than the tire at 72 mph. We optimized the shape of these fender fairings in the wind tunnel, until they decreased air resistance by 1-2%—almost as much as a set of aero wheels on a racing bike. In road racing, fairings are illegal, but these rules don’t apply to most gravel races.
If you have doubts about the aerodynamic benefits of fenders, look at a Moto GP bike. The 2022 Suzuki above has fenders shielding the tops of the tires. The coverage of the Suzuki’s and the Rene Herse’s fenders is almost exactly the same, if you factor in the effect of the fairing at the bottom of the motorbike’s rear wheel. (It’s nice to see that our wind tunnel tests and those of a well-funded Moto GP team show the same results.) Do these fender fairings really provide a benefit? Moto GP teams spend a huge amount of time in the wind tunnel, and they wouldn’t add parts to their bikes that don’t provide measurable benefits.
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Likes For squirtdad:
#5
jan heine does similar but not as big ... optimized the shape of these fender fairings in the wind tunnel, until they decreased air resistance by 1-2%—almost as much as a set of aero wheels on a racing bike. In road racing, fairings are illegal, but these rules don’t apply to most gravel races.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 10,367
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Liked 3,473 Times
in
1,820 Posts
he also suggests narrower handlebars, non flapping clothing and that possibly the handle bar bags acts in a minimal way as a front fairing
the whole article is an interesting read link to article https://www.renehersecycles.com/aero...-gravel-bikes/
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Likes For squirtdad:
#7
...the whole article is an interesting read link to article https://www.renehersecycles.com/aero...-gravel-bikes/
But I'm still looking for anyone with genuine experience of that nullwinds product also.
#8
Banned
Y'all missed April 1 and 4/20 both.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 10,367
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Liked 3,473 Times
in
1,820 Posts
fraid not and they are sold out https://nullwinds.com/collections/al...12838287704167
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
#10
Great news! While the ÆroDefender is sold out, spoke fins are still available!
Likes For hidetaka:
#11
Senior Member
Good until crosswinds?
Likes For CrimsonEclipse: