NO, because something terrible could happen like being mistaken for a Triathlete🤣. But seriously, Yeah why not? Not gonna rush out and buy one though, I like the flexibility of separate kit.
What happened to going over other disadvanteges? Can you explore subject further in show/tech clinic? How does comfort, loo stops, general durability, changing, garment care, temperature ranges, price, color options, reactions, modesty, versatility all compare?
going to the toilet isn’t really an issue, as it zips down the front. Price wise, it’s cheaper than a separate jersey and shorts. Comfort wise, i really like it.
I've noticed for years that when coasting downhill I quickly accelerate past other riders. I'm 5'9" and 190 lbs (175 cm, 86 kg) with spindly limbs and a substantial beer belly. I have long wondered if I was somehow more aerodynamic due to my rounder shape. I have a plan to test this. If you lot would do consecutive runs wearing a false baby bump, we could test my hypothesis. If speedier, it might even be race legal. Of course, after viewing this vid, I'm leaning towards the extra tight fit of my jersey and shorts.
That has been confirmed by wind tunnel testing (see e.g. Swiss side) and there is a GCN video about it: ua-cam.com/video/Z4Te-wrCQsM/v-deo.html - banned by UCI though if artificial 🤣
Are these other riders of a similar weight to you or lighter? The physics of descending are that heavier riders win out because there is more gravitational force but drag is fairly similar.
I've already discovered that a speed suit is definitely the most comfortable choice in cycling kit. Unexpected benefit - the pockets are always in the right place! I often end up with something heavier in one side pocket than the other and with a usual jersey that will pull the garment around as the miles go on. Meanwhile my Doppio suit (Giordana's term) keeps the pockets right where they should be.
I'd wear a speedsuit for a race anytime (as I already do anyway), aside of being more aero I like just the feeling of it staying in place in cyclocross, where your standard jersey usually goes up a bit in a run or something. But for general riding I'm still in the shorts + jersey camp for a simple reason: taking a wee. You don't have to unzip anything to do that, which I think pretty much equals the time difference and I don't have to feel wierd half undressing myself on the side of the road.
Geeee I can strongly relate to the latter feeling... as I remember once wearing my entry-level speedsuit (VAN RYSEL, sold for €45 by Décathlon stores) whilst cycling across Versailles on a dazzling summer day. Suddenly had an urgent need to relieve myself (#coffeejunkie. Ended up half undressing in a sparse, thorny hedge right behind the Château... with throngs of tourists walking by within earshot!!! I've never worn it since.😅😅
Interesting results but I wouldn't wear one as I'd look (or at least feel like I looked) ridiculous at my age. Plus I like the ability to swap out tops and shorts as required. And I expect they are very expensive
I'm not sure it's more expensive than a good bibshort+Jersey. I remember I bought a one piece combi for 170€ (A Rapha combi on sale), if you compare with the equivalent short and Jersey, it's probably less expensive...
For racing, a skinsuit is an easy gain. On the road, for general riding...sometimes I wear one. I find a skinsuit to be more comfortable, but I do tend to reserve it for faster rides which aren't too long (less than 50 miles), as the pockets are generally a bit small for additional fuelling and they are trickier for loo stops.
A racing suit is one of the few items that is more aerodynamic and lighter. Aero - wheels or frames are heavier, which eats away some of the aero advantage. For 30 years I have been riding a route through the Odenwald in Germany at least once a year with 93 km and approx. 930 meters in altitude. I was able to achieve my best time at the age of 40. At the age of 50, with the Castelli San Remo 2 racing suit and an average speed of over 30 km/h without a slipstream, I was almost as fast as when I was 40, despite a little weight gain.
I do triathlon, I almost never wear a tri-suit (closest thing I have to one of these) outside of a race. For training rides and just general cycling I'm quite happy being slightly less efficient and slightly more comfy.
I only wear trisuits for both running and cycling since I don't like the "pampers" in the cycling shorts. ( my saddle also doesn't have padding otherwise I feel like I have a flat tyre )
Now it would be fun to see a video comparison of all the aero/rolling advantages tested back to back...suit, wheels, tires, bike, helmet, sox etc vs standard decent kit.
I often wear a speed suit (or Flyte suit as Pactimo calls it) and find it be surprisingly comfortable and still practical. Fits better than well fitting aero jersey/shorts combo. It's my default kit for racing and still a viable option on 200+km rides. Still have aero jerseys and bib shorts but those are more for daily use or training. I did crash and rip the one-piece but I was able to DIY repair it with some iron-on neoprene patches. My $0.02...
I’m not surprised by the difference. I’ve always opted to use speed suits during chain gangs and crits. I’ve got about 4 in total, 2 for TT and 2 for Crits. Inevitably, speed suits are great if you’re targeting speed, but I’d never be comfortable wearing them out on a club ride. 😅
At 68 with just a bit of a potbelly, I think I better take a pass! I won't wear a speedo either. But you boys go right ahead. Although, I do think you should have asked Manon to give you guys a thumbs up or down on your wearing speed suits. It is always important to keep the ladies view on guys in lycra in mind.
For me personally, I prefer wearing the aero skinsuit. Not for the aerodynamic advantages but I was very fortunate to get a 3D fitting with Nopinz a few years ago and it means I can literally have a perfect fitting kit which is amazing as I have a long torso and short legs so it's a pain in the arse getting kit that fits
@@gcntech I feel very fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to wear it to be honest with you I am faster yes with less power output which is a nice feeling, fitness wise I'm not sure but I actually don't get sores behind my knees anymore as my bib shorts would rub there
I think in the UK you would wear a 1 piece about 2 or 3 days a year. It is normally too cold to not wear a base layer or jacket, even in spring/summer.
Could you do a testing between normal road cycling helmet vs aero ones. Those with minimal air vents. Would be interesting to know the watts saved if any.
I’m 100% with Ollie. I think the aero suits look so much better. Not only are they just more sleek, but you often end up with longer jerseys tailing over the bum or sagging off to one side (especially when you’ve got pockets full of things). It’s something you see in fondo’s all the time. That, or sweat patches around the waist on hot days, but generally, I think folks need to remember that in terms of how different they look… to non-cyclists they think we look ridiculous anyway. Who are we trying to kid that we look ‘better’ in a separate jersey and shorts? It’s all pretty ludicrous. I’m waiting on my NoPinz kit to arrive in a few weeks. Can’t wait to go an attack my favourite segments to see what difference it helps me to make.
I own two road speed suits with pockets. One is NoPinz and I love it. I probably wear it the most out of my other kits. Don't really care about the aero, just like the look.
@@gcntech Going fast is what I find fun. I don't care how I look if there is a way to go faster. Goodness knows what I look like in my garage on Zwift! I'm usually a mess! No shades to hide behind, no helmet to mask the sweaty head, no cool jersey design to cover what is usually hidden on the road. embrace it all. Cycling is fun.
I like to mix and match jerseys and shorts/tights depending on the weather so its separates for me. Plus which speed is not my primary reason for riding.
I'm not sure a skin suit would offer me the same level of belly support that the two layers from bib shorts and a jersey does! Maybe when I'm back at my summer weight!
honestly as an amateur got a suit just to see what they are like. really comfortable since you dont have bib straps, honestly if companies could make a version that sort of looks more like a jersey/short combo rather than a form fit, i could see people moving to that due to the comfort gain maybe change the name from skinsuit or speedsuit to something like one piece or combo to make it sound less weird to new people?
There are companies that have these, you just have to pick the right model. Road versions are the most common ones, that you are looking for, but they also have variations of even those. I've seen road, mountain bike, time trial, cyclocross, and triathlon just to name a few.
I have been wearing a one piece suit for years now - frankly I don't see the downside - it fits better, it is more comfortable and is faster. For anyone worried about looks - you will look like a speed machine and nobody will see you anyway - you will be just a blur! But seriously - I personally like the looks and that is all I need. This video reminded me I tore one of my suits to shreds in a fall last year - just ordered the model Alex was wearing - thanks!
I agree. I dont understand these ppl who care about their looks. Cycling isnt a fashion show. Im all in for performance and comfort gains. People in reality dont care what you wear within reason.
I noticed you didn’t wear arm warmers with the skin suit but you did with the regular riding kit which is a big aero difference (hairy arms = drag) and probably why your time difference isn’t as big as Alex’s. If I was racing I’d use one but at this point of my cycling life I’d rather be comfortable 😊
Been using them since I've first got into the sport about 8 years ago. Both practical and comfortable in my opinion. People forget or ignore the fact that a majority of the drag on the bike is the rider, so it makes sense to reduce the drag as much as possible vs purely focusing on the bike. As far as looks go, since there's a lot of self conscious people on here reading through the comments, it's never bothered me one bit. I think it looks way better than your standard jersey and bibs.
Yep. Every ride. Even just the comfort factor, without those extra straps. A lot cooler too (Australia as it's only one layer on my back and waist. And some brands are coloured and made so it doesn't look like you're wearing a one piece. I haven't worn separates for years
Great video, those results are surprisingly large. I would like to offer a counterargument to Ollie's claim that Castelli introduced this as a tool. I was wearing a "speed suit" in the early 90s, but I admit that I never wore it in a crit for fear of being laughed at and not knowing how much aero mattered; I only wore it for my TTs and training for the TTs. It was all super tight lycra shorts and jerseys using the same material throughout, in two colors. What I have seen change in the last decade or so, and maybe what Ollie was pointing out, is that Castelli and now others have added more "engineering" backed by wind tunnel testing into their garments beyond just making them a tight fit. The new speed suits often use 3, 4 or more fabric types on one suit depending on the location (shoulders, chest, back, shorts, etc) and are engineering "textures" to achieve the effect they want for that part of the body. I now have a modern suit and love the front "screen door" flaps at the front that allows you to open it up on a climb and make it easier to pee than the single zipper down the middle that always stopped to short.
There is a difference between a speed suit (other brands have various other names) and a TT skinsuit. The speed suits really are like stitching together shorts and jersey. They are separate pieces of fabric that are only joined together from the point of your hips back. So when unzipped, the front is able to open like a jersey, whereas in the TT skinsuit the zipper stays together at the bottom.
It's as simple as this. A sweat alot. If you think Si was bad, you've seen nothing! So the first bike type kit was of all things a trisuit, simply because they are designed for swimming, and it would be wet, (and the extra padding was an issue with cycling kit)...not from swimming. Not a fan of the transparent parts as seems to be the fashion with any cycling kit. My theory is however, is that when I'm riding, I'll be fast enough no one will recognise me, and other cyclists around my speed don't care! I do have some normal kit now, but I prefer the comfort of the trisuit, and now cycling specific one's with more padding, now that I've found a very narrow saddle that works for me.
I don't think that I would, I would love the potential 1 minute improvement.. but first, I need to loose a bunch of weight to be aero... as a person... and honestly, I enjoy the variety of jerseys which I ride in now, I would miss changing it up, too much invested to switch now. I am assuming that the cost will be significant as well, at this point in my cycling career, I'll try the socks first
While I'm not a fan of, and think there are significant flaws with, the type of "testing" where you ride to a set power, this did finally produce some usable results. When you compare the "gains" from this test to the gains from your recent aero v lightweight bike test it reminds us that 80% of a rider's CDA comes from their body and not their bike. You can micromanage the '20%' with thousands of dollars/pounds in equipment to gain 25 seconds, or you can buy an aero suit and get a bike fit for a fraction of that, and gain a minute or even a minute and a half.
I started about a year and a half ago wearing the aero suit on rides where I wanted a bit more speed and I like them when the heat ramps up here in Arizona. The one piece Santini Kit are cooler, which again helps with speed.
A onesie for training and competition, and a bib with jersey for those leisurely rides. The onesie wins the comfort department, due to no straps. Not that some companies don't develop very comfortable bibs, so not all straps are uncomfortable. Aero suits come in a variety as well, with some being a tad restrictive when standing.
Even if there were no aero benefits I’d prefer wearing the one-piece suit. I find them more comfortable and better fitting than individual shorts and jersey, largely due to the lack of bib straps. I was an early adopter of the suit, trying the Castelli San Remo suit shortly after it’s initial release. For me, it was a similar difference in comfort over traditional bibs as those bibs were to standard shorts.
Used these now for over 5 years, not to make me any faster but simply for comfort, the lack of straps just makes these more breathable on the occasional hot day we have.
