A number of modern “aerodynamic” bicycle wheels were
tested at full scale speeds in a windtunnel. The
effects of wheel geometry, rotational speed and
cross winds on drag force, side force and yawing
moment were investigated.
Compared with a conventional spoked wheel, all the
“aerodynamic” wheels were found to give similar
improvements in drag of approximately 25%. In cross
wind conditions, aerodynamic characteristics were
strongly dependent on wheel geometry, but
essentially independent of wheel rotational
speed.