Aero Bars?

[Dog]

Cycling friends have suggested that I get aero bars for my bike. Any feedback or recommendations. I like to ride longer distances and organized rides.

[ilima]

Cycling friends have suggested that I get aero bars for my bike. Any feedback or recommendations. I like to ride longer distances and organized rides.

Aero bars are generally a no-no when you're riding in a group. You generally won't get kicked out of a group for having them, just asked not to ride in them except maybe if you're at the front taking a pull.

Also, for many styles of aerobars you will lose the use of the tops of your handlebars when you clamp on aerobars. There are some exceptions where the arm pads flip up, but they are lower-end aero bars.

That being said, some folks like having the extra position to ride in and find it comfortable as your bones are supporting you vs. your muscles. I ride with a lof of triathletes, and those without a dedicated tri bike generally have the aerobars on their bike all the time. I find aerobars aesthetically unappealing, so I only put them on if I'm doing a tri (no tri bike for me).

[Mr. SR500]

ilima makes great points. I tend to not like them. They are heavy IMO, and many riders use them way to much on group rides. Most organized rides say no aero bars. That said they work great, allow more positions and a more aero tuck to maintain speed as a solo rider. They bike can be harder to control and shifting requires you to move (unless using a TT bike/bar setup).

I decided to leave them off my Madone (I ride 90% of the time), but do have a set on my Bianchi, with 50mm carbon rims so it's setup like a TT bike. The Bianchi is heavy, but fast on a flat TT and fun to ride. While the Bianchi is AL, my Madone is carbon and about 5 lbs lighter, so just an all around better bike for most of my riding.

I would borrow a set and see what you thought, if you like them go ahead, you can always take them on/off for different rides.

[bmccasland]

I don't have aero bars...

Your center of gravity is very tiny, so any tiny flinch left or right can easily become exaggerated. I think using them takes a lot of practice. And I don't want to be behind someone when they're learning. The TT wanna-be's are dangerous. IMHO.

Lets just say I've had some bad rides behind someone who had aero bars, because they thought they looked cool. Took said individual from being a squirrelly rider to down right dangerous.

Most cyclists really won't shave much time by using them. But if you're serious into racing, they might help your time. Just remember that shifting gears can be a challenge, and you can't reach your brakes while in the bars.

[alpinerabbit]

I love mine, but +1 on not using them in a tight group. You can have them on but don't ride in them unless you are pulling.

Weight etc: don't think that's an issue...
Syntace XXS is what I have - 330 grams and together with the risers to fit the oversize handlebar, they allow easy access to the top tube position.

They have given my speed in the flats such a boost. So yes, you shave off time. It's not just drag, it's being able to put your glutes into the game. and for a tiny incline, you stay down, pull on the bars and just hammer over it.

Yes, you have to have good balance and a beginning rider WITH aerobars is one squirrely thing to have in front of you. That's prolly why triathletes and drafting doesn't really mix....

[Eden]

I differ in opinion a little from the other folks here. If you are on a group ride NEVER use your aerobars, not even if you are on the front. Aerobars are for riding alone or on a team time trial only.

[smilingcat]

+1 with EDEN.


NEVER RIDE WITH AERO BARS IN A GROUP

if you want to be a TT racer wanna be with aero bars, that's your thing; but, don't have it for a group ride. Lately, there seems to be a fad of sort where people are riding TT bikes (like the Cervelo P3's and Kuota's ??) with full blown TT setup. The problem is, most are not experienced to handle the TT setup properly nor have the necessary conditioning to be riding a full TT bike. It's downright dangerous.

Having your arms rest near the head tube doesn't give you the control of your bike and unless you have a special setup, your brake is only on the horn and not on the aero so your response time to using the brake is significantly reduced. Even if you could get to the brake quickly you still don't have the control like you would with a regular setup. So I really can't see the use of aero bars except in TT's where you are willing to give up safety for seconds.

comfort factor?? If your bike is properly setup, it should be comfortable to begin with. The drop bar gives you several choices: in the drop, on the hood, on the top, And minor variations. Aero position is like riding in the drops but less safe. Your ham string and glutes need stretch more sof if they are tight, riding in aero position will give you back problems.