Really clear stats. My question as an ex pro clarinetist, who can see how well top amateur clarinet players are doing is: how much time and training would Alex need to do to reverse the rise of a hugely and rightly applauded Ollie (as a beacon to us all) to re-assert Alex's superiority as a pro. I don't play the clarinet AT ALL anymore for a number of reasons, but would guess that a month's serious practice would see me back in the groove. What would it take for Si, or Alex (sorry Dan), to regain the podium place over Ollie? No desire to do Ollie down - his improvement has been a huge inspiration. By the way, I won't be wearing a one piece any time soon as I'm overweight and that is clear enough in shorts and jersey.
20 years ago maybe, but now I am too old to wear aero. After the transition from a 6pack to a rice bag, it will annoy the people around me. After I turned 50, fun on a bike is more important than speed.
Nice video guys! For the average amateur cyclist, it might not be the best choice price and usage wise. But if you compete often, then, absolutely! Thanks for the insights :)
The sleeveless onesie thing I have was marketed as a triathlon suit (possible translation error), which is probably why it doesn’t contain any pockets. I mean the delusion of speed is great but going to the toilet is an issue…it’s like rounding you back and rotating your pelvis forward/upward enough in the hope that the stitches don’t break! Anyhow, feeling fast is fast!!
I like the variability of a separate jersey. I have a couple of pairs of shorts that im super happy with and just switch out my jerseys. Don’t want to keep having to buy a all in one when i want a change.
Wow this was a good lowkey ad. Might look into the Castelli BTW Speedsuit now. Issue is that I have no idea what size to get nor any places that have them to try on.
I LOVE my speedsuits, got several ones from both Castelli and Bioracer (TT nut) and I love the fit and the look. For everyone saying they would look ridiculous: they slightly correct your body (my 80kg 1.8m torso looks amazing in them). If I could afford it I would wear them all the time. It's not that they are expensive, a decent suit is about the same price as a good shirt and bibshort combo, but in my case my bibs wear out sooner than my shirts, so when I fully switch to suits I'd be replacing my gear more often. So for now I only wear them on my TT bike, both racing and training, and switch to regular gear on my roadbikes.
@@jackal6234 Probably the smallest, but you should check their sizing charts to be sure. They size on hip, chest and waist and not length or weight so that makes it a little harder.
@@jackal6234 Santini has italian sizing which indeed is better for skinny riders. I'm pretty big, 6 feet and 80kgs and my Bioracer speedsuit is 'european sizing' and size M, I also have a Castelli speedsuit (also italian sizing) which is size L.
@@sjurk81 Wait so. The italian sizing which is meant good for skinny riders and thr European sizing is different right? ES is kinda like for buff kinda cyclist compared to Skinny?
Fundamentally one-piece suits are great. I grew up in them as an jnkine speedskater. But they are a faff as well. Getting them on a off is more difficult, and you can't go full Schleck in them, which is a knock against them
yep. but… the key point which he agreed with me on is that Pros have tailored jerseys available, where as the rest of us have stock sizes. an off the peg speed suit and a tailored jersey are comparable according to dan. however, to the rest of us, the off the leg speed suit tends to give a much better fit, with minimal bunching, which i think you can also see in this vid.
@@GCNuser123 hey Oli - thanks for the quick reply. Makes sense that super tight fitting clothes are more aero. I’ve got so much two-piece kit, so when Dan said that one-piece wasn’t really an aero advantage was music to my ears! :) I have pretty tight fitting tops, so maybe what he was saying applies to me... interesting though that I’m noticing the one piece becoming more and more popular in the pro peloton, which is a pretty significant data point, considering they’d also wear very tight two-piece kits. Anyway, thanks for exploring these topics - keep it goin
i have been wearing speed suits for 4 years now, and have found them better in every way, more comfortable, faster, and lighter. I don’t recommend them because i would lose my advantage. Lol
Hello! Compare road bike aerodynamics for 2 positions. 1. The cyclist keeps his forearms on the handlebars (forbidden by the UCI in group racing). 2. The cyclist holds the handlebars by the lower levers (80s classic).
I'd only wear that if I need to (Maybe Strava KOM hunting) Which I don't do. Normal Jerseys and Cycling Shorts is enough for me. I like to mix & match colours and you can't do that in speed suits.
Interesting video - I’ve just got myself an aero suit, so I’m curious to see the difference. Different point - what happened to repetitions to ensure better quality empirical data? Oli would surely agree that at least 3 repeats of each run should get better data than 1 run. Thanks!
Skinsuits are for use in Criteriums and Time Trials, not for training. I believe that I have five of them, from three different teams. One is even long sleeve (for chilly early morning Time Trials) I've never worn one in a road race, because you need your pockets for those longer races. (Amateurs don't have team cars following you to pass up food and water)
I have used speedsuits for some years now often for long distance rides such as audaxes. Whilst I cannot provide scientific evidence on the advantages, subjectively I feel that they do provide an advantage. They are the best bits of kit that I wear for summer riding.I have used speedsuits for some years now often for long distance rides such as audaxes. Whilst I cannot provide scientific evidence on the advantages, subjectively I feel that they do provide an advantage. They are the best bits of kit that I wear for summer riding.
I love that uneven pocket load won't shift the suit around as much as a jersey would. Inline speedskaters have been wearing those for two decades at least, watch some videos of Berlin marathon for example.
I’m not a bit surprised by these results I have a couple of very close fitting jerseys, one of them with long sleeves. If I feel like having a fast, (well fast by my standards) blast I will use one of them. If on the other hand I wear my club jersey, it’s a bit like riding in a tent!
Given my rides are mostly to and from the cafe or donut shop while I definitely would like to get there quicker likely the one piece isn’t in my future
I'd wear one; it looks a little less serious and more practical than a skinsuit thanks to the pockets with presumably most of the benefits. BTW with the Castelli BTW (ha), what was the sizing like compared to normal Castelli? Would you size up or just go with normal castelli sizing?
@@DerekWhiteRidesABike Is the sizing between the SanRemo and BTW the same? Some skinsuits are tighter than others; with the BTW being their "ultimate" speedsuit I was thinking maybe it's extra-snug.
