The benefits of Aero Bars?

[itself]

As I have been going to PT, I had a chance to get on a stationary bike with Aero bars. What a comfortable position!

I am considering re-entering the road bike realm, as I am currently a bent rider.

Aero bars can only be used on flats mostly? Fill me in.

Do you find like I did that this is a super comfortable position? Is there any negative effects on the back/body to stay in this position?

I realize bike fit is most important, so this is something I will make sure I get done right this time.

Thanks for your help!

Lisa

[SheFly]

See my response to your other post. This MAY be a good position for you, but duration could be the issue.

SheFly

[PscyclePath]

Aero bars are for solo riding in events like triathlons and time trials where you can't draft or ride in a group. Or for solo touring or recreational riding where you want to get a little more aerodynamic and cheat the wind.

They are NOT for group riding, because your bike handling will be a lot more squirrelly, and your hands are far, far away from your brake levers. It's very bad manners to use aerobars on a group or mass event ride.

[tulip]

They are NOT for group riding, because your bike handling will be a lot more squirrelly, and your hands are far, far away from your brake levers. It's very bad manners to use aerobars on a group or mass event ride.

+1! Also, in a crash, aero bars can do more damage because they protrude. Please don't ride with aero bars in group rides!

[sundial]

A friend of mine met her deductible using aerobars.

[nscrbug]

I'll play "devil's advocate" here...I like having aerobars on my road bike. I use them primarily as a different position to give my hands/wrists a break from time to time. I don't ride with a group (unless you consider 1 or 2 bikes a group) so the whole "etiquette" thing isn't an issue. The 2 people I ride with (my hubby and a friend) know that I drop down onto my aerobars every so often, and it doesn't bother them one bit. I should also note, that the aerobars I have on my bike are considered "shorty" type bars. They are the Profile Design Jammer GT's...they don't have long extensions like traditional aerobars do...the extensions on my bars don't go past my brake hoods, and they curve slightly inwards so the chance of someone being impaled by them in a crash, are minimal.

Linda

[kenyonchris]

Aero bars are for solo riding in events like triathlons and time trials where you can't draft or ride in a group. Or for solo touring or recreational riding where you want to get a little more aerodynamic and cheat the wind.

They are NOT for group riding, because your bike handling will be a lot more squirrelly, and your hands are far, far away from your brake levers. It's very bad manners to use aerobars on a group or mass event ride.

YAY!!! I wish someone would get on the loudspeaker at the beginning of a mass event ride and say "ANYONE WITH AEROBARS PLEASE STEP TO THE REAR OF THE LINE!!!"
Good response.

[marni]

I agree with all of the statements about when not to use aerobars in group rides except:

1. I don't remove my aerobars at any time, but do not ride in them unless I am riding alone- I rarely ride with anyone else even in a charity ride or group ride as I am prone to just hit a pace and go. I prefer to ride alone, and while I may ride with someone briefly for conversation or to just to say hi, I usually drop back or pull ahead to rride alone.

Somehow I got the feeling that the removal of aerobars from your bike would be obligatory in a group ride but I may be misunderstanding that. Definitely do not ride in them around other people, in a pace line or in a group. Spend lots of time practicing with them in places where you can fall, swerve and wobble safely until you get a feel for them.

2. I tend to do long distance and cross country rides and my aerobars are an invaluable asset for changing positions and taking the strain off of my hands and wrists, and for a different positions in my back muscles and to ease sitting positions. I have double sided pedals for the same reason.

3. although my aerobars are not the super compact type, they do curve in and up so are probably somewhat safer than the straight long ones.

4. Although they were squirrely to get used to and a can definitely feel a difference in steering on my bike if I am down in them, I tend to think that riding in my drops is equally hazardous andd bad manners in a group ride, I have seen far too many people in their drops with delusions of being speed demons with their heads down buzzing riders or having to pull up sharply when they run into a slower group or rider.

5. being in your aerobars, like being in your drops, gets your center of gravity lower and more centered, extremely useful and much safer when riding in the winds.

