Aero Bars?

[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?