The benefits of a one-piece aero skin suit are well known to the younger set of cyclists in the Philippines. It seems every other you cyclist is wearing them, they seem to be all the rage right now, and I keep getting attacked on long climbs by riders half my age in all-black skin suits. However, the reason why a 51-yearold cyclist such as myself hasn't bought a one-piece aero skin suit yet is because: 1. I already have enough jerseys. 2. There aren't any one-piece aero skin suits specifically designed for extreme heat like my Castelli Climber's Jerseys, which are my favorite (I already have 9 pieces of them) and are designed to prevent overheating even in temperatures as hot as 40 degrees Celsius. In comparison, Castelli's Rossa Corsa one-piece speed suit is rated to be comfortable only up to 35 degrees Celsius. And it gets really really hot in the Philippines. These young cyclists don't seem to mind the heat, but I do. 3. I won't have the same flexibility of using different jerseys for different weather conditions while using the same Castelli Endurance 3.0 bib shorts I always use. For example, in a recent bikepacking adventure to a mountain where temperatures ranged from around 25 to 15 Celsius, I opted to use my Castelli Montalcino merino wool blend jerseys, which I still paired with Castelli Endurance 3.0 bib shorts.
I'm already in the process of converting over to using skinsuits almost entirely. That big of a time difference must be - what - 20 watts? At least 10, right?
So this sounds like an add for Castelli. Guessing Ollie went about 1 meter per second faster or 48 to 50 meters per half hour, with the same power over the course with the faster kit. How much does the faster kit cost per meter per second compared to the bib and jersey? What is the replacement cost when crashed, which almost everyone will do at some point, compared to replacing your onesie compared to just a jersey or just bib short?
Nice location at Tossa de Mar and a beautiful coastal road….brings back great memories of my Girona trip last year. Anyway about the video I still wouldn’t wear a speed suit on all rides….I do when racing. Why? - More expensive - Less versatile. I.e. chop and change tops and shorts - Less practical when needing the loo. - Typically no pockets/small pockets. - Can’t use them as a layer in winter - Look like an idiot in the cafe - Just not accepted out of racing. I.e. get a life if you feel you need it on a group/social ride. Also I am a bit skeptical of the results when sponsored by Castelli, was your position consistent? Also the biggest variation in results was Alex at a lower power and his weight presumably going a lot slower….yet a bigger difference.
I really like riding in a skinsuit. It's comfortable and my jersey doesn't slide up anymore. When I mentioned it to my cycling buddy he asked what would I do if I needed to poop and I never want to find out 😂
My brain always wanted to wear a skinsuit but my belly didn’t want me to wear a skinsuit. Not everyone can fit in a skinsuit. I’m usually 1 size larger in a jersey than bibs (XL jersey with L bibs)
Tech is amazing and no doubt I would wear the areo suit, but I still think I'll benefit more from losing 10kg ;) The socks though.... I am going full Dan Bigham on my sock game this year!
I have no sense of shame, and I'm not against speed suits at all. If my goal with riding my bike was racing, I would wear one, but since it is mostly just about getting some exercise and some fresh air, I am doing just fine with separate bibs and jersey. For all you speed devils out there: Rock that speed suit 🙌
The one-piece is like any other kit, you may like it better if the color scheme is awesome. For me, I have bibs and a top. Maybe I can "upgrade" later.
Would you wear a speed suit on your rides if you had one? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
Yes I would, but I'd probably keep it for events rather than every day riding.
NO, because something terrible could happen like being mistaken for a Triathlete🤣. But seriously, Yeah why not? Not gonna rush out and buy one though, I like the flexibility of separate kit.
Yeah I bought an ineos speed suit on sale when they were changing and I love it
Def getting one for my next etape.
Not on all my rides. And first of all I would need to be in better shape. Which also makes me faster.
What happened to going over other disadvanteges? Can you explore subject further in show/tech clinic? How does comfort, loo stops, general durability, changing, garment care, temperature ranges, price, color options, reactions, modesty, versatility all compare?
going to the toilet isn’t really an issue, as it zips down the front. Price wise, it’s cheaper than a separate jersey and shorts. Comfort wise, i really like it.
@@GCNuser123 pretty much the same opinion! Plus it looks good
@@GCNuser123 What about us ladies :) ?
Comfort is better because there aren't bib straps, and everything else is the same
Will be good for racing, no so much for training. Investing in power meter (for Zone 2) and consistency for training is good enough for most of us.
I've noticed for years that when coasting downhill I quickly accelerate past other riders. I'm 5'9" and 190 lbs (175 cm, 86 kg) with spindly limbs and a substantial beer belly. I have long wondered if I was somehow more aerodynamic due to my rounder shape.
I have a plan to test this. If you lot would do consecutive runs wearing a false baby bump, we could test my hypothesis. If speedier, it might even be race legal.
Of course, after viewing this vid, I'm leaning towards the extra tight fit of my jersey and shorts.
That has been confirmed by wind tunnel testing (see e.g. Swiss side) and there is a GCN video about it: ua-cam.com/video/Z4Te-wrCQsM/v-deo.html - banned by UCI though if artificial 🤣
GCN did a video on this and concluded a big tummy did make you more aero
Are these other riders of a similar weight to you or lighter? The physics of descending are that heavier riders win out because there is more gravitational force but drag is fairly similar.
Haha I love it 😂
I've already discovered that a speed suit is definitely the most comfortable choice in cycling kit. Unexpected benefit - the pockets are always in the right place! I often end up with something heavier in one side pocket than the other and with a usual jersey that will pull the garment around as the miles go on. Meanwhile my Doppio suit (Giordana's term) keeps the pockets right where they should be.
I'd wear a speedsuit for a race anytime (as I already do anyway), aside of being more aero I like just the feeling of it staying in place in cyclocross, where your standard jersey usually goes up a bit in a run or something. But for general riding I'm still in the shorts + jersey camp for a simple reason: taking a wee. You don't have to unzip anything to do that, which I think pretty much equals the time difference and I don't have to feel wierd half undressing myself on the side of the road.
Great to hear you are using both a speedsuit and the classic bibs and jersey! If you had to choose one what would it be? 👀
@@gcntech Some more aero-focused bibs and jersey.
Geeee I can strongly relate to the latter feeling... as I remember once wearing my entry-level speedsuit (VAN RYSEL, sold for €45 by Décathlon stores) whilst cycling across Versailles on a dazzling summer day. Suddenly had an urgent need to relieve myself (#coffeejunkie. Ended up half undressing in a sparse, thorny hedge right behind the Château... with throngs of tourists walking by within earshot!!! I've never worn it since.😅😅
Interesting results but I wouldn't wear one as I'd look (or at least feel like I looked) ridiculous at my age. Plus I like the ability to swap out tops and shorts as required. And I expect they are very expensive
I'm not sure it's more expensive than a good bibshort+Jersey. I remember I bought a one piece combi for 170€ (A Rapha combi on sale), if you compare with the equivalent short and Jersey, it's probably less expensive...
