I'm a relative newbie - just started riding last fall but I've done one solo metric centennial and I do put a few miles on. I rarely ride in traffic and the roads I ride on are pretty deserted. I don't race or do group rides . . . yet.

I bought my road bike used and the seller offered me the aero bars at a good price, so I kept them on the bike. They're the kind that curve upward and they're connected in kind of a loop so no ends stick out.

I love them. I switch positions often and riding down in my aerobars is something I do whenever I've got a nice long stretch where it doesn't look like I'll be switching gears or applying the brakes. I also use them a lot when I'm riding into a head wind. They are very comfortable. They give my hands and wrists a break and give me a chance to position myself differently in the saddle and rest my back. To me they're kind of like a nice comfy recliner vs a kitchen chair - nice to relax in. I can also kind of pull back on them when I'm pedaling harder - it seems to get my whole body into it.