Aerobar on Road Bike?

[HillSlugger]

Is there much advantage to adding clip-on aerobars to a drop bar road bike? Obviously you don't gain the geometry differences of a tri bike; what do you gain?

Thanks, Nicole

[KSH]

Well, I have aero bars on a tri bike... and I can tell you that going into aero position makes a huge difference into a headwind.

It also helps with my sit bone pain, because when I'm in aero position my sit bones aren't digging into the seat (and I own the thickest padded shorts I could find- but they don't help my sit bones).

The downside has been the cramp in my neck and back pain. I only have 60 miles logged on the tri bike though, and I am sure the pain will improve as I gain more experience in aero position.

I would guess the benefits of aero bars would work the same on a road bike. The only difference between the road and tri is the geometry that affects the leg muscles being used.

I can say that I felt new leg muscles being used on my tri bike... new muscles were sore.

Well, lots of people put aero bars on road bikes and it seems to work just find. Might be worth a shot?

[Tri Girl]

I don't have a tri bike, so all my racing has been on my road bike fitted with aero bars. I would recommend that you buy them from a LBS and then have them fit you with the bars on the bike. Your riding position will change a little, and they can adjust your position on the bike to get the most comfortable riding position while in aero. I've got my bike set up such that I can ride aero comfortably, and on the hoods comfortably.
Definitely put some aeros on your road bike- you'll enjoy lots less resistance into the wind (although sometimes when I'm going a measly 10 mph into a headwind I wonder just how much aerodynamics is helping ).

Oh, and the head and neck thing will take some getting used to. Even now, when I haven't ridden aero for a while, my neck gets a little stiff. It's definitley something your neck muscles have to get used to!

[RoadRaven]

Oh yes MD... there are advantages to adding aeros to a road bike.

DISADVANTAGES:
Protocol dictates you must not use in a bunch/peloton...
This will be a rule in a road race situation.

They can be a "pain in the neck" (and shoulders) - as TriGirl and KSH hint at... but easily fixed by just training on them a few times


ADVANTAGES:
An instant increase of about 2kph without any extra effort

Excellent in a head wind to lessen the "frontage" you present to the wind and therefore save you energy

Another position to rest your hands/arms on a long ride (tops, hoods, drops and aeros)

Another angle for your butt and relief for your girly bits and sit bones


Aeros are an "accessory" I deem crucial in a Time Trial situation to increase your overall time - without doubt, aerobars are the piece of equipment that will increase your speed without extra effort from you more than anything else - if speed is what you are after, aeros should come before disc wheels or tri-spokes, before aero helmets or booties...