Now I do take my TT bike (Specialized Transition Pro) out for a ride every once in a while but its strictly business, very low traffic, very few stop signs/stops and I'm pushing for speed and endurance. No chit chatting. checking my speed, HR and gauging my exertion level.

Stay with your non-Aero bar setup.
Smilingcat

[roadie gal]

I have a dedicated tri bike and I have aerobars on my road bike. The ones on the roadie are the "cheap" Profile Designs ones that have the flip up pads. I love having another position on long rides and I love the almost free boost in speed on the flats. They are somewhat heavy, but these aren't on my racing bike, so I don't really care. I would recommend them. But DO NOT use them in group rides. They definitely cut down on your ability to make quick moves and on your bike handling ability.

[alpinerabbit]

But it's ok to leave them on, instead of unscrewing them, if you're going to go on a group ride, don't you think?

[aicabsolut]

But it's ok to leave them on, instead of unscrewing them, if you're going to go on a group ride, don't you think?

Not really, though plenty of people do it. Just think that if you're in a tight group or paceline and something goes wrong (a squirrel goes into someone's wheel, a rim cracks, someone messes up and overlaps the front wheel, etc.), those bars potentially become spears to jab someone else in the event of a pile-up. Most people who don't do triathlon never take aero bars in a group. Many triathletes I know still won't take their aero setup on a group ride, but not everyone has 2 bikes. It's just not a good idea.

Also, a lot of people who put clip on bars on their bike for a TT need to adjust the saddle position to get into a good position on the bars. Often, it's ideal to move down a bike size for a TT setup, because you need a shorter top tube (why TT bikes generally have shorter top tubes built in to their geometry, though depending on your road bike setup and reach, you may still want to go down a size, ideally). So, chances are you're either going to be too far forward (and maybe too high too) for 99% of your riding, or you're going to be even less stable in the aerobars, because your elbows would be too far in front of you instead of dropping more or less straight down under your shoulders. Maybe if your lower back is extremely flexible, you can make it work better. Then you might be so low and straight with your back that it's hard to look up the road.

If you aren't doing tris or TTs, there's really no need to use aerobars, especially in a group. If you want to try to get more aerodynamic on your road bike out solo, then put your hands on the tops close to the stem, bend your elbows close to your sides, and crouch down. Or get in the drops to make it easier to put out more power, and as long as you don't have bars that are too wide for you, you'll be relatively aero. Shave off resistance by using better wheels, putting a bottle on the seat tube only, or going without gloves. Really, though, does any of that REALLY matter if you aren't racing against the clock?

I vote no aerobars on a group ride ever, unless you're practicing for a TTT.

[alpinerabbit]

aic, gals,

yes it matters. I usually ride with my boyfriend only and since I have gotten the new bike and aero bars, I can keep up with him in flats, and then some.

oh and btw - with ITU legal bars you will hardly spear anyone because they do not extend past the brake hoods. I'm not talking about bullhorns and the rest of the super-duper TT setup.

I had no problems getting the position right on a road bike, not a tri bike. I only have room for one bike, so I am keeping them. I'm not the roadie racer girl and I definitely suck at riding paceline. I would not go down into the bars if I was in a group but don't look down on me for having them, m'kay?

[indysteel]

I differ in opinion a little from the other folks here. If you are on a group ride NEVER use your aerobars, not even if you are on the front. Aerobars are for riding alone or on a team time trial only.

Amen to that. There are a handful of people I ride with who use their aero bars to pull at the front. Putting aside the safety issues, none of them hold the steadiest of lines when they use their bars. Drafting them, especially in a pack, is beyond annoying.

[ehirsch83]

Alright, if you are going to go out on a group ride with aero bars, you should NEVER EVER be in the group. Out to the side, ok-if you are very experienced in them, in the group still not ok. So pretty much- only ride them when solo or practicing for team TT, or you are training with others who are using them and you all have a verbal agreement before hand of where you are going to be.

