Whittling down the front end so dramatically resulting in the narrowest possible head tube reduces the projected area. Projected area is equivalent to the area obscured by the object as it passes in its direction of travel. Reducing the HANZŌ’s projected area by 31% compared to the SLiCK effectively decreases the drag at all velocities.

The rotating wheels and tires represent a unique challenge. The fully reversing flow comes off of the spinning tire and interferes with the frame and fork causing drag. With the HANZŌ we carefully moved the airfoil sections well clear of the rotating tire, preventing the interaction effect and allowing both sections to perform optimally. This approach accommodates up to 28mm tires. Having greater clearance around the tires reduces the effect a tire’s shape has on the airflow through the fork and frame. The one piece fork’s wide stance not only works with the rotating front wheel to improve efficiency, but at the rear, the seat stays are as wide as UCI regulations allow in order to smooth the airflow between rear wheel and frame, as well as airflow off the rider’s calves.

As the first bike to maximize the potential of the UCI’s revised design rules, the HANZŌ uses never before applied airfoil sections for the full 16cm of length allowed by the alignment of the head tube and down tube boxes. The design also integrates the basebar and frame top tube into an aero section, with seamless blends between those shapes to ensure minimal airflow detachment. Cable and brake line integration also plays a key role to ensure the HANZŌ shows the most aero face to the wind as possible.