The accumulative effect of aero improvements

[mikesbytes]

Watched a video this morning that showed a 9 second gain over 40k for shaving your arms.

As we know, if you add up the seconds improvements you don't arrive at the same improvement that the numbers imply. 9 + 32 + 93 + 17 = 2 min 30 seconds. But in reality those combined improvements don't give you that actual figure, they give you something less.

So how do we equate the improvements?

[thearthurdog]

I've always wondered about the validity of all those claimed improvements, because as you say, I don't feel like they all 'add up'. I've recently upgraded my disc wheel and according to the good people at Zipp, I should now move up a place at the state titles, but I am not so sure (fingers crossed).

[mikesbytes]

The individual claim is correct but combining doesn't add up. Its a case of each improvement brings a smaller overall improvement

[clackers]

Yes, otherwise 100 such one-percent improvements would mean you'd get to the finish line instantly.