![]()
Breakthrough AERO Invention
Slices Through Headwinds
- Shielding the Faster-Moving Upper Wheel Minimizes Vehicle Drag
- Yielding Breakaway Headwind Penetration Speeds
- Enhancing Steering Traction for Greater Control and Safety
- Becoming the Fastest Road Bike Against Stronger Headwinds
Be one of the first to slice through headwinds using our revolutionary AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings. Incredibly, when cycling against even a modest headwind, you will immediately notice that you are much faster.
Summary demonstration Video: Typical side-by-side road bike downhill coasting test:
AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings slice through headwinds, pulling far ahead at bottom of relatively short one kilometer hill.
Will you support our campaign to make bicycles more aero efficient? Check out our video gallery above of downhill coasting tests before you decide! And read a Gran Fondo rider reaction.
The gist of our story...
Are you a road bike enthusiast? Do you enjoy struggling against punishing headwinds? If so, then read no further! Enjoy your pain while fanning the wind with your exposed upper wheels inducing extra drag.
Others may be glad to know that cycling dramatically faster against headwinds is now possible! Incredibly, minimally shielding ONLY the upper wheel is the trick! Why not enjoy Optimal Aero efficiency, and gain 10-20% in speed against headwinds?
![]()
Apply a bit of aerospace engineering to:
Eliminate upper wheel drag...
AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings nearly eliminate drag on the most sensitive drag-inducing surfaces on a bicycle: on the very fast, forward-moving upper wheel. Minimally shielding ONLY the uppermost wheel surfaces makes bicycles not only remarkably faster against headwinds, but also much safer, through increased steering control gained at higher speeds.
The faster the better...
And since AERODEFENDER™ effectiveness only increases still further with rising headwind speeds, the faster you go the more increased speed and stability you enjoy! And faster cyclists will enjoy breakaway speed gains when facing even moderate headwinds.
A new approach...
This amazing drag-reduction effect from minimally shielding ONLY the faster upper wheel — as taught by our new patent — has been unappreciated until now. And so now you also know...that this surprisingly simple solution is the Future of Aero in cycling.
But industry resistance is likely, since this new invention upsets decades of misleading marketing efforts to sell far less effective aero wheels. So we need your support in order to inspire change, as retailers now rely heavily on selling expensive aero wheels in order to maintain their slim profit margins. (Some retailers have even admitted they like our product, but must still sell expensive aero wheels first!)
Simply smarter...
Incredibly, even the automotive racing community still remains unaware of this simple performance enhancement! Formula One and Indycar racing use a faster-moving front wing to shield the nearly stationary lower front wheel (while deflecting more wind upward onto the critical drag-inducing upper wheel), instead of simply shielding only the uppermost wheel — thereby needlessly increasing overall vehicle drag, while simultaneously reducing steering traction! As one racing engineer at the annual PRI racing show once offered as explanation: 'Monkey see, monkey...'
Video Proof: The very first side-by-side road bike downhill coasting test:
AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings slice through headwinds (extended documentation video).
The pros will know...
Professional cyclists appreciate that the breakthrough performance of AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings — as well-documented in our numerous video downhill coasting tests in the gallery above — goes well beyond any aerodynamic gains typically attained through either aero wheel optimization or conventional frame geometry streamlining.
Breakaway with AERODEFENDER™
![]()
First shown at the start of Race Across America, June 16, 2018, Oceanside, California.
- Our first AERODEFENDER™ retail customer (right), Wayne Stetina, Vice President, Road Products Specialist, Shimano America Corp., 2-time Olympic cyclist and 5-time National Road Race Champion, placing his order after watching our videos.
- John Howard (left), Olympic team member, Hawaii Ironman winner, who once set a world speed record on a bicycle at 152.2 mph, volunteering to become our first independent AERODEFENDER™ product tester.
Why fan against headwinds?
Shielding the critical drag-inducing upper wheel from external headwinds is far more effective in minimizing overall vehicle drag than any other conventional aero enhancement for bicycles. Without this critical windshielding, cyclists are needlessly fanning directly against impinging headwinds with the very fast, forward-moving upper wheel surfaces.
Why struggle unnecessarily?