Years ago it was the same with fitted jerseys, everybody thought you looked ridiculous in them.
At my age a little concealment is helpful. Not sure I want every detail of my anatomy revealed to the world.
Decathlon used to have a time trial suit with pockets for 100 EUR, but unfortunately it seems to be pretty much sold out.
@@stephenwatkins7592nah, we gotta show off the 6 incher😂
I'd love to know the benefits of a onsie with a mamil beer gut fairing!
For racing, a skinsuit is an easy gain. On the road, for general riding...sometimes I wear one. I find a skinsuit to be more comfortable, but I do tend to reserve it for faster rides which aren't too long (less than 50 miles), as the pockets are generally a bit small for additional fuelling and they are trickier for loo stops.
A racing suit is one of the few items that is more aerodynamic and lighter. Aero - wheels or frames are heavier, which eats away some of the aero advantage.
For 30 years I have been riding a route through the Odenwald in Germany at least once a year with 93 km and approx. 930 meters in altitude. I was able to achieve my best time at the age of 40. At the age of 50, with the Castelli San Remo 2 racing suit and an average speed of over 30 km/h without a slipstream, I was almost as fast as when I was 40, despite a little weight gain.
I am sold. I am going out and buy one. Thank you GCN for a very comprehensive test.
I wear a Rapha Pro Team one piece winter aero suit. I love it, it's my gravel cycling Snuggie. Wish they still made them.
Yes, I've been wearing tri-suits for years, I really enjoy wearing them. 🙂
I do triathlon, I almost never wear a tri-suit (closest thing I have to one of these) outside of a race. For training rides and just general cycling I'm quite happy being slightly less efficient and slightly more comfy.
I only wear trisuits for both running and cycling since I don't like the "pampers" in the cycling shorts. ( my saddle also doesn't have padding otherwise I feel like I have a flat tyre )
@@JeroenVandK you never cycle in cycle gear and run in running gear?
Now it would be fun to see a video comparison of all the aero/rolling advantages tested back to back...suit, wheels, tires, bike, helmet, sox etc vs standard decent kit.
I’m really surprised there. Was that much of a difference. So glad I took the time to watch this video. Thanks guys!
Thanks! Glad you found it informative
I often wear a speed suit (or Flyte suit as Pactimo calls it) and find it be surprisingly comfortable and still practical. Fits better than well fitting aero jersey/shorts combo. It's my default kit for racing and still a viable option on 200+km rides. Still have aero jerseys and bib shorts but those are more for daily use or training. I did crash and rip the one-piece but I was able to DIY repair it with some iron-on neoprene patches. My $0.02...
Thanks for making a comparison at 200W!!
I would consider wearing one if they were cheaper.
I'm saving my aero suit for my mid-life crisis.
I’m not surprised by the difference. I’ve always opted to use speed suits during chain gangs and crits. I’ve got about 4 in total, 2 for TT and 2 for Crits. Inevitably, speed suits are great if you’re targeting speed, but I’d never be comfortable wearing them out on a club ride. 😅
Yep, they certainly have their place, but a club ride may not be that!
At 68 with just a bit of a potbelly, I think I better take a pass! I won't wear a speedo either. But you boys go right ahead. Although, I do think you should have asked Manon to give you guys a thumbs up or down on your wearing speed suits. It is always important to keep the ladies view on guys in lycra in mind.
I haven't researched sizing but I believe the issue will be torso length variation. Also there is no hiding the winter pudge...
For me personally, I prefer wearing the aero skinsuit. Not for the aerodynamic advantages but I was very fortunate to get a 3D fitting with Nopinz a few years ago and it means I can literally have a perfect fitting kit which is amazing as I have a long torso and short legs so it's a pain in the arse getting kit that fits
That's amazing! Custom kit can be a game changer, so cool to hear you've had a good experience. Has it helped your riding and fitness? 👀
@@gcntech I feel very fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to wear it to be honest with you
I am faster yes with less power output which is a nice feeling, fitness wise I'm not sure but I actually don't get sores behind my knees anymore as my bib shorts would rub there
I think in the UK you would wear a 1 piece about 2 or 3 days a year. It is normally too cold to not wear a base layer or jacket, even in spring/summer.
Could you do a testing between normal road cycling helmet vs aero ones. Those with minimal air vents. Would be interesting to know the watts saved if any.
NorCal cycling did a good video on this. He found a decent savings for the aero helmet on his local race loop.
Not on public road but here will get you an idea ua-cam.com/video/hd0fXhDkH84/v-deo.html I am sure this GCN video help
I’m 100% with Ollie. I think the aero suits look so much better.
Not only are they just more sleek, but you often end up with longer jerseys tailing over the bum or sagging off to one side (especially when you’ve got pockets full of things). It’s something you see in fondo’s all the time. That, or sweat patches around the waist on hot days, but generally, I think folks need to remember that in terms of how different they look… to non-cyclists they think we look ridiculous anyway. Who are we trying to kid that we look ‘better’ in a separate jersey and shorts? It’s all pretty ludicrous.
I’m waiting on my NoPinz kit to arrive in a few weeks. Can’t wait to go an attack my favourite segments to see what difference it helps me to make.
I own two road speed suits with pockets. One is NoPinz and I love it. I probably wear it the most out of my other kits. Don't really care about the aero, just like the look.
Looking ridiculous is all part of the fun, right? 😂
Getting them off after being sweaty on your own is a real PITA. Those with short sleeves are worse.
@@gcntech Going fast is what I find fun. I don't care how I look if there is a way to go faster. Goodness knows what I look like in my garage on Zwift! I'm usually a mess! No shades to hide behind, no helmet to mask the sweaty head, no cool jersey design to cover what is usually hidden on the road. embrace it all. Cycling is fun.
@@chuckprocner8410 Need a skin suit removal team :D
I like to mix and match jerseys and shorts/tights depending on the weather so its separates for me. Plus which speed is not my primary reason for riding.
I'm not sure a skin suit would offer me the same level of belly support that the two layers from bib shorts and a jersey does! Maybe when I'm back at my summer weight!
