Aero Socks

[T4tomo]

Well just added wind socks to my bike but TBH did not see any speed increase and actually thought it was slowing me down?

you are indeed slow...
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/aero-socks.292296/post-6994141

 

[Happy_Days]

Could these £50 socks be the world’s worst value for money clobber?

https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/product/pro-team-aero-socks/BJY01XXBLK

 

[briantrumpet]

I'm just so sorry that the planet burned to a frazzle because I used AI for terrible humour.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I bought a pair of Castelli aero socks when they were on sale at Merlin ~3 years ago, around same time I bought my first set of semi-aero, 50mm Vel 50RL wheels.

At the time, I hoped I would get over my covid infection, just like previous infections.

Ironically, they would have been some benefit in early '22, but hey ho... Maybe again, one day.

 

[super_davo]

I had a set of Castelli aero socks which looked fantastic for about 3 wears till the silicone grippers started coming off.

Now I just get them from AliExpress; you can get all manner of colours to match with whatever jersey and they vary from about £3-10 i.e. no more than a set of regular socks. A nice clean set of white aero socks with no logos will look good with just about any cycling outfit.

I'm not sure how much the savings are vs normal socks but they look good, they are cheap, and fairly comfortable, so why not?

 

[a.twiddler]

How does a sock make your legs more aerodynamic? If you fit socks to an air brake, which is essentially what the human blob holding the handlebars is, it's still an air brake. Of course, some of us are blobbier than others. Is it just the belief that makes the rider faster, the placebo effect, or is it something else? What next, aero chamois cream? No, don't tell me, the UCI has strict regulations about that, too.

 

[super_davo]

How does a sock make your legs more aerodynamic? If you fit socks to an air brake, which is essentially what the human blob holding the handlebars is, it's still an air brake. Of course, some of us are blobbier than others. Is it just the belief that makes the rider faster, the placebo effect, or is it something else? What next, aero chamois cream? No, don't tell me, the UCI has strict regulations about that, too.

By creating a boundary layer and tripping air round that air brake.

I don't profess to know all the aero details but those that do claim it can save as many watts as deep section wheels for a tiny fraction of the price. I very much doubt you would be able to feel or measure the difference on your own, but that doesn't mean there isn't a difference.

 

[Happy_Days]

What next, aero chamois cream? No, don't tell me, the UCI has strict regulations about that, too.

How did you know? 😉

 

[esoxlucius]

I don't get it one bit. The minimal aero gains that these socks supposedly give you, surely is then offset because of the weight of the socks!! Marginal yes, but still a valid observation. And if it's a wet ride then all bets are off.

Please enlighten me with any aero science so I understand it better.

 

[a.twiddler]

Many years ago I read a discussion regarding shaving/not shaving your legs. It seems that a certain amount of hair helps to create a boundary layer of slower moving air close to the skin, thus causing a barely measurable reduction in drag due to less turbulence in the slipstream behind your moving legs, compared with shiny smooth hairless ones. Getting the amount and depth of hair right is the issue which nobody can agree on. Perhaps some would rather shave anyway, to reduce the amount of screaming involved should you slide down the road and have to peel off the sticky dressings later.

Perhaps proper aero socks need to have the fuzz on the outside? Though since the UCI would frown on such innovations, and approved ones are pretty short anyway, it seems a bit pointless.

 

[Hacienda71]

You can buy cheap aero socks on AliExpress £2 to £3 a pair. Certainly wouldn't lash out big bucks for a pair of socks unless you were seriously into your racing.