It is against punishing headwinds where cyclists spend the most time struggling, since in tailwinds you arrive quickly. And it also against headwinds where cycling becomes the hardest, since overall vehicle drag quickly increases — becoming even more heavily concentrated on the upper wheel in rising headwinds.
The solution is quite simple...
Why not simply eliminate this magnified upper wheel drag by using a small upper wheel fairing? Underneath the fairing winds are nearly calm, like inside your car. So wind-speeds on the upper wheel are minimized, as well as drag.
For unheard of performance...
AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings typically increase total weight of bike and rider no more than one percent, yet produces speed gains against stronger headwinds easily exceeding ten percent for most cyclists. Such a performance boost from a surprisingly simple aerodynamic device is simply unheard of previously in cycling.
![]()
At higher wind speeds, drag quickly becomes the dominate factor limiting performance.
Many will be naturally skeptical—in light of decades of misleading industry marketing tactics...so check out our many test videos above! The outstanding performance gains documented in our downhill coasting tests are quite clear.
![]()
Or maybe read what Keith Devlin, 'The Math Guy' on NPR from Stanford University, has to say (here) about the technology: "With so much research put into the problem of headwind drag, you would think the industry had done as much as could be done. But as Magee showed, there were still more efficiencies to be obtained. His observation is an excellent illustration of the power of mathematical thinking. ...All in all, it’s a superb example of 21st century mathematical problem solving."
![]()
AERODEFENDER™ Comparison Testing
![]()
AERODEFENDER™ fairings installed on the popular Cervelo P3–becomes the absolute fastest triathlon-bike. Downhill side-by-side (unpowered) test of otherwise identical 2018 P3's yielded a seven second advantage while coasting against the stock P3 in only a single kilometer! Pro cyclists also report unexpectedly superior handling stability in gusty crosswinds. (See the video link above.)
![]()
![]()
Visit our Website:
Our Campaign, in a Nutshell...
Introducing revolutionary AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings for road bicycles. Be one of the first to enjoy this remarkable innovation! See the proven performance boost in our numerous videos above and you will surely wonder why this simple idea has remained unexplored for decades. We certainly did!
Simple early demonstration of the effects of upper wheel shielding.
Shielded wheel spins in the wind while exposed wheel grinds to a halt.
For many years, we wondered why cyclists were simply fanning against headwinds with the much faster, forward-moving (up to 2X the vehicle speed) upper wheel surfaces. After finally exploring the distinct absence of such a simple solution on Google a few years ago, we began pursuing this idea ourselves. This resulted not only in this patented innovation, but also in numerous other drag-reducing inventions.
The effect of shielding upper wheel on overall vehicle drag.
![]()
Shielding nearly eliminates critical upper wheel drag on open-wheeled vehicles.
Silly race rules? Why struggle?
To us — coming from the aerospace industry — it seemed a bit silly that cyclists must adhere to the strict rules of professional competitions that prohibit various aero enhancements on racing bicycles. Why struggle with more pedaling effort than is actually necessary, especially when facing punishing headwinds? Unless you are a pro cyclist subject to UCI equipment restrictions, you can now dramatically enhance your aero efficiency.
Breakaway with AERODEFENDER™
![]()
World champion Peter Sagan appreciating our fairings mounted on a SPECIALIZED gravel bike at Sagan's recent gravel bike Gran Fondo in Truckee, CA, May 2018.
Time for a change...
So why not push back against industry marketing tactics (selling expensive aero wheels), and instead use this far more effective aero enhancement? Enjoy our revolutionary AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings, and slice far more easily into punishing headwinds, together with more steering control and safety in gusty crosswinds!
![]()
Videos of side-by-side downhill coasting tests (above) prove dramatic out-performance against headwinds. (Prototype fairings used in early tests.)
Gary Fisher (co-creator of the mountain bike) once commented to us that too often the world of bicycles changes very slowly. Don't let this be the case with this innovation. Instead, please help us overcome faulty preconceptions that are all too common throughout the cycling industry, while enjoying our simple AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairing product yourself! Once you try it against a modest headwind, you will then know that significant drag reduction really is now possible. (Remember this next time you face a strong headwind.)
(We recently ran into Gary at the Sea Otter Classic bike festival in April, 2018, who — when first seeing the bike shown here — endorsed our new product to a VeloNews photographer who happened to be standing nearby. Thanks Gary!)
