How 2.4 liters of additional storage affect the aerodynamics of a fast setup
It often starts with a simple idea for a fast day on the bike. The route is ambitious, the pace should remain high and the bike feels exactly as it should: light, direct and uncluttered. Perhaps a gravel race is coming up, a long road ride or a fast day ride. Yet rides like these quickly reveal that a minimal setup does not automatically mean carrying very little equipment.
A second inner tube or tubeless repair kit, a few extra bars, a CO₂ cartridge and perhaps a power bank. Each item is small, but together they can suddenly become too much for jersey pockets.
At this point, the setup often changes more than you would like. A larger saddle bag creates space, and a handlebar bag also solves the problem, but the bike's fast, clean appearance begins to change. This is immediately noticeable, especially on road bikes and fast gravel bikes. The bike itself remains the same, but the character of the setup shifts.
The idea behind the NANO Series emerged from exactly this situation. It is designed for riders who want to carry more on fast rides without burdening their bike with unnecessary volume. Storage should be created where it is needed and remain compact enough for the bike to retain its light, sporty and uncluttered character.
The key question was clear from the beginning: Can additional storage be integrated in a way that has almost no effect on the aerodynamics of the complete system?
About the author
This article was written by Patrick Zasada. As a passionate gravel rider, bikepacker and long-distance adventurer, he combines practical experience with accessible insights into equipment, planning and aerodynamics. His journeys have taken him to the Portuguese Atlantic coast and the North Cape. Learn more about Patrick on his website.
When a fast ride turns into a long day
Anyone who regularly rides long day tours or events knows the moment when planning suddenly becomes more specific. The route may be only 150 kilometers long, but it leads along remote roads, through changing weather zones or into regions where resupply points are scarce. In those situations, relying solely on two bottles and three jersey pockets is not enough.
The more performance-focused the ride, the more carefully every item is considered. Spare parts need to be stored securely, and nutrition must remain accessible while riding. At the same time, the bike should stay fast and dynamic.
This balance between function and performance is particularly sensitive during short races and long day rides. The required volume remains manageable, but every bit of storage has to be used intelligently. Large bags are often more than is actually needed in this context. The NANO Series therefore uses several compact positions on the bike that integrate into its existing silhouette and keep the most important items within easy reach.
The result is a setup tailored to the actual requirements of a fast day. Tools, bars, cables and a power bank all have their place without moving the bike visually or functionally into a different category.
Performance storage for fast bikes
The NANO Series was developed for road and gravel bikes where speed, low weight and a clean setup play a central role. It is intended for day tours, short races, fast gravel races, brevets and performance-focused long-distance rides where additional equipment is needed. The NANO Series creates space for exactly the items that are often missing once jersey pockets are full. This allows the bike to retain its original purpose. The setup continues to look fast, minimal and clean while providing more reserves for long days.
This focus also formed the starting point for the aero test. We were less interested in a theoretical assessment of individual bag shapes than in the effect of the complete system consisting of rider, bike and bags under real-world conditions.
The real challenge lies in the complete system
Aerodynamics on a bicycle are difficult to reduce to individual components. The rider affects aerodynamic drag more than almost any component, while the frame, wheels, bottles, clothing and bags always interact.
A bag may look small on paper and still sit unfavorably in the airflow. Equally, it can occupy a sheltered position and barely change the system's external shape. What matters is therefore not simply the number of bags, but their position, size and proximity to the bike.
This is the design principle behind the NANO Series. The bags remain compact, sit close to the bike and distribute the required volume across several positions that alter the existing silhouette as little as possible. The goal is a calm, integrated shape that fits visually and functionally into a fast setup. Only a direct comparison could show whether this idea also works in measurable terms.
A test under real-world conditions
A fast road bike or speed-gravel setup was used for the measurements. Two configurations were compared, differing only in the additional NANO Set mounted on the bike.
Rider, bike, clothing, wheels, tires, tire pressure, bottle position and riding position remained unchanged throughout the test. The total system weight was also controlled and measured 84.9 kilograms in both test series. A small FRAME BAG SMALL / 02 was fitted in both setups because it held the necessary ballast. It was therefore not part of the variable being tested. The investigation focused exclusively on the difference between the reference setup and the configuration with the complete NANO Set.
The measurements took place on a standardized outdoor test course. The rider completed several runs in both directions to compensate for wind and direction of travel as effectively as possible. AeroTune evaluated power, speed, GPS and environmental data using a physical resistance model. Model-based parameter estimation makes it possible to determine CdA and rolling resistance under real-world outdoor conditions while accounting mathematically for changing influences.
This approach represents different aspects of real-world use than an isolated assessment of individual bags in a wind tunnel. The bike moves, the rider pedals under load and the airflow meets the complete system in an actual riding position. This combination was crucial to us.
