Advice On Aero Bars!

[denda]

My husband and I were thinking about getting aero bars. What is your advice? Do you use them? Would you recommend them, if so, any certain kind? We will be riding in a couple of century rides in the next few weeks.
Thank you for your help.

[SheFly]

Why are you considering aero bars? I use them, but ONLY for racing. I don't find them very comfortable for general riding. If, however, you are planning on doing som racing, I would highly recommend them as they provide a great aerodynamic advantage.

SheFly

[smilingcat]

Hi there,

Only time I would recommend using an aero bar is if you are doing a time trial. The reason for it is you can't steer as well, atleast for me, and the brake handle isn't on the aero bar. If you have to suddenly brake, you have to take both of your hands off the aero and put your hand on the drop bar or on the horn. (I think you are planning to put the aero clip-ons on the drop bar). The split second you are riding hands free might be all the time it takes for you to have a crash.

If you were planning to use the aero to rest your hand on the long ride, it might be wiser to just move your hand around on the drop bar. Drop position, on the hood, on the top part.

For what its worth, aero-clip ons are not allowed on road race, crits, circuit races. They are allowed only for time trial races. It's because of safety issues. It's more than just the steering issue in racing, but none the less, it boils down to safety.

smilingcat

[SheFly]

Well put, smilingcat! While not at all minor, I completely forgot about the safety issue involved in riding on aero bars, the primary one being access to brakes, as you mentioned.

I have done several group rides with people who have aero bars, and frankly, I try to stay away from them for the safety reasons as well as the fact that the steering is a little tricky and can make the bike/rider unpredictable.

SheFly

[SouthernBelle]

I understand many group rides are starting to prohibit aerobars for the reason set out above.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Aero bars might also put your reach too far forward- more than your bike and drop bars is designed for. Think about how it will change your weight balance and reach if you have your elbows up on the top of your drop bar instead of your hands.

[ChickWithBrains]

I think there's a lot of wisdom posted so far. There are so many times and places NOT to use aero bars. But there are also plenty of great reasons TO use them!

I find that my aero position is very comfortable and lets me isolate my lower body to focus on dynamics and quiet my upper body when training. And they make me go faster when I race. But I ***only*** use them on wide, well paved roads I know very well which is closed to cars and reserves two lanes for cycling (fast and slow). I do not use them around blind curves, when there are kids around, or if cycling or pedestrian traffic picks up. I do not use them on roads I've never ridden on before. I do not use them when riding in a group and only rarely when with a buddy (usually who is pacing me). I pick the times I use them during a race carefully and only on courses I know, have checked out, and when I'm not surrounded by a bunch of other cyclists. I adore my bars, and you may too -- just be careful and smart about when and how you use them.

[Tiffany]

I think there's a lot of wisdom posted so far. There are so many times and places NOT to use aero bars. But there are also plenty of great reasons TO use them!

I find that my aero position is very comfortable and lets me isolate my lower body to focus on dynamics and quiet my upper body when training. And they make me go faster when I race. But I ***only*** use them on wide, well paved roads I know very well which is closed to cars and reserves two lanes for cycling (fast and slow). I do not use them around blind curves, when there are kids around, or if cycling or pedestrian traffic picks up. I do not use them on roads I've never ridden on before. I do not use them when riding in a group and only rarely when with a buddy (usually who is pacing me). I pick the times I use them during a race carefully and only on courses I know, have checked out, and when I'm not surrounded by a bunch of other cyclists. I adore my bars, and you may too -- just be careful and smart about when and how you use them.

^ +1 I feel exactly the same way.

[SR500]

They are heavy as well, adding almost a pound to the front. DH went bank and forth and finally decided the benefit wasn't worth it. He does fine in the drops.

[liberty]

I think there's a lot of wisdom posted so far. There are so many times and places NOT to use aero bars. But there are also plenty of great reasons TO use them!

