Rolling resistance is the energy lost as your tire deforms and recovers with each wheel rotation. Every time the contact patch flattens against the road and then springs back, heat is generated — and that heat represents power you produced that didn't move you forward. At race speeds, rolling resistance typically accounts for 10–20% of total power demand
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Variability Index (VI) measures how steadily you paced your bike leg — and research shows it's one of the strongest predictors of triathlon run performance. Learn what VI is, why a score close to 1.0 matters, how to calculate it from your power data, and what target VI ranges look like across sprint, Olympic, 70.3, and Ironman race distances.
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CdA — your aerodynamic drag coefficient — is the single most important performance variable in cycling and triathlon. It determines how much of your power actually moves you forward versus fighting the air. Learn what CdA means, what typical values look like for different rider positions and bike setups, and how even small reductions in drag can translate to minutes saved on race day.
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Functional Threshold Power (FTP) is the foundation of every training zone, race-day pacing target, and performance metric in cycling and triathlon. Learn what FTP is, how to test for it, what a good FTP looks like at different fitness levels, and how Best Bike Split uses your FTP to build a precise power plan for any course and race distance.
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Pacing the bike leg is the single biggest variable in triathlon performance — go too hard and your run falls apart, go too easy and you leave time on the course. Learn how to set FTP-based power targets for sprint, Olympic, 70.3, and Ironman distances, avoid the most common pacing mistakes, and use Best Bike Split to build a course-specific power plan that sets you up for a strong run.
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Taylor Knibb is one of the most powerful cyclists in professional triathlon, and her Kona bike splits are already among the fastest ever recorded on the Queen K Highway. We modeled her race using Best Bike Split's physics engine to explore whether a sub-4:20 bike split is achievable — and what it would take in terms of watts, CdA, and race-day conditions to get there.
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We break down every key stage of the 2025 Tour de France using Best Bike Split's performance modeling software — the same tools used by our WorldTour pro team partners. Our Time Analysis Tool reveals where changes in power output, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance would have the biggest impact on race time across the most decisive stages.
Read More (2025 TDF Stages)
We've modeled every Zwift World route using Best Bike Split's physics engine to give you real performance insights into your virtual rides. Discover the fastest lines, best pacing strategies, and key segments for every route in Watopia, London, New York, and beyond — so you can level up your Zwift racing and training with data-driven precision.
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Sam Laidlow shattered the Ironman Kona bike course record with a 4:04:36 — but could anyone actually go under 4 hours on the Queen K Highway? We ran the numbers using Best Bike Split's physics-based modeling to find out exactly what power output, aerodynamic drag coefficient, and race conditions would be required to break the 4-hour barrier at the Ironman World Championship.
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After the 2024 Tour de France we put our predictions to the test — comparing Best Bike Split's pre-race stage time modeling against actual race outcomes across key stages. This post-race analysis breaks down our methodology, where the models were accurate, where real-world racing variables created gaps, and what it tells us about the limits and power of physics-based performance prediction.
Read More (BBS vs Actual)
We modeled every key stage of the 2024 Tour de France using Best Bike Split's performance software — the same tools trusted by WorldTour pro teams. Using our Time Analysis Tool we identify the critical sections of each stage where changes in power, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance have the greatest impact on finishing times and race outcomes.
Read More (2024 TDF Stages)
The Best Bike Split AI Workout Builder creates highly personalized, structured cycling training sessions tailored to your specific race goals, target power zones, and fitness level. Learn how coaches and athletes are using this innovative tool to build race-specific workouts — from FTP intervals to race simulation rides — that directly prepare them for the demands of their target event.
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The Best Bike Split AI Assistant brings conversational intelligence directly into your race planning workflow. Ask it questions about your power plan, get nutrition advice tailored to your race distance, request workout suggestions, learn about significant climbs on your course, or get plain-language explanations of advanced metrics like VI, CdA, and Intensity Factor — all without leaving your race plan.
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When Tadej Pogačar switched from his TT bike to a road bike before the Côte de Domancy climb, the cycling world debated whether the move was worth it. We used Best Bike Split's Time Analysis Tool to model the aerodynamic and weight trade-offs of the switch — and put hard numbers on whether the lighter road bike actually gained him time on that decisive climb.