At first, the numbers tell a surprising story
The reference setup without the NANO Set produced a measured CdA of 25.95 dm². With the NANO Set mounted, the value was 25.65 dm². A lower CdA generally represents lower aerodynamic drag.
Mathematically, the difference corresponded to an improvement of around 1.2 percent. At 40 km/h, this resulted in a difference of approximately three watts. In the test report's model calculation over 100 kilometers with 780 meters of elevation gain and an average power output of 200 watts, the NANO setup finished 16 seconds ahead of the reference at the same power.
At first glance, these figures appear conclusive. The bike with the additional bags seems to have performed slightly better in the test. But this is exactly where the most important part of the interpretation begins.
Outdoor measurements are sensitive to small changes. Even a slightly different head position could influence the result. Every measured advantage must therefore be considered together with the measurement uncertainty.
In this test, the difference between the two setups was 0.30 dm². Uncertainties of ±0.28 and ±0.29 dm² were reported for the two measurement series. The small calculated advantage therefore cannot be reliably separated from the measurement uncertainty.
The figures primarily demonstrate one point very clearly: The NANO Set created no measurable aerodynamic disadvantage in the tested configuration.
Why this result matters for race setups
Every additional item on a fast bike is chosen deliberately. Especially during gravel races, long road rides or performance-focused day events, the setup should remain functional without unnecessary bulk or shapes that disrupt the airflow.
This is why an aerodynamically neutral result is so interesting for a bag system. The actual benefit lies in the additional storage. If this storage can be created without measurably slowing the bike, the system fulfills its purpose particularly efficiently.
For the rider, this means simpler organization on the move. Nutrition is positioned where it can be reached quickly. Spare parts remain neatly stored instead of being squeezed into an overloaded jersey pocket. This organization can be crucial during fast gravel events. Anyone who has to search for a tool or bar in a hectic situation loses more time and concentration than a few theoretical watts could cost. A well-organized setup supports rhythm on the bike and helps the rider remain efficient over many hours.
A clean setup is above all a well-planned setup
A clean bike often looks fast because every detail has a clearly defined place. This sense of order does not necessarily come from a completely empty bike, but from intelligently integrating the items that are actually needed.
Requirements change throughout a long day ride. A vest may still be worn in the morning before disappearing into the HANDLE BAR BAG NANO / 01 later in the day. Food is gradually consumed, while tools and spare parts remain securely stored throughout the ride. A good bag system accommodates these changes without requiring constant reorganization.
The NANO Series was developed precisely for this dynamic. It adds only as much storage as is realistically needed on fast rides. This type of performance storage is particularly well suited to riders who choose their equipment carefully and assign every bag a clear purpose. The modular series adapts to the ride and can be configured so that only the elements that are genuinely needed remain on the bike.
Discover the CYCLITE NANO Series
Three compact bags provide a combined 2.4 liters of storage at a total weight of only 230 grams.
Position is what matters
The test also demonstrates how important bag position is within the complete system. Small volumes can remain aerodynamically unobtrusive when they sit close to the bike and barely extend beyond its existing silhouette.
The bags in the NANO Series occupy compact positions around the cockpit, on the frame and beneath the saddle. This leaves the bike's external shape largely unchanged. The airflow was not visualized during the test, so the exact effect at each individual position cannot be explained directly. It is nevertheless plausible that close integration played an important part in the neutral result. The test measured the effect of the complete system. This is where it became clear that additional storage and a fast setup can work very well together.
From the first kilometer to the final climb
At the end of a long day, few riders remember the opening kilometers. What usually matters are the hours when food begins to run low, the weather changes or a minor mechanical issue interrupts the ride.
This is when the value of a well-planned setup becomes clear. An extra bar can save the final climb, a vest makes a long descent more comfortable and an easily accessible repair kit prevents a minor issue from costing unnecessary time.
The result
The initial question was simple, yet not necessarily easy to answer: Can more be carried on a fast bike without sacrificing speed?
In the tested setup, the NANO Series showed no measurable aerodynamic disadvantage. The CdA with the bags was even slightly lower than the reference value, although this difference remained within the measurement uncertainty. The robust conclusion is therefore that the system was aerodynamically neutral.
For fast road and gravel bikes, this is the decisive point. Spare parts, bars, a vest, rain jacket or power bank all have a fixed place while the bike retains its clean and sporty character.
The NANO Series creates minimalist performance storage for race setups and fast day rides. It expands the bike precisely where additional function is needed on long and intense rides, while remaining compact enough for the setup to continue looking fast, feeling fast and, in the test, remaining aerodynamically neutral.
Technical test report
Complete technical aerodynamics test report
The report contains the complete measurement protocols, test conditions, uncertainties and a description of the outdoor testing method.
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