Can relate
There is something to be said for the style of bibs and jersey 👀
honestly as an amateur got a suit just to see what they are like. really comfortable since you dont have bib straps, honestly if companies could make a version that sort of looks more like a jersey/short combo rather than a form fit, i could see people moving to that due to the comfort gain maybe change the name from skinsuit or speedsuit to something like one piece or combo to make it sound less weird to new people?
There are companies that have these, you just have to pick the right model. Road versions are the most common ones, that you are looking for, but they also have variations of even those. I've seen road, mountain bike, time trial, cyclocross, and triathlon just to name a few.
I’m wearing a cycling speed suit since 10 years!
I was an inline skating competitor and I always wondered why nobody use those for cycling.
I have been wearing a one piece suit for years now - frankly I don't see the downside - it fits better, it is more comfortable and is faster. For anyone worried about looks - you will look like a speed machine and nobody will see you anyway - you will be just a blur! But seriously - I personally like the looks and that is all I need. This video reminded me I tore one of my suits to shreds in a fall last year - just ordered the model Alex was wearing - thanks!
I agree. I dont understand these ppl who care about their looks. Cycling isnt a fashion show. Im all in for performance and comfort gains. People in reality dont care what you wear within reason.
@@saunadude8082 You’re so wrong. It’s a total fashion show where the premium brands are what people aspire to. Like other walks of life
I noticed you didn’t wear arm warmers with the skin suit but you did with the regular riding kit which is a big aero difference (hairy arms = drag) and probably why your time difference isn’t as big as Alex’s. If I was racing I’d use one but at this point of my cycling life I’d rather be comfortable 😊
Think they are supposed to be more comfortable I believe
Been using them since I've first got into the sport about 8 years ago. Both practical and comfortable in my opinion. People forget or ignore the fact that a majority of the drag on the bike is the rider, so it makes sense to reduce the drag as much as possible vs purely focusing on the bike. As far as looks go, since there's a lot of self conscious people on here reading through the comments, it's never bothered me one bit. I think it looks way better than your standard jersey and bibs.
Please do a test where you spend a set budget on aero kit (skin suit, helmet socks, etc.) vs aero bike upgrades (handlebars, wheels, etc.)
Yep. Every ride. Even just the comfort factor, without those extra straps. A lot cooler too (Australia as it's only one layer on my back and waist. And some brands are coloured and made so it doesn't look like you're wearing a one piece. I haven't worn separates for years
Great video, those results are surprisingly large. I would like to offer a counterargument to Ollie's claim that Castelli introduced this as a tool. I was wearing a "speed suit" in the early 90s, but I admit that I never wore it in a crit for fear of being laughed at and not knowing how much aero mattered; I only wore it for my TTs and training for the TTs. It was all super tight lycra shorts and jerseys using the same material throughout, in two colors. What I have seen change in the last decade or so, and maybe what Ollie was pointing out, is that Castelli and now others have added more "engineering" backed by wind tunnel testing into their garments beyond just making them a tight fit. The new speed suits often use 3, 4 or more fabric types on one suit depending on the location (shoulders, chest, back, shorts, etc) and are engineering "textures" to achieve the effect they want for that part of the body. I now have a modern suit and love the front "screen door" flaps at the front that allows you to open it up on a climb and make it easier to pee than the single zipper down the middle that always stopped to short.
There is a difference between a speed suit (other brands have various other names) and a TT skinsuit. The speed suits really are like stitching together shorts and jersey. They are separate pieces of fabric that are only joined together from the point of your hips back. So when unzipped, the front is able to open like a jersey, whereas in the TT skinsuit the zipper stays together at the bottom.
It's as simple as this. A sweat alot. If you think Si was bad, you've seen nothing! So the first bike type kit was of all things a trisuit, simply because they are designed for swimming, and it would be wet, (and the extra padding was an issue with cycling kit)...not from swimming. Not a fan of the transparent parts as seems to be the fashion with any cycling kit. My theory is however, is that when I'm riding, I'll be fast enough no one will recognise me, and other cyclists around my speed don't care! I do have some normal kit now, but I prefer the comfort of the trisuit, and now cycling specific one's with more padding, now that I've found a very narrow saddle that works for me.
I don't think that I would, I would love the potential 1 minute improvement.. but first, I need to loose a bunch of weight to be aero... as a person... and honestly, I enjoy the variety of jerseys which I ride in now, I would miss changing it up, too much invested to switch now. I am assuming that the cost will be significant as well, at this point in my cycling career, I'll try the socks first
@GCN - You should do a video on just the socks? How much time do they save on a 15kM time trial?
Wore a Nopinz skinsuit for a few TTs as well as DHB Aeron shorts and jersey and never noticed such a massive difference (at about 270 watts).
While I'm not a fan of, and think there are significant flaws with, the type of "testing" where you ride to a set power, this did finally produce some usable results. When you compare the "gains" from this test to the gains from your recent aero v lightweight bike test it reminds us that 80% of a rider's CDA comes from their body and not their bike. You can micromanage the '20%' with thousands of dollars/pounds in equipment to gain 25 seconds, or you can buy an aero suit and get a bike fit for a fraction of that, and gain a minute or even a minute and a half.
in 95' wore a one piece... had my best season - In the US all critics riders and TT events used them....
I started about a year and a half ago wearing the aero suit on rides where I wanted a bit more speed and I like them when the heat ramps up here in Arizona. The one piece Santini Kit are cooler, which again helps with speed.
Would you consider jumping from your jersey and bibs to an aero suit? 👀
A onesie for training and competition, and a bib with jersey for those leisurely rides. The onesie wins the comfort department, due to no straps. Not that some companies don't develop very comfortable bibs, so not all straps are uncomfortable. Aero suits come in a variety as well, with some being a tad restrictive when standing.
Even if there were no aero benefits I’d prefer wearing the one-piece suit. I find them more comfortable and better fitting than individual shorts and jersey, largely due to the lack of bib straps.
I was an early adopter of the suit, trying the Castelli San Remo suit shortly after it’s initial release. For me, it was a similar difference in comfort over traditional bibs as those bibs were to standard shorts.
Used these now for over 5 years, not to make me any faster but simply for comfort, the lack of straps just makes these more breathable on the occasional hot day we have.
