Aero bikes are everywhere these days. Between the hidden cables, deep-section tubes, and one-piece bar stems, it’s easy to assume these bikes must be faster. That’s certainly what the marketing wants you to believe.
But are they actually faster for you? And how do we filter through the noise to select the best bike for us … the individual.
In this article, I want to pull apart the assumption that newer or more expensive is always faster and offer a practical framework for choosing a bike that allows us to utilise its aero potential and not just be theoretically fast. We call that concept usable aero, a position-first approach that filters bikes by fit, adjustability, and real-world rideability, because a bike can only be aero if you can ride it in an aero position.
This story is based on a conversation I had with Escape colleague Dave Rome on the Performance Process podcast. Together, we laid out a checklist that cuts through the noise to help you choose a bike that works for your goals, your body, and the way you actually ride. Escape Collective members can listen to that podcast here:
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