Spread the word...
Will you spread the word of our campaign on your social media, and help us change cycling for the better? We are challenging long-established industry norms, and need your support!
![]()
AERODEFENDER™ on display at Eurobike, July 2018.
Cycling industry insiders often resist true aero innovations, for decades having designed aero bicycles using inaccurate wind tunnel testing techniques (more below regarding our new wind tunnel patent). Please help us bring needed change to this stagnant industry.
![]()
Surprisingly simple solution to slicing through punishing headwinds.
So Why Help our Campaign?
- Want to cycle faster against headwinds?
- Want greater steering security in crosswinds?
- Want to support a remarkable drag-reduction innovation for cycling?
- Or want to get an early set of AERODEFENDER™ Fairings for well under wholesale?
AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings simply work amazingly well at higher speeds or against even moderate external headwinds. So we are excited to introduce this revolutionary product to retail channels soon. But first, we are offering deep discounts over retail pricing to well-informed early adopters. However, our campaign quantities will be limited. We have already obtained expressed interest from retailers. And our local retail distribution partner, Triathlon Lab, will provide perk fulfillment.
Unique and effective...
You can now become one of the few cyclists to enjoy this unique drag-reducing revolution sooner — rather than waiting for general retail availability. Will you become an early adopter of AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings for road bicycles? You will not only gain speed and security in windy conditions, but will certainly get noticed on the road!
![]()
Be one of the first...
Our early perks are deeply discounted to reach our very modest goal quickly. Our first AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings are produced by hand here in the U.S. — being labor intensive — thereby limiting our initial production capacities to that which can be fulfilled in a timely way using our local carbon fabricator. Once we deliver our perks, we can then start actually making profit through retail channels.
All funds received (after taxes and fees) will be used toward our initial production order.
And get noticed on the road...
Facing headwinds, a gravel bike easily paces a Felt DA triathlon aero-bike.
Exceeding our goal will accelerate production levels, allowing us to deliver sooner. If we far exceed goal, we would hire more staff and expand facilities. And should we wildly exceed goal, we will go offshore with custom tooling for greatly expanded production early next year. Fingers crossed!
The CEO of 'Gran Fondo World Tours' happened by while early testing in March 2018, becoming our first independent pro witness. See video for his reaction.
![]()
Side-by-side testing while simply coasting downhill eliminates most variables, yielding a more accurate comparison. Two tests are conducted, with riders switching bikes for an average comparison.
Our AERODEFENDER™ carbon road product design is now final, with first production molds fabricated and road testing already begun. If no further revisions are needed, we will proceed to production and deliver according to the perk schedule. Any delay to revise mounting hardware shouldn't take more than an additional few weeks. So perk deliveries are imminent! We will keep you posted!
![]()
![]()
Visit our Website:
Risks & Challenges
NULL WINDS Technology™ has already introduced a recently patented innovation to the bicycling world: SPOKE FINS and AEROCROSS™ wheels with SPOKE FINS.
![]()
https://www.nullwinds.com/pages/spoke-fins
Surprisingly, the non-obvious gains in speed and stability produced by these training wheels at high speed in crosswinds is simply unmatched by traditional aero wheels. See this video showing the fins self-aligning to the effective crosswind, changing position with wheel rotation: Fins In Crosswinds. And see the enhanced performance achieved against headwinds by simply adding SPOKE FINS™ to an industry leading fast aero racing wheel (Shimano DuraAce 16/20 spoke wheel set) in this video.
Video test of aero wheels only, with and without SPOKE FINS™.
Test provides an example of relative gains achieved while testing only wheels; compare gains against the much greater gains that AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings achieve in the previous video above, and you will conclude that the gains from AERODEFENDER™ Fairings far exceed the typical gains obtained from aero wheels alone while facing stronger headwinds.
This revolutionary drag-reducing product involved the design and development of a multi-cavity injection mold to produce the SPOKE FINS in large quantity locally here in Los Angeles. And producing the custom wheel sets included the establishment of an ongoing trade relationship with a major Taiwan wheel builder to build and deliver our custom wheels with SPOKE FINS pre-installed. Thus, we have experience in both product development and production, both locally as well as through offshore importation.
