Advice On Aero Bars!

[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.