Aero Time Savings Calculator
Calculate how much time you'll save by improving your aerodynamics. See the impact of CdA reductions on your race time and equivalent watt savings.
Want Course-Specific Aero Analysis?
For precise time projections on your actual race course, upload your GPX file to our Cycling Race Pace Calculator. It accounts for how CdA impacts speed differently on flats vs climbs, plus wind direction effects.
Try the Cycling Race Pace Calculator →Understanding CdA Values
About Me
Jonas
I have been a cyclist for over 10 years and I built this calculator to help cyclists like you and me with training and racing.
Frequently Asked Questions
At 40 km/h over 40km, reducing CdA by 0.01 m² saves approximately 15-25 seconds. The exact savings depend on your speed - aero gains are more significant at higher speeds because drag increases with the square of velocity. At 45 km/h, the same CdA reduction saves even more time.
A good CdA for amateur time trialists is 0.22-0.26 m². Well-optimized positions can achieve 0.20-0.22 m². Professional hour record attempts use positions with CdA as low as 0.18-0.19 m². Your achievable CdA depends on body size, flexibility, and equipment.
CdA can be measured through wind tunnel testing, velodrome testing with power meters, or field testing methods like the Chung method. Our CdA Calculator can estimate your CdA from power and speed data. For most accurate results, professional testing is recommended.
On flat courses, aero is far more important - reducing CdA gives larger time savings than losing weight. On hilly courses, weight matters more. As a rule: flatter and faster = focus on aero; steeper and slower = focus on weight. Most races have mixed terrain where both matter.
Easy CdA improvements include: narrowing elbow position, lowering head, wearing tight-fitting clothing, using aero helmet, taping shoe covers, removing unnecessary accessories, and improving bike fit. Position changes often give bigger gains than expensive equipment upgrades.
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