What is best, invest in aero components like aero wheels, aero tt frame, aero tt helmet etc or train with a power meter and have a professional 121 coach?
- Nick de Meyer
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
What is best, invest in aero components like aero wheels, aero tt frame, aero tt helmet, etc or train with a power meter and have a professional 121 coach?
Time for some mid-season reflection...we all want to be faster, see improvement and gains, but are we approaching the best way to achieve these in the right, or most cost-efficient and feasible way?
How much time does each component save over 40km, and how much improvement in FTP can coaching help with over 8 weeks?
What’s Faster: Aero Kit or a Coach? Where to Invest for the Biggest Gains Over 40km
By Nick Harris Bike Fitter & Level 3 British Triathlon Coach
You’ve got a limited budget and big goals. Should you throw money at aero wheels and carbon upgrades, or invest in a coach and power meter to train smarter?
Let’s break down the real-world time savings from common aero gear upgrades vs structured coaching, and help you decide what gives the best return over a standard 40km time trial or triathlon bike leg.
🔧 Aero Kit: How Much Time Can It Really Save?
Here’s what recent wind tunnel and field testing tells us about common aero upgrades:
Upgrade | Time Saved over 40km | Cost Estimate |
Aero Helmet | ~45–60 seconds | £150–£300 |
Deep-Section Wheels (50mm+) | ~60–90 seconds | £800–£2000 |
Aero Frame/TT Bike | ~60–120 seconds | £2000–£7000+ |
Skinsuit / Tri Suit | ~30–60 seconds | £100–£250 |
Aerobars (clip-ons) | ~90–120 seconds | £80–£300 |
TT Position Optimisation | ~90–180 seconds | Priceless (or £150–300 for a fit) |
💡 Total potential gains from a full aero kit:~4 to 6 minutes saved over 40km, depending on rider, course, and conditions.
But aero only helps if you can hold the position and still ride hard — that’s where coaching comes in.
📈 Coaching & Power Meter: What Can You Gain?
A structured training plan + power meter + coach does two major things:
Targets specific weaknesses (e.g., threshold, VO2max, pacing)
Improves aerobic efficiency and power at threshold
So, how much can you realistically improve?
FTP Gains (average over 8 weeks):
Beginners: +7–12%
Intermediate: +5–8%
Experienced: +3–5%
Let’s say you improve FTP from 250W → 270W. That’s an 8% gain, and here's what it means:
At 250W, average 40km TT time = ~1:05:00At 270W, same rider = ~1:01:30➡️ 3.5 minutes faster, purely from fitness gains
🧠 Bonus: Better pacing, fuelling, mental strategies, and recovery — all part of coached training — can save another 30–60 seconds.
🚴♂️ So... What Should You Spend Your Money On?
Let’s compare the return on investment:
Investment | Time Saved | Cost | ROI |
Aero Helmet | 1 min | ~£200 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Power Meter | 3–4 min (with training) | ~£300–£600 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Coaching (8 wks) | 3–5 min | ~£200–£400 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Aero Wheels | 1–1.5 min | ~£1200 | ⭐⭐⭐ |
TT Bike Upgrade | 2 min max | £3000+ | ⭐⭐ |
👉 The best setup is combining both:
Train smart with a coach and power meter
Then layer aero gains on top — helmet, wheels, suit, and position
But if you can only pick one, a coach and structured training will get you further, faster.
Final Thoughts
It’s tempting to buy speed — and some aero kit is a smart move (helmet, clip-ons, suit).But if you want sustainable, repeatable gains — coaching and power-based training should be your first investment.
It’s not just about riding faster once. It’s about building the engine to go faster every time.
Want to see how much faster you could be with a personalised plan? Book a free call to find out if coaching is right for your goals.
Find out more here: https://www.speedyswimming.co.uk/tridotaitriathlonplans
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