{"url":"https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wind-tunnel-tested-12-aero-bikes-2025/","title":"Wind tunnel ranks 12 aero bikes, Factor and Cervélo top.","domain":"cyclingnews.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/5735745/pexels-photo-5735745.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"aero road bike wind tunnel","category":"Other","language":"en","slug":"b75ab640","id":"b75ab640-087c-46c2-acd6-4e2d4d0f4dcb","description":"Cyclingnews wind tunnel tested 12 dedicated aero road bikes for 2025 models at Silverstone.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Cyclingnews wind tunnel tested 12 dedicated aero road bikes for 2025 models at Silverstone.\n- Factor Prototype topped bike-only tests at **61.51w** drag; Cervélo S5 led with-rider at **273.12w**, tie within error.\n- Aero designs save up to **27.57w** over 2015 baseline, equal to **2 minutes** faster in 40km time trial at 250w.\n\n## The story at a glance\nCyclingnews Labs put 12 all-out aero bikes through wind tunnel tests, including the Factor Prototype, Cervélo S5, and Colnago Y1Rs. They measured drag in three setups: bike only with stock wheels, with rider, and bike only with standardised Enve wheels. The tests come amid 2025's return of pure aero race bikes after years of aero all-rounders. Results show tight competition at the top, with big gains over older frames.[[1]](https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wind-tunnel-tested-12-aero-bikes-2025/)\n\n## Key points\n- **Testing protocol**: CdA measured at 40km/h across seven yaw angles (-15° to 15°), weighted per Nathan Barry's method; rider tests at 90rpm cadence; error margins 0.33w bike-only, 1.73w with rider; all size 56cm frames.\n- **Top performers**: Factor Prototype won both bike-only categories (**62.65w** standardised wheels); Cervélo S5 and Factor tied with-rider top (**273.12-273.17w**); Colnago Y1Rs third overall (**276.78w** with rider).[[1]](https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wind-tunnel-tested-12-aero-bikes-2025/)\n- **Bottom of pack**: Bianchi Oltre RC last with-rider (**285.24w**, pre-new UCI rules); Elves Falath EXP best value but slower bike-only (**77.58w** stock).\n- **Wheel impact**: Stock wheels mattered—Van Rysel **1.41w** faster with own Swissside vs Enve; Argon 18 and Cube gained from Scope wheels.\n- **Gains vs baseline**: 2015 Trek Émonda ALR needed **300.70w** with rider; leaders save **27w**, hitting **38.84km/h** at 250w vs baseline **37.61km/h**.\n- Full bike list: Argon 18 Nitrogen Pro, Bianchi Oltre RC, Cervélo S5, Colnago Y1Rs, Cube Litening Aero C:68X, DARE Velocity Ace-AFO, Elves Falath EXP, Factor Prototype, Merida Reacto 9000, Ridley Noah Fast 3.0, Scott Foil RC, Van Rysel RCR-F.\n\n## Details and context\nTests highlight how new UCI rules allow deeper tubes and aggressive shapes, pushing aero further than 2024 all-rounders like Tarmac or Madone. Factor's prototype—wide fork, deep bayonet head tube—dominated bike frames alone but stayed close with rider, where position trumps frame. Cervélo S5 excelled rider-on despite SRAM 1x groupset and mid bike-only results; they note \"bikes don't ride themselves.\"[[2]](https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wind-tunnel-tested-12-aero-bikes-2025)\n\nMid-pack clustered within error margins (Colnago, DARE, Ridley, Van Rysel around **278-280w**), showing aero parity except extremes. Bianchi lagged as older design; Elves impressed for price despite frame drag.\n\nSavers translate to real speed: top bikes cut **2:01** off 40km TT vs baseline at 250w output.\n\n## Key quotes\n- \"The fastest bike we've ever tested in our with-rider test.\" —on the Cervélo S5.[[1]](https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wind-tunnel-tested-12-aero-bikes-2025/)\n- \"Compares apples to pears.\" —Bianchi's Claudio Masnata on their pre-UCI update frame.[[1]](https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wind-tunnel-tested-12-aero-bikes-2025/)\n\n## Why it matters\nPure aero bikes now clearly outpace all-rounders in drag tests, reshaping pro race and TT choices. Riders gain seconds per hour from frames alone, plus wheel tweaks, but rider fit remains key within **10-15w** spreads. Watch Factor's production version and 2026 UCI tweaks for more frame extremes.[[1]](https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wind-tunnel-tested-12-aero-bikes-2025/)","hashtags":["#cycling","#aero","#bikes","#wind","#tunnel","#factor"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/wind-tunnel-tested-12-aero-bikes-2025/","title":"Original article"}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-09T07:31:12.463Z","createdAt":"2026-04-09T07:31:12.463Z","articlePublishedAt":"2025-09-10T14:00:00.000Z"}