The other thing is, if you are in a correct position for the aero bars, it will not be very comfortable!! You use different muscles when in tt position and are forward on the nose of your saddle. So that being said, if you put them on and do your position correctly- it is not going to be a position you really want to be in for hours on end all the time.
So, if you put them on and are not in the correct position(so you are then achieving a comfortable ride) what is the point in having them on?
So, there is no reason to put them on if you are looking for a comfy ride, a correct tt setup is not comfy- it can be quite painful at times actually, nose of saddle digging in, back, shoulders, and arms will hurt, and you are using your glutes and quads in a way not usually used in a normal road set up.

So my opinion- unless you are training specifically for TTs or Tris don't put them on- you have plenty of positions to play around with on your drops and hoods. If this does not feel right, go get a professional fitting!!

TT bars do not = comfort they equal power.

[aicabsolut]

TT bars do not = comfort they equal power.

Very true. I did a 40k TT last weekend, and the vast majority of the fastest category riders rode the 5 miles from the finish line back to their cars with their hands on the pads of the aerobars. It wasn't even comfortable for them to be out on the hoods.

rabbit, I wasn't suggesting you can't get an adequate TT position on a road bike, though depending on the geometry, it could be more difficult to do it on the same one you use on the road. At the very least, you will want a different saddle position when you put on the clip-on bars if you are going to be getting the benefit of the aero position and if you are going to get stable enough on the bars. So that makes it more of a road bike converted into a tri bike instead of a road bike with an "extra position," because you will have changed your fit on the road bike (for riding on the tops, hoods, and drops) to a sub-optimal position that can put strain on your muscles, ligaments, and joints at the worst and at the best you'll have a significant drop in power when you're not in the bars over what you'd normally have.

I still maintain that it's dangerous to be chasing down your riding buddies in aerobars as much as it is riding in a group with them, because your handling and stability are compromised. If you can't keep up otherwise, then they need to be more accommodating to you if they want to ride with you. They are riding *with* you, after all.

Even short clip-on bars can be spears. I've seen many a tangled handlebar (whether the cause or result of a crash). One good thing about the hoods is that they get knocked all sideways and out of the way, if they aren't wedged in somewhere like between someone's spokes and their (now cracked) fork. Aerobars will not just fold inward upon impact, and they are metal or carbon rods. It's just inconsiderate of your fellow riders to have them on your bike when you're in a group ride unless you have some understanding with all of the other riders.

Getting back to the OP's riding style... she says she does group rides and longer rides. 40k is a LONG ride to be in a time trial position. It will just not be comfortable to use aerobars on long road rides. Yeah, you can go faster. It is really not a rest for your muscles, because you engage a lot of small stabilizer muscles to hold that position in your abs and arms and shoulders and back. Staying in a TT position can also lead to numb feet and legs, not to mention putting more strain on the muscle groups discussed by others. In addition, if the long rides involve any significant climbing, you won't want to use them much. Yeah, some people do climb in their aerobars, but there's really no advantage to doing that. Descending can be squirrelly for most, and you're far away from your brakes.

[smilingcat]

interesting comments so far

Eden races. so do aicabsolut, ehirsch83 (emily), indysteel (maybe)...

Those of us who are racing or have raced say absolutely not to aero bars in group rides. Just noticing the difference in our perspective from non-racers. I would also like to add that I didn't make this statement because of arrogance or superiority complex for having raced.

For what is worth, maybe Mr. SR500 is a safer rider than I am. I'm no poster child for safe rider. I have major crashes behind me. Yet, even with unsafe riding faux paux I have commited, I would disuade anyone to ride with an aero bar (clip-ons on the traditional drop bar included).

TT position is really too hard on my back.

smilingcat

[Tuckervill]

Serendipity...my dh, on our ride on Sunday, said he wanted some of "those bars that stick out in the center". I said, "no you don't. You don't want to ride in that position for very long, and your handling is squirrelly when your hands are that close to the center."

So now here's a whole thread about why he shouldn't get them!

I've never raced, but I often rode with my forearms on the flat tops of my 10 speeds when I was a teenager. I never did it for long, because you really can't steer from there, or brake for that matter. But I understand why you would want to try that position once in a while on a long ride. I haven't tried it on my current bike, but my son does it to open bottles sometimes when we're just tooling along. I try to discourage it.

Karen

[sundial]

Me + aero bars = disaster ;) Nuff said.

[dachshund]

I'm curious about why they're undesirable in group rides. Is it that you can't control your line as well?