![]()
SPOKE FINS™ are proven aerodynamically superior in windy conditions, especially at high speeds.
As these two product lines have now been on sale for more than two years, we also have significant experience in the sale and shipment of bicycle products directly to the customer.
![]()
Some perks include SPOKE FINS™.
Producing initial parts locally will limit any challenges and risks associated with the development of the AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairing product line. We have already established a relationship with a long-established local producer of carbon fiber auto parts and carbon fiber snow boards. His facility includes the necessary tooling and presses needed to produce significant quantities.
![]()
First prototype in carbon fiber for traditional road bikes.
Our local vendor is now providing AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings in either carbon fiber or fiberglass. The production molds are complete and production has begun. However, considerable trimming of each part by hand is required, being labor intensive. Local production will enable us to ensure that parts are with specified quality and accuracy. This should greatly limit any development risks associated with the campaign.
Other mounting parts associated with our AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairing product line include custom internal mount brackets used with standard black alloy metric screws, velcro, and zip ties. (Some perks also include supplemental stainless steel screws for very wet environments.)
![]()
For immediate availability, now on sale at our local distribution partner, Triathlon LAB.
Local storage facilities are easily rented, in addition to our current storage units, now housing our wheel set inventory. And we have established a distribution relationship with Triathlon LAB, a major triathlon shop in Los Angeles, who will fulfill our campaign perks. Hence, we currently see no significant risks at this point to the production and delivery of our latest product line.
![]()
Secured on each side using hidden plastic brackets with standard black metric alloy screws, zip ties and sandwiched velcro.
![]()
![]()
Visit our Website:
Garth Magee — founder and inventor — is a veteran servo-electronics control systems design engineer with more than 12 years experience designing pointing and stabilization of gimbaled optical systems in the defense aerospace industry in El Segundo, CA. He has several engineering degrees from The University of Texas at Austin in both mechanical and electrical engineering: BSME, BSEE and MSEE. He brings aerospace engineering skills to advancing drag reduction techniques for open-wheeled vehicles. Currently he holds eight patents, with seven issued since 2016, and several others still pending.
A brief story from the inventor...
"Long ago I wondered why cyclists were fanning against headwinds with their exposed, forward-moving, upper wheel surfaces. Surely such a simple solution had been done before, I wondered, and so forgot about it?
![]()
First crude test on a very old road bike.
Then a few years ago, I thought to search Google and found nothing. So I quickly fashioned some crude side plate fairings shielding only the upper spokes on my very old, heavy, college road bike. Then I got out on the road in the desert that night facing only a light headwind. To my surprise, it seemed I was in a higher gear than I remembered when back in college a few decades ago.
![]()
Side plate fairings first tested inside LA Velodrome in 2013 with a Cat 1 racer confirmed that faster speeds are achieved even under null wind conditions.
That investigation led to now several other related patents, all concerning reducing drag specifically on the upper wheel. Anyway, those who are interested can study the patent links referenced below.
![]()
Early first road test under extreme headwind conditions confirmed dramatic gains potential. (Jason Schutz, local Cat II time trial specialist in LA. See test report including Jason's comment.)
But in summary, simply know that as headwinds increase, overall vehicle drag concentrates more and more heavily on the exposed upper wheel. So the upper wheel should always be shielded. By shielding only the uppermost wheel with a minimal fairing then allows the bike to slice far more easily into headwinds with maximum aero efficiency."
![]()
![]()
Visit our Website:
Other Ways You Can Help
If you enjoyed our videos (see video gallery at the top), or appreciate our novel engineering concepts, please help us get the word out by sharing on your social media, or by telling your friends who might be interested. Indiegogo has provided some tools to help make sharing your thoughts easier. Thanks for your interest. We hope to meet some of you riding with our new products in the near future!
A few details about the product...
AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings are designed to fit most common road bikes with conventional diamond frame geometry, first available in two basic versions: for either rim-brake or disc-brake style frames.
The rim-brake version includes a specific cut-out area for the brake caliper, generally accommodating calipers that do not extend more than 50 mm from the front fork leading edge or 55 mm from the rear stay trailing edge. The cut-out is designed for the latest more extended Ultegra rim brake mounted on 2018 Cervelo P3 frame, or similar. And for those who swap wheels frequently, the brake pad mount screws are generally exposed for quick pad change-outs with the need to remove the fairings.
