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"New standards in aero and speed": Le Col partners with McLaren’s aerodynamicists for Project Aero collection

The new Aero Speedsuit is claimed to have tested 32 seconds faster than World Tour-leading speedsuits over 40km at 300W…

Le Col has revealed its new Project Aero cycle clothing collection which has been co-developed with McLaren’s aerodynamicists and tested in the wind tunnel. The British brand says that Project Aero “combines aerodynamic engineering with technical apparel to deliver kit that redefines fast“. 

Review: Le Col Women’s Hors Categorie Bib Tights

 

“Implementing McLaren’s aero research on boundary layers, the Le Col x McLaren Project Aero Collection’s detailed approach to mapping every millimetre has driven advances in aerodynamic performance and broken new ground in cycling,” says Le Col.

The collection has been tested and validated by McLaren.

Let’s check out the kit in the Le Col x McLaren Project Aero line up…

Aero SS Jersey, £170

2021 Le Col x McLaren Project Aero SS Jersey women

This race jersey has been reshaped using Mclaren’s aerodynamic expertise, resulting in 6W savings at 40km/h versus a World Tour Short Sleeve jersey, claims Le Col.

Strategically placed air tripping front panelling and what's called high-speed lycra “disrupts airflow and smooths the path of air past leading-edge surfaces, enhancing efficiency on the bike,” says Le Col.

2021 Le Col x McLaren Project Aero SS Jersey men

Debossed and double sublimated logos keep this jersey aero, while elasticated banding at the sleeve and silicone waist grippers ensure it stays securely in place.

The men’s version is available here, and the women’s here.

Aero Speedsuit – Men’s and Women’s, £350

2021 Le Col x McLaren Project Aero

The Le Col x McLaren Project Aero Speedsuit promises to reduce drag, and the brands claim that it has tested faster than many World Tour skinsuits in a wind tunnel environment.

The aero claims are:

  • Tests 32 seconds faster than World Tour-leading speedsuits over 40km at 300W
  • 6W saving at 35km/h vs World Touring-leading skinsuits
  • 10W saving at 35km/h vs best-selling aero short sleeve jersey

“Constructed and technically mapped to match the contours of the rider in aggressive positions, this speedsuit blends Elite Italian Tripping fabrics, textured with dimples and dual densities over the arm to break up airflow at the leading edge and manage its flow around the body,” says Le Col.

2021 Le Col x McLaren Project Aero Speedsuit details

A front covered zip is included for reduced drag and two low profile aero pockets are also included.

The men’s version is available here, while the women's version can be pre-ordered for delivery in July here.

Aero Socks, £35

2021 Le Col x McLaren Project Aero socks

These Aero Socks are said to have been refined to offer compressive and wind tunnel-proven air tripping fabrics.

Aero Channelled Speed fabrics are used for the upper and pre-applied bonded grippers to ensure a secure positioning, says Le Col.

The sock bed uses a reinforced toe box for durability, while the hex construction is designed to deliver breathability.

These are available here.

www.lecol.cc

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9 comments

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Yorky-M | 3 years ago
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Please show some data.

"Tests 32 seconds faster than World Tour-leading speedsuits over 40km at 300W"

Really! this is just marketing lies without results.

 Team INEOS, with a 50 million euro budget and tests every single detail and this is going to let Landa beat Porte?

Avatar
Awavey replied to Yorky-M | 3 years ago
0 likes

McLaren have access to the Toyota Motorsport wind tunnel facility in Germany, the same one Eddy Merckx Cycles went to, to develop a TT bike nearly a decade ago, and I dont...so I will trust their numbers  1

Avatar
Yorky-M replied to Awavey | 3 years ago
0 likes

Have an enquiring mind and dont be taken in by marketing. It has the EXACT same profile on the sidepanels as the assos suit thus NOT faster. It has short arms PROVEN to be SLOWER than full arms used by ALL but 2 world tour teams and it has a front facing zip again proven to be slower than a rear facing zip used by 5 would tour teams. 

So in fact the claims by Le Col, unless the data is shown which skinsuits it is actually faster than.. are LIES and marketing bull

Avatar
Awavey replied to Yorky-M | 3 years ago
0 likes

I dont know why Road.cc have only shown the short sleeve version, but there is if you go on the Le Col website long sleeve suit options available.

and yes you are correct these are claims, and not necessarily independently verified facts, though theyve been validated by McLaren.

but without access to our own wind tunnel none of us are going to be able to disprove the claims, and I trust McLaren not to be pushing just marketing spin, they dont have anything to gain from that having just left pro cycling anyway, because their technology group are respected in the industry for knowing their stuff and its their knowledge and expertise that relies on.

so if McLaren say these numbers do stack up, thats good enough for me until such time some group test puts them all, including Raphas one from last week in the same windtunnel (because not all windtunnels are equal) and comes up with a conclusion.

if LeCol just wanted to sell stuff, they could have put a McLaren logo on a normal jersey with some pr nonsense and Id have probably bought one,
but Im not in the market for spending several hundreds of quid on cycling clobber to be more aero anyway, I could just spend less on cakes.

Avatar
Rich_cb replied to Yorky-M | 3 years ago
0 likes

Ineos appear to be using a skinsuit + base layer combination to get around pesky UCI rules so it's possible that the skinsuit alone doesn't test that well.

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Cycloid | 3 years ago
1 like

Could save another 10 watts by giving the model a haircut.

Cost about £10

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PRSboy | 3 years ago
1 like

Interesting that the speedsuit has short sleeves... surely there would be an aero advantage in having the fancy fabric for the full arm length.

Or is skin more aero?  

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henryb replied to PRSboy | 3 years ago
3 likes

Yes, but it's also important to maintain sharp tan lines

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Awavey replied to PRSboy | 3 years ago
0 likes

since Le Col are doing both, surely its then down to rider preference?

personally Id have been happy with a standard jersey with McLaren branding,but then Im about as aero as a brick  1

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