Read More (Pogačar's Bike Switch)
We modeled every key stage of the 2023 Tour de France using Best Bike Split's performance software — the same tools used by our WorldTour pro team partners. Our Time Analysis Tool breaks down where power output, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance have the most significant impact on race times across the most pivotal stages of the race.
Read More (2023 TDF Stages)
Best Bike Split's Climb Detection feature automatically identifies and categorizes every significant climb along your route — giving cyclists and coaches a powerful new tool for race preparation. Learn how the feature works, how climbs are graded and categorized, and how you can use climb-specific pacing insights to build smarter power plans for hilly courses and mountain stages.
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We modeled every key stage of the 2022 Tour de France using Best Bike Split's physics-based performance software. Our Time Analysis Tool identifies the critical course sections where changes in power output, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance have the biggest impact — giving you the same analytical framework used by our WorldTour pro team partners.
Read More (2022 TDF Stages)
After cancellations and delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic the Ironman World Championship returned — but with a twist, moving to St. George, Utah for the first time. We modeled the demanding St. George bike course using Best Bike Split to analyze how the high-altitude climbing and technical descents would affect pro and age group pacing strategies compared to the traditional Kona course.
Read More (2021 IM Championship)
The Leadville Trail 100 MTB is one of the most grueling mountain bike races in the world — 100 miles at altitude with over 12,000 feet of climbing. We used Best Bike Split to model the course and answer the questions every Leadville rider asks: where should you focus your training, can you finish under 12 hours, what does a sub-9 effort require, and how do you pace to beat the cutoff times?
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We modeled every stage of the 2019 Tour de France using Best Bike Split's performance modeling software. Our Time Analysis Tool breaks down the key sections of each stage where changes in power output, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance would have the most significant impact on finishing times — giving you a data-driven view of one of cycling's most competitive editions.
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The STAC Virtual Wind Tunnel brings professional-grade aerodynamic testing to everyday cyclists — delivering the same CdA precision as a real wind tunnel at a fraction of the cost, and showing exactly how position and equipment changes translate to faster bike splits.
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For the 40th Anniversary Ironman World Championship at Kona, we built full race analysis and bike split predictions using Best Bike Split's physics engine — modeling power targets, wind conditions on the Queen K Highway, and pacing strategy right up to race morning.
Read More (2018 IM Championship)
We modeled all four stages of the Colorado Classic using Best Bike Split's performance modeling software, using the Time Analysis Tool to identify where changes in power output, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance would have the biggest impact on race results.
Read More (2018 CO Classic)
Every stage of the 2018 Tour de France modeled with Best Bike Split's physics engine — use the Time Analysis Tool to explore how changes in power, drag, weight, and rolling resistance shift finish times across the most demanding parcours in professional cycling.
Read More (2018 TDF Stages)
Using Best Bike Split's math and physics engine we built race-specific power plans for the 2018 USA Cycling National Championship time trial events, modeling each course with realistic rider profiles, TT bike aerodynamics, and actual course conditions to predict optimal pacing targets.
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Full Ironman World Championship Kona race analysis and bike split predictions built with Best Bike Split's performance modeling — covering power targets, pacing strategy on the Queen K Highway, and pre-race predictions updated right up to race morning.
Read More (2017 IM Championship)
A complete stage-by-stage overview of the 2017 Tour de France using Best Bike Split's performance modeling software, with deep Time Analysis on key stages to show where power output, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance have the biggest impact on race time.
Read More (2017 TDF Stages)
The 2017 Giro d'Italia came down to a dramatic time trial finish between Tom Dumoulin and Nairo Quintana — we used Best Bike Split's Time Analysis Tool to model both riders' power and aerodynamic profiles and predict how the race would end before a pedal was turned.
Read More (2017 Giro Analysis)
How do you turn wind tunnel CdA data into a real-world race day power plan? Best Bike Split's Aero Analyzer helped the United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team bridge that gap — translating precise aerodynamic drag measurements into actionable pacing strategy on the road.
Read More (Tunnel to Road)
The Best Bike Split Aero Analyzer was the first step toward a deeper level of cycling race analysis — giving athletes and coaches the ability to input real CdA data from wind tunnel testing or field measurements and see how aerodynamic improvements directly impact predicted bike split times.