This rim-brake version is also designed to generally accommodate tire sizes from 23 mm to 28 mm using the latest Ultegra rim brake, but will likely accommodate even larger tires when using earlier more compact brakes. (Note however, additional fairing trimming near the brake pads could still be required on some frames.)
![]()
Disc brake fairing custom-trimmed to cover brake pads for ultimate aero performance. A minimal hole can be drilled for brake pad screw access for those who switch pads frequently.
For the ultimate aero performance — and particularly for those utilizing more compact calipers or using tires larger than 28 mm — select the Disc Brake version and custom trim around calipers during initial installation. In this case, the installer should be prepared to trim additional material from the fairing using a handheld high-speed cutting wheel and/or grinding tool (Dremel style).
![]()
Disc brake version custom-trimmed for earlier more compact pre-2017 Ultegra brakes mounted on a Cipollini frame, or similar. (Note brake pad screws are not exposed in this custom version.)
![]()
Rim brake version is pre-trimmed for current 2018 Ultegra brakes. (Custom trimming of Disc-Brake version is shown on this Cervelo P3.)
![]()
Disc brake version offered without brake cut-out. Also for those with odd rim brakes who wish to custom trim the brake cut-out area during initial installation. Fiberglass version shown here fitted on a SPECIALIZED gravel bike with wider 38 mm tires.
Plastic mount brackets attach the fairings to most common fork and rear stay road bike frame geometries, generally providing good stiffness at the nose. However, under severe crosswinds, the fairing may occasionally be pushed against the tire sidewall, resulting in some intermittent tire rubbing.
![]()
Fiberglass version shown here fitted on a SPECIALIZED gravel bike with wider tires.
During initial fitting, the mount brackets are zip tied to the fork/frame stays with velcro sandwiched in-between. The fairings are then adjusted into final position and secured to the mount brackets, making for a near perfect alignment of the nose centered over the tire. Fairing removal is then a simple matter of cutting several zip ties using a small wire cutting tool (included in some perks), where the adjusted bracket then remains secured to the inside of each fairing.
![]()
Custom adjustable mount brackets in lightweight plastic secured to frame with zip ties.
Rear frame stays having more oval cross-sections are recommended, which work best in providing good lateral stiffness at the nose of the fairing. However, more narrow round rear frame stays can be accommodated — though perhaps less securely — since extra sidewall clearance at the nose is provided specifically under the rear fairing, thereby allowing for extra nose deflection in crosswinds.
- Disclaimer: Note that this common mount is designed to accommodate a wide range of frames by using velcro sandwiched to the frame to retain the fender at the proper height above the tire. However, it is conceivable that over time, the velcro may slowly slip lower down some frames under severe vibration or if subjected to excess heat. In this case, periodic adjustment may be needed to move the fairings higher once again. Fortunately, this becomes a simple matter of replacing the standard 75 lb. zip ties or velcro. (So far, we have not actually seen this problem arise — but be forewarned, since this is a new design.)
AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings are designed to fit most traditional diamond framed road bikes where the outside width of either the front forks or rear frame stays measures between 75-100 mm, specifically at a position located 30 cm from the axle. Many gravel bikes also fit this criteria. Please measure your bike frame before ordering.
![]()
For the ultimate aero, AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings used together with SPOKE FINS™.
Varying angles of the forks and frame stays means that the precise horizontal orientation of the fairings mounted on any particular bicycle will vary somewhat. For this reason, the lower edge of the fairings are slightly curved, for a more pleasing appearance when mounted. The nose of the front fairings is positioned low, while the rear nose of the rear fender is positioned higher, yielding a slightly smaller rear fender while still providing substantial wind shielding of rearward upper wheel surfaces.
![]()
A two-part carbon fairing set weighs around 700 gm, including mounting hardware. While many are conditioned by past industry marketing to consider bike weight the overiding factor in determining overall performance, racers know that this factor is only a concern if you are climbing hills all day. If you spend more time cycling on varied terrain, you will simply gain significantly in overall performance. (A fiberglass option is also available in our perk schedule, which weighs around 1000 gm per set.)