6. No you can't ride in aerobars going up the hill and you would be stupid to ride in aerobars going downhill,upright posture so you can breath and pull against your handlebars. Aerobars are for level solo riding only but for that they are great and make you use some leg, back and abdominal muscles that might not get as much use otherwise.

that's my take anyway.

marni

[SheFly]

Somehow I got the feeling that the removal of aerobars from your bike would be obligatory in a group ride but I may be misunderstanding that. Definitely do not ride in them around other people, in a pace line or in a group. Spend lots of time practicing with them in places where you can fall, swerve and wobble safely until you get a feel for them.

We don't ask people to remove their aero bars for group rides, just not to use them.

4. Although they were squirrely to get used to and a can definitely feel a difference in steering on my bike if I am down in them, I tend to think that riding in my drops is equally hazardous andd bad manners in a group ride, I have seen far too many people in their drops with delusions of being speed demons with their heads down buzzing riders or having to pull up sharply when they run into a slower group or rider.

The difference isn't all in the handling. When you are in your aero bars, you have to come out of them to get to your brakes. When you are riding in your drops, you do not need to change position to hit the brakes. Yes, people riding in their drops can be equally as squirrely, but to me, the difference is in the ability to brake, and quickly.

6. No you can't ride in aerobars going up the hill and you would be stupid to ride in aerobars going downhill,upright posture so you can breath and pull against your handlebars. Aerobars are for level solo riding only but for that they are great and make you use some leg, back and abdominal muscles that might not get as much use otherwise.

Well, not entirely. Small rollers and small hills can be ridden in your aero bars. I am about to go and do a TT tomorrow that is 40K - the first 20K is all uphill, but at an average grade of 2%, with a steeper section of 8%. I will ride in my aero bars the whole time, as I don't need to be upright for this type of climb. Steeper, longer climbs will find me opening up as you mentioned.

And downhill on my aerobars? See above for tomorrow's TT - what goes up must come back down, and I will be needing all of the aero advantage I can get doing it. I am confident in my riding ability in the aero position, and when I AM doing a TT or riding that bike, will ride downhill using the aero bars.

For casual riding, I can see that it would give people a different position on long rides, but it doesn't work for me, personally .

SheFly

[staceysue]

I'm a relative newbie - just started riding last fall but I've done one solo metric centennial and I do put a few miles on. I rarely ride in traffic and the roads I ride on are pretty deserted. I don't race or do group rides . . . yet.

I bought my road bike used and the seller offered me the aero bars at a good price, so I kept them on the bike. They're the kind that curve upward and they're connected in kind of a loop so no ends stick out.

I love them. I switch positions often and riding down in my aerobars is something I do whenever I've got a nice long stretch where it doesn't look like I'll be switching gears or applying the brakes. I also use them a lot when I'm riding into a head wind. They are very comfortable. They give my hands and wrists a break and give me a chance to position myself differently in the saddle and rest my back. To me they're kind of like a nice comfy recliner vs a kitchen chair - nice to relax in. I can also kind of pull back on them when I'm pedaling harder - it seems to get my whole body into it.

[nscrbug]

I'm a relative newbie - just started riding last fall but I've done one solo metric centennial and I do put a few miles on. I rarely ride in traffic and the roads I ride on are pretty deserted. I don't race or do group rides . . . yet.

I bought my road bike used and the seller offered me the aero bars at a good price, so I kept them on the bike. They're the kind that curve upward and they're connected in kind of a loop so no ends stick out.

I love them. I switch positions often and riding down in my aerobars is something I do whenever I've got a nice long stretch where it doesn't look like I'll be switching gears or applying the brakes. I also use them a lot when I'm riding into a head wind. They are very comfortable. They give my hands and wrists a break and give me a chance to position myself differently in the saddle and rest my back. To me they're kind of like a nice comfy recliner vs a kitchen chair - nice to relax in. I can also kind of pull back on them when I'm pedaling harder - it seems to get my whole body into it.

THIS! I'm glad you mentioned this (I forgot to in my post). I also have a chronic lower back condition, and dropping onto my aerobars for short intervals provides a nice stretch/rest for my lower back. When I come back up on to the hoods, I feel refreshed enough to push a little harder.

[itself]

You both hit it on the head on how I felt in the Aero bars on the stationary bike at PT...my back felt relaxed and yummy. Again, the right fitting bike and a good set of aero bars. Sounds like a road bike will the answer if I go for it!

Thanks!

Lisa