The Swiss Side AERO socks make you faster and are legal

Swiss Side aerodynamics experts, when they are not fine-tuning the aerodynamics of a new bike or improving their exceptional wheels, also have more mundane products to improve aerodynamics such as their new AERO socks that bring one of their best sellers among triathletes to road competition format.

Swiss Side puts aerodynamics at your feet

For some years now, Swiss Side, one of the aerodynamics gurus in current cycling, has in its catalog calf sleeves that have become a common accessory for triathletes, the pioneers of aerodynamics in cycling. Now, Swiss Side makes this accessory legal for road competition use, as the calf sleeve format that covers just below the knee does not comply with the rules set by the UCI.

To pass the filter of the maximum international cycling body, Swiss Side has applied the same aerodynamic fabric of their calf sleeves to socks, with a shaft size according to UCI regulations. The part that goes inside the shoe is also carefully crafted, with an ultra-thin fabric to maintain the best breathability.

The shaft part, responsible for aerodynamic advantages estimated by Swiss Side between 60 and 80% of what their calf sleeves offer, promises a power savings of between 3 and 6.5 watts, quantified in Swiss Side's own wind tunnel and used to develop all their products, including the fabric of these AERO socks that have a texture of horizontal bands that seek the well-known golf ball effect seen in many products.

Aerodynamics are improved when the airflow remains attached to the surface of the object it passes through, in this case, the cyclist's legs. When the airflow is laminar, that is, the air particles pass through the body in an orderly and turbulence-free manner, the aerodynamic gain is greater. However, laminar flow "detaches" from the surface as soon as the angle of incidence increases slightly, making it impractical in the real world.

On the other hand, airflow that creates small turbulences, although providing slightly less raw aerodynamic advantage, remains attached to the surface at more varied angles of incidence, and precisely for this reason it is a solution that has become popular when improving the aerodynamics of a surface.

These socks are only available in white color as seen in the images, as even dyes could affect how airflow circulates over its surface, altering its aerodynamic characteristics, as well as affecting breathability.

You can find these socks on the Swiss Side website for a price of 69 euros and in three sizes that cover practically all foot measurements.