I find that my aero position is very comfortable and lets me isolate my lower body to focus on dynamics and quiet my upper body when training. And they make me go faster when I race. But I ***only*** use them on wide, well paved roads I know very well which is closed to cars and reserves two lanes for cycling (fast and slow). I do not use them around blind curves, when there are kids around, or if cycling or pedestrian traffic picks up. I do not use them on roads I've never ridden on before. I do not use them when riding in a group and only rarely when with a buddy (usually who is pacing me). I pick the times I use them during a race carefully and only on courses I know, have checked out, and when I'm not surrounded by a bunch of other cyclists. I adore my bars, and you may too -- just be careful and smart about when and how you use them.

I absolutely love my aero bars. I'm just a casual rider, not a racer (yet). Before I bought my road bike I was riding a hybrid and found that I continuously wanted to put my elbows on the handle bars to give my back a rest. So it was one of the first things I got when I bought the road bike. I don't regret the purchase, and I use wisdom about when I ride with them.

[RoadRaven]

Denda... you still out there?

I'd like to know why you are considering them too - that really would help in the advice/stories we give.

I have aero-bars, but only on my TT bike (like Cat first describes)

My sons and partner all have aero bars too for their TT bikes.

My partner also has TT bars on one of his training bikes - this bike he uses for long distance training rides (on Sundays his training ride is at least 100km, but around this time of the year builds up to 150-160kms, so he likes the aero bars as a way to alter his position on the bike and give relief to his back, arms and wrists.

A friend who does tris has aerobars, but hers point up in the air - all of ours are parallel to the ground.

And saftey is paramount with aeros - like the others here have already said, never use them in a bunch ride unless you are on the front or at the back - you cannot break quickly, unless you have bar-end shifters you cannot change gear.
Your centre of gravity is altered and until you are really comfortable with that you can/will be unstable around corners and in cross winds, and when a vehicle passes you at speed, or a large vehicle passes you at all.

So get back to us - and give us the what/why/when of your aero bar wonderings

[Tri Girl]

There are certainly definite safety concerns with aero bars, and everyone has given excellent advice on the matter. Not in large packs, group rides, etc.

I will say, however, that I use mine EVERY time I ride. I only ride in aero position (well, except for the occasional stop and going). I ride a tri bike, and since every ride in triathlon is a TT, it makes sense to do all my riding that way. Just today I did a 63 mile organized ride and I was in them a lot of the time. Mostly only when I was alone- and it's because I don't trust other riders when I'm in aero, not because I'm concerned about my own stability.

For me, and I know this is not the norm, I'm far more stable in my bars then riding upright. Probably because I'm in them on every ride, and it's become second nature. It's just a million more times comfortable to be in that position for me. My steering is solid (well- except in strong cross winds- but then I come out) and although brakes aren't easily accessible, I can get out of aero and brake almost immediately (heck- today I even crashed in aero- but I would've crashed had I been riding upright also- road groove jumped up and bit me- I was already hunkered down so I luckily just "tucked and rolled" across the pavement).

Just my two cents- playing devil's advocate because I like to be the other side.

[RoadRaven]

Mostly only when I was alone- and it's because I don't trust other riders when I'm in aero, not because I'm concerned about my own stability...... For me, and I know this is not the norm, I'm far more stable in my bars then riding upright. Probably because I'm in them on every ride, and it's become second nature. It's just a million more times comfortable to be in that position for me..... Just my two cents- playing devil's advocate because I like to be the other side.

Ah, TriGirl, I much prefer being on the aeros too. I find it comfortable and natural and its where I want to be. When on my RR bike (and not my TT bike) I mostly ride in the drops because I like being low.

And I love training on the TT because the aero bars are so comfy... and I feel balanced and fast and "right".

[CR400]

I love my aero bars too. I use them when the mood strikes me, or I want to go fast. I also use them when pulling a group at speed. They make it easier to go faster. Not just for racing. Everyone is right about the safety concerns but once you get used to them you can ride them whenever you want.

[Running Mommy]

Yep tri girl.. the more you are in them, the more stable you become. I remember way back when I wouldn't consider taking a hand off of one of them to eat a gel, scratch an itch, swoosh a bug away, etc...
But riding in them as often as I do, I could probably do the dishes, cook dinner, and maybe even change a diaper.. BUT I do agree that they aren't for organized rides.
For this reason the only group rides I do are with other triathletes.