![]()
Fiberglass disc-brake version fitted on a SPECIALIZED gravel bike with 38 mm tires.
Above 15 mph, drag simply dominates all other performance considerations. That is why the cycling industry spends so much effort streamlining both wheels and frame in producing only very minor improvements to aero efficiency. Our products are designed specifically to produce much more dramatic aero gains, especially when facing external headwinds.
Our campaign products are guaranteed against material defects for 30 days, in which time you may return it undamaged for refund (less shipping), giving you time to perform a fit check to ensure that the fairing fits your bike properly. However, actually installing AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings on a bicycle may include some custom trimming of the fairings, thereby voiding any return warranty.
![]()
The future look of advanced aero performance...
While installation is fairly straightforward process for standard cut-outs, during the campaign period only, our distribution partner Triathlon LAB is offering discounted professional installation at $59 (a $99 value), for those campaign adopters located nearby in the greater Los Angeles area.
And finally, a few more considerations...
Our many perks offer two basic choices of road bike fairings: please specify either Rim Brake or Disc Brake version. Our perk schedule is simply designed with increasing pricing for late comers. So don't wait if you simply want to go faster at best ever pricing! Still, all contributors will enjoy AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings at well below even wholesale cost. For delivery reliability, international orders will be shipped via DHL.
![]()
Our initial perk schedule has been set modestly for our limited onshore production capacity. If we see considerable interest in this innovation with surprisingly robust perk commitments early on, we will be able to accelerate production significantly by going offshore to Taiwan for much higher volumes delivered later this year.
![]()
We hope you are able to try our product in the near future, even if you are unable to support our campaign at this time. You can find further information on our website: www.nullwinds.com. And please check the videos in our gallery above, documenting our extensive testing that definitively proves the remarkable performance gains against headwinds using our patented AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings.
![]()
![]()
Visit our Website:
And for those Technically Inspired to learn a bit more...
Still not convinced? OK then, thanks for reading this far! Dramatic claims require compelling support, and thus we have explained above in perhaps too much detail. But for the inspired curious, see even more below ...
The technical explanations for why this new approach to open-wheeled vehicle drag minimization has resulted in numerous patents can be a challenging study. For those who feel inspired, please check our website, including the Patent List page, where technical summaries are also listed as a first step toward learning more. (Or, just skip down to the additional FAQ's below.)
The basic idea taught by the invention is that only the upper wheel should be shielded from headwinds, since the bottom of the wheel is actually stationary, at least momentarily. (No part of the wheel ever moves backwards, a common mistaken assumption.) Thus, there is almost no effective vehicle drag contributed near the bottom of the wheel.
Placing a faster-moving fairing directly in front of slower-moving lower wheel surfaces is actually counterproductive, since the faster fairing produces more vehicle drag itself than the much slower (and mechanically disadvantaged) lower wheel surfaces being shielded behind the fairing.
![]()
And yet the Bloodhound SSC rocket car still employs a supersonic forward wheel fairing shielding a sub-sonic (nearly stationary near the ground) mechanically-disadvantaged, lower wheel surface?
And since the top of the wheel is actually exposed to more extreme wind speeds — moving forward at up to twice the vehicle speed, plus any additional external headwind speed — greatly exacerbates the actual drag power being dissipated thereon. And since power dissipation is actually a highly-sensitive cubic function of wind speed, this makes the much smaller — but much faster-moving — upper wheel surfaces dissipate even more power than the much larger — but much slower-moving — wheel fairing surfaces, a rather nonobvious system mechanics effect.
The effect of shielding upper wheel on overall vehicle drag. Red vehicle drag curve becomes the green curve for a strong headwind condition.
![]()
Shielding nearly eliminates critical upper wheel drag on open-wheeled vehicles.
In fact — as taught by the invention — for any given vehicle operating condition, there exists an optimally sized upper wheel fairing that actually minimizes overall vehicle drag; any smaller fairing actually increases overall vehicle drag away from this optimally minimized vehicle drag condition, while any larger fairing also increases vehicle drag away from this optimal condition.
![]()
Recent German effort for enhanced speed. Why shield the mechanically disadvantaged nearly stationary lower wheel with a mechanically neutral and much faster moving lower fairing surface? Just because it looks fast??
