In elite track cycling, fractions of a second can make a difference. Even small changes to a rider’s helmet, clothing or position on the bike can affect how efficiently they move through the air. The challenge is finding improvements that work not only in testing, but also during training and competition.
A rider’s position accounts for 80-85% of one’s total aerodynamic drag (CdA). Therefore, aerodynamics play an important role in cycling, where a rider’s equipment and position can influence how efficiently they move through the air. Wind-tunnel testing has long been the gold standard for evaluating aerodynamics in cycling, giving coaches and athletes a controlled environment to measure how equipment and riding position affect performance.
While wind-tunnel testing provides valuable insights, sessions can be expensive, time-consuming and offer only a snapshot of performance. A position that performs well in the wind tunnel may be more difficult to maintain on the bike during a race, and subsequent changes may require additional testing to validate.
Through our partnership with GiBLI, USA Cycling’s High Performance (HP) program has access to additional aerodynamic feedback while athletes ride on the track. The GiBLI G10 sensor allows coaches and HP athletes to monitor aerodynamics in real time, providing another way to evaluate whether wind-tunnel findings translate to real-world riding conditions.
GiBLI can also help coaches and athletes assess how consistently an aerodynamic position can be maintained throughout a training session. As fatigue sets in, small changes in body position can affect the rider's aerodynamics. Understanding how a position holds up over time can help inform decisions about whether it’s practical to sustain during competition.
For Craig Griffin, USA Cycling’s Senior Director of Track, this real-world feedback is an important complement to aerodynamic testing.
"GiBLI’s support is instrumental in helping us validate our aerodynamic testing in real-world conditions. Having that feedback helps us evaluate potential changes to equipment and riding position to better understand how those adjustments translate to the bike. GiBLI is also working with us to identify each rider's efficiency during a team pursuit effort."
Small adjustments, from changing a helmet to refining hand or arm position, can influence performance. But the most aerodynamic position isn't always the most practical. Athletes must balance aerodynamic efficiency with comfort, power output, and their ability to maintain the position at speed and over time.
By pairing wind-tunnel testing with real-world feedback from GiBLI, USA Cycling’s track program can build a more complete picture of aerodynamic performance as the team continues preparing for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Together, these tools help coaches and athletes evaluate equipment and position changes in controlled testing and on the track, where performance ultimately matters most.
USA Cycling members receive 10% off at GiBLI. Sign in to your USA Cycling member portal to access your discount code.
