In recent months, there’s been something of an explosion in the amount of aero tech coming onto the market. This is due to a couple of factors which have created an aerodynamicist’s perfect storm. Primarily, aero sensor (opens in new tab) quality has improved.
The general cycle of development is that physicists discover some useful fundamental property, they then find potential applications and send it to the engineers. These engineers then build something and send it to their friends in industry who will then miniaturise it.
This cycle repeats indefinitely and devices get smaller and smaller – which is the reason your phone can do so many interesting things that 20 years ago would have been unthinkable. A side product of this, is we can now get wind tunnel data from a small device which attaches to our handlebars – step in, Aerosensor (opens in new tab).
The other reason for the increase in aero tech is that alongside this sensor quality improvement. cyclists have collectively realised they’re wasting a lot of energy on the wind, about 80% of everything they’re producing! Aerosensor, among others, are here to help us cheat this wind.
Who is Aerosensor?
Aerosensor was founded five years ago by former F1 engineer, Dr Barney Garrood, and after a four-year development cycle they’re just about ready to start production. A funding campaign has launched on Indiegogo (opens in new tab) which has raised about £25,000 so far, though even if their £45,000 target is not met the product will be produced anyway as Aerosensor has alternative forms of funding.
Chris Hoy is on board as an Aerosensor ambassador and there’s already a video in which the six-time Olympic gold medallist explains the system and extols its virtues.
How much does Aerosensor cost?
The planned order shipment of the first units is early February 2023 and the vast majority of the product design process is complete. The full system is available to order for £844, currently discounted from the full price of £1,125. The full price for the Aerosensor on its own is £750.
By comparison, Notio sells the Aerometer for $599 on its website (opens in new tab) but we couldn’t find it in the UK for less than £749 (apparently discounted from its RRP of £949) (opens in new tab).
Alongside the development cycle of Aerosensor, they’ve actually ended up with three products. The flagship Aerosensor CdA measurement device, Aerobody (a laser-guided body position sensor) and Aerodrome – a…