I'm not interested in getting them, but wondered if they had any value for the touring crowd. I'm always curious about other handlebar designs.

[Kimmyt]

I have clipons. I don't use them in group rides. Because the clip ons don't have brakes on them, so you have to switch positions to suddenly break. And the bike feels a bit more squirrely when you're in the center as opposed to steering in the drops.

It takes me 5 minutes to screw on my bars, so I usually only do it a few times before a tri to get used to the position again.

I think it's really a comfy position, personally, but don't see the need of it even for long rides. I find the drops just as comfy.

[PscyclePath]

I'm curious about why they're undesirable in group rides. Is it that you can't control your line as well?

I'm not interested in getting them, but wondered if they had any value for the touring crowd. I'm always curious about other handlebar designs.

A big reason is that you don't have quick or ready access to your brakes -- and when you need your stoppers, you usually need 'em badly ;-) Even the specialized time trial bikes that the pro rides and some triathlon folks use have the brake levers on the regular handlebars, not on the aerobars.

A lot of my female friends here buy and install aerobars on their bikes to help them cheat the wind...

Aerobars are specialty tools for special types of riding -- specifically to let you go as fast as possible in as straight a line as possible. Your balance on the aerobars as well as the way your bike steers is way different than if you're riding on the regular drops. In group rides, you need to have quick reaction and control of your bike in order to react to the actions of the riders around you, and you simply don't have that when you're on aerobars. Yes, pro riders do it in team time trials, but few of us mere mortals put in the practice that they do...

Tom

[TxDoc]

Cycling friends have suggested that I get aero bars for my bike. Any feedback or recommendations. I like to ride longer distances and organized rides.

Just out of curiosity... what reason did your friends give you for suggesting aero bars? Do you race TT's or plan to race TT's, or it's just for training purposes?

[dachshund]

A big reason is that you don't have quick or ready access to your brakes -- and when you need your stoppers, you usually need 'em badly ;-) Even the specialized time trial bikes that the pro rides and some triathlon folks use have the brake levers on the regular handlebars, not on the aerobars.


Um, yeah, I can see how that would be a problem. Thanks for the explanation.

[aicabsolut]

interesting comments so far

Eden races. so do aicabsolut, ehirsch83 (emily), indysteel (maybe)...

Those of us who are racing or have raced say absolutely not to aero bars in group rides. Just noticing the difference in our perspective from non-racers. I would also like to add that I didn't make this statement because of arrogance or superiority complex for having raced.

For what is worth, maybe Mr. SR500 is a safer rider than I am. I'm no poster child for safe rider. I have major crashes behind me. Yet, even with unsafe riding faux paux I have commited, I would disuade anyone to ride with an aero bar (clip-ons on the traditional drop bar included).

TT position is really too hard on my back.

smilingcat

I agree. I don't think the racers here are trying to be snobby or superior. Instead, we've seen what can happen in tight quarters at speed, and for everyone's safety, it is important that everyone get a good fighting chance at avoiding a bad situation. A guy who rides in one of the groups I ride with only has a TT bike. He is a very stable, safe cyclist. Yet I still don't like that he can't just use a road bike with the group. The setup just doesn't maximize safety, even with a skilled cyclist. Bad stuff happens sometimes. It may be someone's fault. It may not be (front flat, pothole, squirrel, gravel, whatever). When you're in a group, you owe it to the others to try to be as safe as you can be. Everyone messes up sometimes and overlaps a wheel or whatever, but removing your aerobars or using a road bike instead of a tri bike is a choice you can make ahead of time to try to keep things safer for everyone.

As an analogy, a guy on my team showed up for a ride recently on his fixie. Ok, fixie riders should 1) only bring them out for flat, easy lap night or something similar, and then 2) ride at the back. Not only did he not stick to the back, but we were doing a route that involved one very long and scary downhill (for those with brakes and freewheels). He preferred to skid and fishtail periodically to try to stay under control than use the brakes he had on his fixie. We yelled at him. Fixies, like aerobars, really do not belong on group rides where subtle changes in speed occur frequently, and especially not when hills are involved. I don't care how skilled you are on a fixie. I don't care how skilled and stable you are on a tri bike. They are for riding solo.