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Our 2016 Ironman World Championship Kona preview combines full bike course race analysis with power-based pacing predictions — modeling the Queen K Highway wind conditions, athlete drag profiles, and FTP-based power targets with a complete Best Bike Split race plan demo.
Read More (2016 IM Championship)
Completing the Vision
The Wahoo ELEMNT integration with Best Bike Split completed the vision of truly data-driven race day execution — taking a physics-based power plan built around your FTP, CdA, and course profile and delivering it directly to your cycling computer for real-time pacing guidance.
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We modeled the entire 2016 Tour de France peloton as a single rider, then applied Best Bike Split's Time Analysis Tool to each stage to reveal exactly where changes in power output, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance would swing race time the most.
Read More (2016 TDF Stages)
Beyond Watts/Kg
Watts/kg is a great fitness metric — but in real road racing it's only part of the story. Using Best Bike Split's Time Analysis Tool on 2016 Tour Down Under Stage 3, we break down how aerodynamic drag dominates flat and sprint scenarios, where raw power matters in a breakaway, and when watts/kg finally wins out on the climbs.
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The off season is where serious cycling and triathlon performance gains are made — this guide covers how to structure your winter training, maintain fitness on the indoor trainer, and use the quieter months to build the FTP and aerobic base that powers faster race day bike splits.
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Best Bike Split's Time Analysis Tool lets you vary power output, aerodynamic drag, rider weight, and rolling resistance on any modeled course and instantly see the estimated impact on your finish time — a powerful way to prioritize where your training and equipment investments will pay off most.
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Best Bike Split's Advanced Weather feature builds a time-based, location-specific wind and weather forecast mapped directly onto your race course — so athletes and coaches can factor changing headwinds, crosswinds, and conditions into race day pacing strategy before the gun goes off.
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Aerodynamic drag is the dominant force on most cycling and triathlon courses, yet most athletes significantly overestimate how aero their position actually is — this deep dive explores how a proper bike fit affects CdA, how yaw angle changes drag at different wind conditions, and why accurate aerodynamic data is the foundation of every reliable Best Bike Split race model.
Read More (Aero Bike Fit)
Trek Factory Racing used Best Bike Split to solve one of the most interesting equipment decisions in professional cycling — whether to race a lightweight climbing bike or an aerodynamic TT bike up the Col d'Èze, with our physics modeling revealing exactly which setup would deliver the fastest time trial result for each individual rider.
Read More (Trek and BBS)
Breaks Course Record at IM Mont Tremblant
Pro triathlete TJ Tollakson used Best Bike Split to build his Ironman Mont Tremblant power plan — discovering he could average 279 watts instead of 300 and still break 4:30, a pacing insight that gave him the confidence to ride smart, preserve his legs, and set a new bike course record.
I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know I used your service to profile the course at IMMT this past weekend en route to my record setting performance.
- TJ Tollakson
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3rd Amateur at IM CDA 2014
Amateur triathlete Eric Reid used Best Bike Split to analyze his aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance ahead of Ironman Coeur d'Alene — building a data-driven bike pacing strategy that accounted for the course's crosswind sections and climbs, ultimately earning him 3rd place in his age group.
Best Bike Split was an important tool in my understanding of the drag and resistance numbers that I could improve.
- Eric Reid
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Predictions for 70.3 Worlds
Best Bike Split put its performance modeling to the test by predicting pro triathlete Josh Amberger's 70.3 Worlds bike split using his power data, his Felt IA aerodynamic profile, and course conditions — an early real-world validation of the physics engine that now powers race plans for athletes at every level.
Great to be on team @BestBikeSplit, I'm getting some good use out of their new premium service. Check it out!
- Josh Amberger
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Predictions for Stage 11 Time Trials
Best Bike Split's first major public prediction test — modeling Chris Froome's optimal time trial performance at Stage 11 of the 2013 Tour de France using estimated power numbers and actual wind conditions, correctly forecasting where he would gain and lose time against Tony Martin before the stage was ridden.
Read More (2013 TDF Stages)
Our math and physics engine takes your power data, course info, and race day conditions to predict your race performance and create the perfect power plan so you can hit your best bike split.
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