Really clear stats. My question as an ex pro clarinetist, who can see how well top amateur clarinet players are doing is: how much time and training would Alex need to do to reverse the rise of a hugely and rightly applauded Ollie (as a beacon to us all) to re-assert Alex's superiority as a pro. I don't play the clarinet AT ALL anymore for a number of reasons, but would guess that a month's serious practice would see me back in the groove. What would it take for Si, or Alex (sorry Dan), to regain the podium place over Ollie? No desire to do Ollie down - his improvement has been a huge inspiration. By the way, I won't be wearing a one piece any time soon as I'm overweight and that is clear enough in shorts and jersey.
20 years ago maybe, but now I am too old to wear aero. After the transition from a 6pack to a rice bag, it will annoy the people around me. After I turned 50, fun on a bike is more important than speed.
Ollie's pajamas are aero. In his sleep he out sprints the sheep and wakes with a satisfying smile of victory 😀👍
Nice video guys! For the average amateur cyclist, it might not be the best choice price and usage wise. But if you compete often, then, absolutely!
Thanks for the insights :)
The sleeveless onesie thing I have was marketed as a triathlon suit (possible translation error), which is probably why it doesn’t contain any pockets. I mean the delusion of speed is great but going to the toilet is an issue…it’s like rounding you back and rotating your pelvis forward/upward enough in the hope that the stitches don’t break! Anyhow, feeling fast is fast!!
Cyclists don't ride sleeveless jerseys at all. You literally bought a tri suit my dude.
I like the variability of a separate jersey. I have a couple of pairs of shorts that im super happy with and just switch out my jerseys. Don’t want to keep having to buy a all in one when i want a change.
Wow this was a good lowkey ad.
Might look into the Castelli BTW Speedsuit now. Issue is that I have no idea what size to get nor any places that have them to try on.
I LOVE my speedsuits, got several ones from both Castelli and Bioracer (TT nut) and I love the fit and the look. For everyone saying they would look ridiculous: they slightly correct your body (my 80kg 1.8m torso looks amazing in them).
If I could afford it I would wear them all the time. It's not that they are expensive, a decent suit is about the same price as a good shirt and bibshort combo, but in my case my bibs wear out sooner than my shirts, so when I fully switch to suits I'd be replacing my gear more often. So for now I only wear them on my TT bike, both racing and training, and switch to regular gear on my roadbikes.
I am about to buy the Bioracer RR Suit. What is their sizing? Im very skinny person. 5'11 height and just 50kg. Very low muscle mass. Whatchu think
@@jackal6234 Probably the smallest, but you should check their sizing charts to be sure. They size on hip, chest and waist and not length or weight so that makes it a little harder.
@@sjurk81 how about the Santini. A lot of ppl says that their jersey runs small so skinny riders are good to go and get the Santini?
@@jackal6234 Santini has italian sizing which indeed is better for skinny riders.
I'm pretty big, 6 feet and 80kgs and my Bioracer speedsuit is 'european sizing' and size M, I also have a Castelli speedsuit (also italian sizing) which is size L.
@@sjurk81 Wait so. The italian sizing which is meant good for skinny riders and thr European sizing is different right? ES is kinda like for buff kinda cyclist compared to Skinny?
Fundamentally one-piece suits are great. I grew up in them as an jnkine speedskater. But they are a faff as well. Getting them on a off is more difficult, and you can't go full Schleck in them, which is a knock against them
Looking great Alex, what shoes and shades are you sporting?
I used to wear a one piece only for time trial or crit races. But it’s not a crime if I try it for a road race from A to B 😊
I like them and think they look better. But as a female I have encountered some sizing issues, I wear size S bips and M jerseys.
Most companies offer custom tailoring, just need contact them about it.
one piece all the way. they look way sleeker and will totally come in fashion in the next 5 years
Frequently wear the one piece, but usually not unti summer when I can actually fit in it. They're great but the fit is not forgiving.
Suite only! It’s much more comfortable as well for me
This contradicts what Dan Bigham was saying in his interview with GCN tech two weeks ago, when he said it doesn’t make much of a difference…?
yep. but… the key point which he agreed with me on is that Pros have tailored jerseys available, where as the rest of us have stock sizes. an off the peg speed suit and a tailored jersey are comparable according to dan. however, to the rest of us, the off the leg speed suit tends to give a much better fit, with minimal bunching, which i think you can also see in this vid.
@@GCNuser123 hey Oli - thanks for the quick reply. Makes sense that super tight fitting clothes are more aero. I’ve got so much two-piece kit, so when Dan said that one-piece wasn’t really an aero advantage was music to my ears! :) I have pretty tight fitting tops, so maybe what he was saying applies to me... interesting though that I’m noticing the one piece becoming more and more popular in the pro peloton, which is a pretty significant data point, considering they’d also wear very tight two-piece kits. Anyway, thanks for exploring these topics - keep it goin
Even gravel riders have been tested for it... And is real gamechanger
I have my own aero bulge not unlike the Orca Aero. So I should get one of these. ;)
i have been wearing speed suits for 4 years now, and have found them better in every way, more comfortable, faster, and lighter. I don’t recommend them because i would lose my advantage. Lol
Hello!
Compare road bike aerodynamics for 2 positions.
1. The cyclist keeps his forearms on the handlebars (forbidden by the UCI in group racing).
2. The cyclist holds the handlebars by the lower levers (80s classic).
I'd only wear that if I need to (Maybe Strava KOM hunting) Which I don't do. Normal Jerseys and Cycling Shorts is enough for me. I like to mix & match colours and you can't do that in speed suits.
Interesting video - I’ve just got myself an aero suit, so I’m curious to see the difference. Different point - what happened to repetitions to ensure better quality empirical data? Oli would surely agree that at least 3 repeats of each run should get better data than 1 run. Thanks!
Three repeats-randomized run order, etc.
Skinsuits are for use in Criteriums and Time Trials, not for training. I believe that I have five of them, from three different teams. One is even long sleeve (for chilly early morning Time Trials) I've never worn one in a road race, because you need your pockets for those longer races. (Amateurs don't have team cars following you to pass up food and water)
You can buy road race specific skin suits with pockets and the nopinz are easy with the number pockets as well
I have used speedsuits for some years now often for long distance rides such as audaxes. Whilst I cannot provide scientific evidence on the advantages, subjectively I feel that they do provide an advantage. They are the best bits of kit that I wear for summer riding.I have used speedsuits for some years now often for long distance rides such as audaxes. Whilst I cannot provide scientific evidence on the advantages, subjectively I feel that they do provide an advantage. They are the best bits of kit that I wear for summer riding.