The trick then is to configure the wheel fairing neither too small nor too large in size to actually minimize overall vehicle drag under the normal range of headwind and vehicle speed operating conditions. This is why optimally sized AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings work so amazingly well, especially when facing headwinds.
The proper mechanical math model for drag on open-wheeled vehicles is actually quite complex — having more than a dozen terms — but predicts the vehicle drag coefficient to be actually variable (rather than being constant, as commonly assumed). This variability in open-wheeled vehicle drag coefficient is quite evident in the first downhill side-by-side test video (just below) using gravel bikes, where the unfaired stock bike is shown varying in aero efficiency — gaining or losing ground on the faired bike — depending on the relative strength of the headwind.
![]()
Implications of the Proper Vehicle System Drag Model.
In this very first downhill coast test (video below), the smaller aero rider carried extra weight in an initial effort to more closely balance aero effects with the larger rider. However, the extra weight proved not to be needed, as his smaller size made him even more aero than the heavier rider. But that particular test configuration happened to provide a very closely-matched aero condition during the second ride (after the riders switched bikes) of the test, where it clearly shows the variability of the vehicle drag coefficient that is predicted by the proper vehicle drag mechanical model; overall vehicle drag being highly dependent on the immediate headwind condition.
First Side-by-Side Downhill Coasting Test using Gravel Bikes.
This headwind-dependent variable drag-coefficient effect is noted in the video. Notice how the stock bike gains a bit on the faired bike when the external headwind diminishes, and looses ground on the faired bike when the external headwind increases. This variation in speed is explained by the variation in the effective vehicle drag coefficient.
This proves that for open-wheeled vehicles, the vehicle drag coefficient is not in fact constant — as commonly assumed — but is instead variable, being a function of both external headwind and vehicle speed as predicted by the proper drag mechanical model. (So attempting to determine a single overall drag coefficient for a bicycle is a rather futile — and too often promoted — industry endeavor.) Fairings covering the upper wheel greatly reduce this variation in vehicle drag coefficient, making the vehicle drag characteristics more stable, and thereby closer to that of an airplane — where all surfaces are exposed to the same wind speed.
Key plot of speed gains expected against rising headwind speed.
![]()
Vehicle drag model predicts smaller cyclists to gain the most (upper curves). Note that aero efficiency is minimal under null wind conditions (left axis), but quickly rises against even light headwinds.
Moreover, the proper mechanical math model predicts that as speeds (either vehicle or external headwind) increase, the gains in aero efficiency for the faired vehicle actually increase. This is why faster riders suffering greater headwinds stand to gain the most benefit in penetrating headwinds with AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings installed. And the videos above clearly demonstrate this effect, as the fendered bike increasingly pulls away further ahead as the headwind increases around the curve near the bottom of the hill.
Manuel Quiros – 4-time 1-hour Velodrome World Record Holder.
![]()
Early Road Test with Spoke Shielding yielded 20% Speed Gains in Strong Winds.
Further confirmation is found through early road testing of side plate fairings in very strong headwinds, where a more than 20 percent gain in speed was recorded on a road bike simply from shielding the uppermost spoke surfaces alone: See test report.
While the videos show dramatic gains in aerodynamic efficiency achieved while simply coasting downhill into a moderate headwind, adding more power to the system by pedaling further increases the aerodynamic gains that AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings provide at higher speeds. And more aero smaller and stronger riders facing stronger headwinds will benefit the most!
Still, some may wonder why this configuration had not been considered previously. We certainly did! Perhaps it is the continued prevalence of the bicycle industry for testing inside wind tunnels — where vehicles are mounted on pedestals to measure translational drag forces as if they were airplanes — has contributed to limited understanding of the actual drag mechanics involved in open-wheeled vehicles.
![]()
Cost-effective wind tunnel apparatus with electric motor driving the wheel in early testing.
When we considered wind tunnel verification for our invention (since so many had asked), it became immediately apparent that current industry testing protocols would not yield the actual gains in efficiency that we were finding in real-world road testing under external headwind conditions. And after all, it is on the road facing headwinds where performance really matters!
![]()
Video data logger inside the cost-effective wind tunnel apparatus.
