Neo Aero Suit Testing
Neo TT Suit Wind Tunnel Testing
Key finding: In wind tunnel testing at Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub, the Rule 28 Neo TT Suit required less power than every other suit tested — the previous Neo Suit, the One TT Suit, and the TT Suit 2.0 — at every speed from 40 to 60 km/h. Compared to the outgoing TT Suit 2.0, the saving reaches up to 14.67W at 45 km/h, translating to roughly 15.5 seconds and a 215m margin over a flat 10-mile time trial at 50 km/h.
Power required (Watts) to maintain speed, by suit
| Speed | Neo TT Suit | Saving vs. TT Suit 2.0 | Saving vs. previous Neo Suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 km/h | 219.86W | +13.46 | +10.53 |
| 45 km/h | 308.97W | +14.67 | +10.13 |
| 50 km/h | 419.34W | +10.73 | +16.14 |
| 55 km/h | 554.66W | +7.61 | +24.68 |
| 60 km/h | 715.3W | +7.83 | +34.22 |
The Neo TT Suit's advantage over the previous Neo Suit design grows sharply with speed — relevant for track and high-speed TT riders (see below).
Time trial tech has made significant advancements in the past few years as riders demand more and more from their equipment. At the World Tour and international level, the technology that goes into skinsuits has also seen substantial progression, but until now, this hasn't been accessible to the public. Until now.
At Rule 28, we know that the pursuit of speed demands the very best from your kit. To bring you the fastest suit possible, with nothing held back, we've invested significant time and resources into the development of our latest Neo TT Suit. Here, we'll take you behind the scenes of the rigorous wind tunnel testing process that has gone into perfecting our new skinsuit, ensuring that it delivers unparalleled aerodynamic performance.
The Importance of Aerodynamics in Cycling
At TT speeds, aero drag can account for over 90% of total resistance, and a rider's body generates the vast majority of this drag. A good amount can be done to optimise your riding position to minimise your drag, but beyond this, upgrading skinsuits is where a rider can find their greatest savings.
The less resistance you face, the faster you can go for the same amount of effort. This is where our new Neo TT Suit comes into play. Designed with cutting-edge materials and innovative techniques, our suit is engineered to provide the greatest possible advantage to its users.
Wind Tunnel Testing at Silverstone: A Closer Look
Development and testing were conducted at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub Wind Tunnel. Instead of using a pedalling rider, we opted for a 3D-printed mannequin of a time trialist, placed on a TT bike. This approach allowed us to gain detailed insights into how small adjustments to seam placements and fabric choices affected performance.
Understanding the Test Data
Our wind tunnel tests began at a speed of 40 km/h, increasing in 5 km/h increments up to 60 km/h. At each speed, we measured the power in Watts required for a rider to maintain that speed.
| Skinsuit | 40 km/h | 45 km/h | 50 km/h | 55 km/h | 60 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous Neo Suit (w/ Low Speed Base Layer) | 230.39W | 319.1W | 435.48W | 579.34W | 749.52W |
| Neo TT Suit (w/ integrated dual-layer sleeves) | 219.86W | 308.97W | 419.34W | 554.66W | 715.3W |
| One TT Suit | 220.34W | 310.21W | 423.62W | 562.54W | 728.92W |
| TT Suit 2.0 | 233.32W | 323.64W | 430.07W | 562.27W | 723.13W |
Testing was conducted against our previous Neo Suit, which required the use of a separate Aero Base Layer, as well as our current One TT Suit (a single-layer sleeve design, versus the Neo Suit's dual-layer). The Neo TT Suit required fewer watts to maintain the same speeds than every other suit tested, at every speed tested.
Key Findings
219.86–715.3W across 40–60 km/h — the Neo TT Suit required the least power of any suit tested at every speed, beating the previous Neo Suit, the One TT Suit, and the TT Suit 2.0 throughout.
Up to 34.22W saved vs. the previous Neo Suit at 60 km/h — the gap over the old separate-base-layer design widens as speed increases, making the new integrated dual-layer sleeve design particularly valuable for high-speed and track riders.
Up to 14.67W saved vs. the TT Suit 2.0 at 45 km/h — with meaningful savings maintained across the full 40–60 km/h range tested.
Real World Savings
Over a flat 10-mile TT at 50 km/h, the improved aerodynamics of the Neo TT Suit save this rider approximately 15.5 seconds compared to the TT Suit 2.0.
Put another way: as this rider crossed the line in a Neo TT Suit, the TT Suit 2.0 would be about 215m (705ft) behind.
High-Speed Neo Suit
The Neo Suit is also available in a version designed for track and elite time trialists riding at average speeds of over 50 km/h. Test data on this version is available in High Speed Base Layer and Neo Suit Development and Testing.
Why Choose the New Neo TT Suit?
Our new Neo TT Suit is an unparalleled piece of aero technology. We have spared no expense in developing this suit. It is built to help you ride faster than you ever have before. Whether you're an elite cyclist or a serious amateur, the aerodynamic benefits of this suit will shave seconds off your time — which could be the difference between victory and a middle-of-the-pack finish.
