The benefits of Aero Bars?

[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