Aero position- IS THE BEST! I love it!

[KSH]

Went and rode Buttercup today. Took a day off and the boyfriend and I hit the trail.

WOW! I LOVE THIS BIKE!

I have only put around 50 miles on it, but I am getting more comfortable on it, and the speed is nice.

For part of the way we had a terrible headwind. When I got into aero position, it was so much easy to pedal into it. I could even keep a 16-17 mph average. WOW! On my Trek 1000, this would have NEVER happened.

It was great, because my boyfriend could hardly keep up with me as we went into the wind. I basically left him in the dust when I hit the aero bars.

Overall a 17 mph average... WOW! Just WOW!

On my Trek 1000 it took me months of training to get to this level. 3rd ride on my Buttercup and I'm already there.

A bike can make a different I suppose.

PS- My boyfriend had been considering attaching aero bars to his roadie. After our ride today, he decided we needed to go back to the LBS so he could get some put on. I guess my speed into the wind "sold him"?

[emily_in_nc]

Way cool! You (and your new tri-bike) rock!! 17 mph is awesome!

Emily

[Tri Girl]

Awesome! Aren't aeros the best?? Soooo much easier to cut the wind in them (although some days when I'm only going 10 mph into the wind- I wonder).
So glad you are in love with the new bike!!!!

[KSH]

Awesome! Aren't aeros the best?? Soooo much easier to cut the wind in them (although some days when I'm only going 10 mph into the wind- I wonder).
So glad you are in love with the new bike!!!!

Yep... totally in love with it!

And I really love the areo position, because it makes me FEEL like I'm a real triathlete... even though I am slow and will never win anything... I feel like I am an athlete when I get down on the aero bars. It makes me feel... *serious*... even though I'm not.

[eclectic]

Way to go!

17 mph into the wind WOWZERS ! ! !

[KSH]

Way to go!

17 mph into the wind WOWZERS ! ! !

AWE! Thanks!

It's the bike... I swear.

My ride the other day... 37 miles... with a terrible headwind (stronger than before!)... I held a 16.5 average overall. I was very happy with this as well.

My new bike has made me NOT hate riding in the wind!

[RoadRaven]

Way to go, KSH

Overall average of approx 27.5kph... an excellent beginning... just imagine what you'll be able to ride at in another couple of months

Just a reminder (though you prolly know if you have aeros on your mtb), when you and BF are drafting together, remember not to use your aeros... potentially it is so unsafe if you suddenly need to change gear or brake or the wind gusts into you from the side.

And a nearly 27kph average into the wind... well done KSH... you must have some mighty powerful legs

[KSH]

Way to go, KSH

Overall average of approx 27.5kph... an excellent beginning... just imagine what you'll be able to ride at in another couple of months

Just a reminder (though you prolly know if you have aeros on your mtb), when you and BF are drafting together, remember not to use your aeros... potentially it is so unsafe if you suddenly need to change gear or brake or the wind gusts into you from the side.

And a nearly 27kph average into the wind... well done KSH... you must have some mighty powerful legs

I can only hope my speed will get better! I honestly can't wait to race next year! Honestly though, I have never gone that fast into the wind. It's the bike... I swear!

Uuummm... no aeros on my mountain bike (maybe you meant someone else?)... in fact, I only own a road and tri bike.

Drafting is not something I typically do (can't draft in a tri, and I don't have any depth perception). But I am certainly staying out of aero when I am close to someone else. Seeing how I barely keep a straight line when I'm down in aero... I don't really trust myself around other people and cars right now.

I also know that I can only ride my tri bike in non-group situations. I have a cycling club I belong to, but I won't ever take this bike to those rides... the Trek 1000 (aka: The Buick) will be going to those rides (thus, I am drooling for a new roadie!).

And the one panic situation I had where I had to go for my brakes... was scary! I went for the drops... OOOPSS! No drops. The bike wobbled... and then I tried to grab for the brakes on the drops... a 2nd time. In my head there was a panic situation going on. So, the last time I rode, I made sure to put my hand on the brakes when I saw a situation coming up that I thought might require braking.

I'm actual a pretty timid rider... I slow down for curves... slow down around kids/dogs/runners... and I don't fly down hills. I could be more aggressive at times, but I figure I'm not getting paid for it... so why risk it?

[RoadRaven]

Whoops KSH... dunno why I wrote mtb - I know you do tris and ride on the road!

Oh yes... I have been there with learning to use the aeros and not finding the brake quickly enough... fortunately no crash, but certainly a few heart beats missed as I recovered from the wobbles.

I think it must have taken me about 2 months of using the aero bars while riding - maybe 2-3 times a week - before I began to feel confident enough on them to use them in a slight cross-wind or going round gentle/moderate corners. I still do not use them in/on significant crosswinds, tight corners or downhill.

And you finish your post so well - risks are def not worth it!!! Too much at stake - not the least of which is "the next ride" - dont wanna be in hospital missing that one!!!

[Kimmyt]

I went ahead and put my aero bars back on my girl!
Whoooo was she happy to have em on there! And once I had fitted them on, she looked so hot... and fast!

I took her out on the trail this afternoon in the abnormally warm weather (wearing shorts and a short-sleeved jersey... but we won't go into that!) and WOW was it great!

I didn't think that aero position would be too different than the drops, but man did I feel fast! Even when the wind really kicked up on the way back, I still felt great!

It actually got me excited to get my butt back on the bike (I have been seriously lacking in cycling motivation).

I LOVE MY AEROBARS!!

[RoadRaven]

Way to go Kimmy!

Aerobars are truly awesome "tools of the trade"

Just a gentle reminder not to use them when riding with others; you have much less control in the event of an emergestop or need to swerve.

Also be prepared that a cross wind can "throw" your balance - into a head wind, or with a tail wind chasing you, the wind helps to keep you upright.

But it takes some practice to ride straight and feel safe in a cross wind... your centre of gravity and therefore point of balance is dramtically changed.

Enjoy them - I luuuurve aeros too

[KSH]

Hey Kimmy, that's great! I'm so happy to hear you got them back on and you feel *fast* riding in aero position.

Practice makes perfect... keep riding and you will get very comfortable on them. I'm close to being there myself.