I love that uneven pocket load won't shift the suit around as much as a jersey would. Inline speedskaters have been wearing those for two decades at least, watch some videos of Berlin marathon for example.
I’m not a bit surprised by these results I have a couple of very close fitting jerseys, one of them with long sleeves. If I feel like having a fast, (well fast by my standards) blast I will use one of them. If on the other hand I wear my club jersey, it’s a bit like riding in a tent!
Do you find you end up relaxing more in the club kit? Nothing wrong with taking it slow for a bit! 🙌
I’m definitely getting the btw suit for this summer.
I have 2 of them from 2 different bike clubs. I've worn them in crits and crit training rides.
I have both. I look really good in the one piece but I'm just a slow in both.
I'd have a go! Might need one for each leg though.
For normal every day riding, group rides then its a no, but for going for that KOM or racing then definitely.
Ollie wears skinsuit, with iPhone Max in his pocket. Way to go Ollie! Maxi aero benefit!
Given my rides are mostly to and from the cafe or donut shop while I definitely would like to get there quicker likely the one piece isn’t in my future
I am for white or light grey kits!!! Let's see ya guys!!
I'd wear one; it looks a little less serious and more practical than a skinsuit thanks to the pockets with presumably most of the benefits. BTW with the Castelli BTW (ha), what was the sizing like compared to normal Castelli? Would you size up or just go with normal castelli sizing?
the sizing is the same. I've got both Castelli bibs and a SanRemo skinsuit.
@@DerekWhiteRidesABike Is the sizing between the SanRemo and BTW the same? Some skinsuits are tighter than others; with the BTW being their "ultimate" speedsuit I was thinking maybe it's extra-snug.
The speed suit is a great way to go for a normal build road rider. I am not a normal build , I wear a XL jersey with a medium short. 6FT 2IN 82 kilo
My onesie brought my average speed up from 14MPH to 14.5MPH. #winning.
How's the speedy onesy when you need to do a speedy twosy?
The benefits of a one-piece aero skin suit are well known to the younger set of cyclists in the Philippines. It seems every other you cyclist is wearing them, they seem to be all the rage right now, and I keep getting attacked on long climbs by riders half my age in all-black skin suits.
However, the reason why a 51-yearold cyclist such as myself hasn't bought a one-piece aero skin suit yet is because:
1. I already have enough jerseys.
2. There aren't any one-piece aero skin suits specifically designed for extreme heat like my Castelli Climber's Jerseys, which are my favorite (I already have 9 pieces of them) and are designed to prevent overheating even in temperatures as hot as 40 degrees Celsius. In comparison, Castelli's Rossa Corsa one-piece speed suit is rated to be comfortable only up to 35 degrees Celsius. And it gets really really hot in the Philippines. These young cyclists don't seem to mind the heat, but I do.
3. I won't have the same flexibility of using different jerseys for different weather conditions while using the same Castelli Endurance 3.0 bib shorts I always use. For example, in a recent bikepacking adventure to a mountain where temperatures ranged from around 25 to 15 Celsius, I opted to use my Castelli Montalcino merino wool blend jerseys, which I still paired with Castelli Endurance 3.0 bib shorts.
I like the Sagan glasses
I'm already in the process of converting over to using skinsuits almost entirely. That big of a time difference must be - what - 20 watts? At least 10, right?
So this sounds like an add for Castelli. Guessing Ollie went about 1 meter per second faster or 48 to 50 meters per half hour, with the same power over the course with the faster kit. How much does the faster kit cost per meter per second compared to the bib and jersey? What is the replacement cost when crashed, which almost everyone will do at some point, compared to replacing your onesie compared to just a jersey or just bib short?
Castelli are our sponsor but they don’t mind if you buy shorts and jersey or a one piece. Btw… the one piece actually costs less!
Like many other aspects in cycling, if I was racing yes, otherwise it's ridiculous to wear a onesie on a cafe ride
I think Ollie's speed kit would have been ever faster with long sleeves.
Nice location at Tossa de Mar and a beautiful coastal road….brings back great memories of my Girona trip last year.
Anyway about the video I still wouldn’t wear a speed suit on all rides….I do when racing. Why?
- More expensive
- Less versatile. I.e. chop and change tops and shorts
- Less practical when needing the loo.
- Typically no pockets/small pockets.
- Can’t use them as a layer in winter
- Look like an idiot in the cafe
- Just not accepted out of racing. I.e. get a life if you feel you need it on a group/social ride.
Also I am a bit skeptical of the results when sponsored by Castelli, was your position consistent? Also the biggest variation in results was Alex at a lower power and his weight presumably going a lot slower….yet a bigger difference.
I love m’y speedsuit but I save it for racing. No need for the advantage in training (either alone or at the group ride).
I really like riding in a skinsuit. It's comfortable and my jersey doesn't slide up anymore. When I mentioned it to my cycling buddy he asked what would I do if I needed to poop and I never want to find out 😂
If the loop was 15km then Ollie rode 28.87km/h average standard and 29.63km/h in the suit. That’s really tempting to start using
My brain always wanted to wear a skinsuit but my belly didn’t want me to wear a skinsuit. Not everyone can fit in a skinsuit. I’m usually 1 size larger in a jersey than bibs (XL jersey with L bibs)
Tech is amazing and no doubt I would wear the areo suit, but I still think I'll benefit more from losing 10kg ;) The socks though.... I am going full Dan Bigham on my sock game this year!
Haha go for it! Get those gainz
Alex I love your glasses
I always wear a road suit. Most important reason is that it’s more comfortable to me: one layer less and it doesn’t pull my shoulders.
I just wish they made these so that the top is white so that from afar it looks like a normal bib shorts and jersey combination
I have no sense of shame, and I'm not against speed suits at all. If my goal with riding my bike was racing, I would wear one, but since it is mostly just about getting some exercise and some fresh air, I am doing just fine with separate bibs and jersey.
For all you speed devils out there: Rock that speed suit 🙌
The one-piece is like any other kit, you may like it better if the color scheme is awesome. For me, I have bibs and a top. Maybe I can "upgrade" later.
Believe it or not, I find the onesie much more comfortable than bibs and shirt when riding long.