Category: Aero Wheel Science
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Wheel Stiffness: How it Affects Handling, Comfort, and Speed
Every cyclist has experienced the remarkable sensation when their bike feels perfectly responsive—accelerating effortlessly, handling confidently, and comfortably absorbing road vibrations. Behind this ideal ride is one crucial and often misunderstood factor: wheel stiffness. At FLO Cycling, as wheel engineers, we design our wheels to achieve an optimal balance of stiffness and compliance, knowing precisely…
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Understanding the Science of Airflow: Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow Around Your Wheels
As cyclists dedicated to improving performance, we obsess over watts. Saving watts means going faster, riding further, and experiencing less fatigue. But to truly maximize these marginal gains, we must deeply understand how our equipment interacts with the invisible yet ever-present factor—air. At FLO Cycling, we’ve dedicated countless hours to researching and refining wheel aerodynamics.…
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Busting the Myth: Why a Smaller Front Tire Isn’t Faster
When optimizing cycling performance, every watt counts. Cyclists and triathletes obsess over watts saved through meticulous training plans, equipment choices, and aerodynamic improvements. A common myth that has circulated within cycling communities is that using a smaller, more “aero” front tire paired with a larger rear tire can improve overall speed. The logic is straightforward:…
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Stabilizing a Bike with a Deeper Rear Wheel
Whether you’re a seasoned triathlete dialed in to every last detail of your aero position, a road cyclist eager to upgrade your ride, or a gravel grinder looking for an edge on those windy backroads, understanding how different wheel depths affect handling is key. In many parts of the cycling world, deep-section wheels are prized…
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1x vs 2x Groupsets – Which Drive-Train is Better?
As a wheel manufacturer, we get a lot of questions about the correct cassette to use for a wheel. With the introduction of 1x, the options have expanded, making them even more confusing. Most people think of the rear cassette in terms of “how easy it will be for me to get up a hill?”…
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Three Things all Cyclists Need to Know About Vibration
We’ve written a lot about vibration and cycling wheels on this blog. Two key articles were about natural frequencies and how vibration transfers to the cyclist. Both of these articles were heavy on the science. If you want to learn about both in detail I invite you to read them. This article will explain the main things…
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Watts/Dollar in Cycling Equipment
When working with athletes I often talk in terms of watts per dollar when thinking about making upgrades to a bike. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the watts saved for a product but cost is a serious consideration for most athletes. All the charts I’ve ever seen show a product and the estimated…
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Why Our Fastest Road Wheels are Gravel Wheels
Our fastest road wheels are actually our gravel wheels. What? Yes, I had to do a double take when I processed this data in the wind tunnel. When testing our All Sport (AS) and Gravel line in the A2 Wind Tunnel, I made a last minute decision to test a 32mm Continental GP 5000 on…
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How Road Vibration Transfers to the Cyclist
Our latest research is looking at vibration and how it impacts cycling wheels, rolling resistance, and most recently, the cyclist. What know that vibration in a human creates micro tears in the muscles and the body attempts to stabilize itself, both leading to fatigue. Our theory states that if you can manage the vibration through…
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IM Hawaii & IM Kona Wheel, Tire, & Tire Pressure
I recently visited The Big Island of Hawaii and reviewed the bike course for Ironman Hawaii 70.3 and Ironman Kona. I’ve spent time studying the course and have been fortunate to attend the World Championship race seven times. Over the years I’ve learned a lot and hope this article will help prepare you for your…
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Why Lower Tire Pressures for Wider Cycling Tires and Rims
Wider wheels = faster wheels. However, the key to getting the most out of a wider internal rim width wheel is accurate tire pressure. If you haven’t lowered your tire pressure, you’re losing time. This article walks you through why lower pressures are required for larger tires or wider rims. Casing Tension in Cycling Tires…
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How a Cycling Wheel Supports its Load
You probably know that wheels are an essential component of a bike’s design, but have you ever wondered how the spokes of the wheel work to keep it rolling? In this article, we’ll explore the highly debated question, “Does a Cycling Wheel Stand on the Bottom Spokes or Hang from the Top Spokes?” Does a…
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How Carbon Fiber Wheels Lower Vibration and Make You Faster
Cycling wheels are one of the closest components to the surface of road and their design and materials can significantly impact the ride quality. (Note: a wheel does not include a tire.) One of the factors that affects the ride quality is the wheel’s ability to absorb vibration generated from the road surface. Carbon fiber…