This insight resulted in our newly patented method for more accurately measuring vehicle efficiency within a wind tunnel by using a treadmill: Patent US 9,766,153. This new method measures power being delivered through the wheels to the rolling road itself, while the vehicle is self-propelled and unrestrained — equivalent to a real-world road condition — which is then equivalent to the actual power being dissipated in drag on the vehicle.
![]()
In fact, during their recent factory open-house during the Amgen racing tour in California in May 2018, the major bike brand SPECIALIZED even publicly commented on their intention to upgrade their new wind tunnel by installing a treadmill. Are they beginning to catch on...?
With current wind tunnel testing protocols generally aimed at testing under equivalent null external wind conditions — such as used for airplanes — industry tends not to test wheeled vehicles for performance under rising external wind conditions. This testing preference is likely due to the faulty assumption that the vehicle drag coefficient is generally invariant with headwind conditions, as it is for airplanes. As proven in our test videos, for open-wheeled vehicles the effective vehicle drag coefficient instead varies substantially with external headwind speed, as well as with vehicle speed.
Please note that AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings do not make bicycles dramatically faster under all operating conditions. In fact, shielding the upper wheel is only minimally effective under null wind conditions at lower speeds. But it quickly becomes dramatically effective as headwinds increase (due to the cubic sensitivity of power dissipation with windspeed), or typically much above 20 mph in null winds. That is, becoming most effective when facing external headwinds, or at higher vehicle speeds — the very times when you really need it!
![]()
Earlier industry efforts have often shielded much more of the wheel extending well below the level of the axle, which further limits wheel fairing effectiveness. For these reasons, the minimal upper wheel fairing of the invention has remained unappreciated. Thus, previous wind tunnel testing would not have demonstrated the dramatic effectiveness of minimally shielding only the uppermost wheel under external headwind conditions.
And with AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings installed, aerodynamic efficiency of the wheels now becomes only a secondary consideration. As explained above, most all the power being dissipated on a wheel occurs near the very top of the wheel. Thus, the critical shielding provided by our fairings effectively negates any additional advantage provided by aero wheels. Thus one can easily substitute inexpensive alloy training wheels (with shallow rim depths for crosswind transparency) for use in combination with our AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings, and still outperform more expensive aero wheels in windy conditions.
![]()
Finally, if this has not provided enough confusion, then further explanation can be found within the issued patent US 9,878,745, "UPPER WHEEL FAIRING REDUCING CRITICAL VEHICLE DRAG." Or maybe an easier start may be found by examining our summary drag reduction flyer, which helps explain the implications of using our AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings on open-wheeled vehicles. Thanks again for your interest!
![]()
![]()
Visit our Website:
Performance Testing videos
If you still have doubts about this breakthrough drag-reduction invention, please consider our range of downhill side-by-side coasting tests that are well-documented in the video gallery at the top of this campaign, confirming the performance gains of AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings as described above.
And note that limited power is input to the system during these free coasting tests, being that due only to gravity alone. When a cyclists adds power to the system by pedaling, the aero gains against headwinds increase even further.
![]()
So while downhill coasting tests tend to indicate somewhat limited performance gains while in the presence of very reduced headwinds, during actual cycling more power is input the system from pedaling — effectively shifting the mechanical system into a higher speed range — to generally increase the actual performance boost achieved beyond that indicated simply from these downhill coasting-only tests. So while these downhill tests confirm the potential for relative performance gains, the actual gains achieved during cycling against headwinds is generally much greater.
The bottom line decision for most faster cyclists then becomes, do you want to cycle with much greater efficiency against headwinds, or not? And if so, do you want to one of the first adopters at greatly reduced cost, or not? We hope that many enthusiasts will see the obvious benefits and help us launch this revolutionary product now. Thanks again for your support!
![]()
![]()
Visit our Website:
![]()
AERODEFENDER™ at Eurobike, July 2018.
Insight's — And for some common questions...
1. Are AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings legal for UCI competition?
2. How effective are AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings under null wind conditions?
3. Why do AERODEFENDER™ Wheel Fairings increase cornering traction?
4. Have you tested inside a wind tunnel?
5. How many watts are saved?
For answers to these and other questions, see our Insight's page. Still got a question? Email us at info@nullwinds.com and look for answers under the campaign FAQ's section.