Need advice - aero bars for 24hr endurance ride?

[deeaimond]

Hello everyone,

firstly, I'd like to apologise if I started this thread in the wrong place. I didn't know where it should go and i figured this topic would have the highest visibility.

I've been riding a road bike for about 2 months, and intend to participate in a 24hr endurance ride to race funds for a local charity in November.

When riding I always envy my friend (who will be riding with me and is riding a tri bike) coz he has aero bars and it seems to be a much more comfortable position. I can't ride in the drops because I have a bad right wrist (old ligament injury) and the angle of my hands in the drops cause strain and pain. Also maybe the brake levers need shims. or I'm just doing it wrong...

I'm not sure if there is anyone out there who has a set-up like this, some kind of clip on aero bar with no shifters on top of the regular drop handle-bars. How would it work, what should I look into and also what are the pitfalls of such a set-up?

The route is not particularly hilly, i'm just hoping the aerobars will just provide a comfortable place where my hands don't need to take any strain coz 24 hours can be a pretty long time...

Thanks in advance everyone!

smiles! DEe

[HillSlugger]

Clip on aerobars like you describe are quite common. The Profile Design Jammer GT's are recommended for use on road bikes. They are highly adjustable and not very expensive. They might just be the thing for you.

[RoadRaven]

Hi dee
Yes to having aeros to assist with body position and variability on the bike. Over 24 hours I am sure they will be very beneficial.

It is good your friend uses these so you have practical "real-life" advice. Do give yourself time to get used to them if you decide to get some clip-ons. They alter your centre of gravity (round corners, in cross-winds etc) dramtiaclly.

Never use them in a pack. Your hands are a long way from the brakes and they are banned in most road club racing, or people are discouraged from using them in group training rides. They can be extremely unsafe... not just because it makes a bike trickier to control, and difficlut to respond quickly in an emergency, but also in a pile-up, those two long prongs can make serious holes in peoples legs or other body parts.

I have aeros on my time trial bike, so have the gear levers at the end of the bars. I luuuurve this position, but I always stay off the aeros if I take my TT bike on a training ride with others. Too potentially dangerous.

[RoadRaven]

Hi dee
Yes to having aeros to assist with body position and variability on the bike. Over 24 hours I am sure they will be very beneficial.

It is good your friend uses these so you have practical "real-life" advice. Do give yourself time to get used to them if you decide to get some clip-ons. They alter your centre of gravity (round corners, in cross-winds etc) dramtiaclly.

Never use them in a pack. Your hands are a long way from the brakes and they are banned in most road club racing, or people are discouraged from using them in group training rides. They can be extremely unsafe... not just because it makes a bike trickier to control, and difficlut to respond quickly in an emergency, but also in a pile-up, those two long prongs can make serious holes in peoples legs or other body parts.

I have aeros on my time trial bike, so have the gear levers at the end of the bars. I luuuurve this position, but I always stay off the aeros if I take my TT bike on a training ride with others. Too potentially dangerous.

[eclectic]

Here is my two cents worth.

I just put aero bars on my new bike. My main reason was to do better in
Tris but because of life haven't been able to do any this season. I left the aeros on anyway mainly to get used to them - they do take practice and time to build up confidence.

A month ago I did a 3 day 165 mile tour and found I LOVED the aero bars. Having the optional positioning was a blessing. But as RoadRaven said they are NOT for group riding. Any time I used them I was by myself on the road and we were not pacelining.

FYI - just for fun. Last Wed night we were on a 30 mile ride and for the last 8 miles I went down into aero and picked up 1.5 mph so we were averaging about 19 mph - a friend (who always drops me ) was riding behind me and kept hollering out - "slow down! you are an animal - you are killing me" Where is the evil smiley when I need it?

[RoadRaven]

FYI - just for fun. Last Wed night we were on a 30 mile ride and for the last 8 miles I went down into aero and picked up 1.5 mph so we were averaging about 19 mph - a friend (who always drops me ) was riding behind me and kept hollering out - "slow down! you are an animal - you are killing me" Where is the evil smiley when I need it?

Yup... I love this too. With no extra effort I usually pick up 2kph just like that. Most excellent.
I guess this is another advantage on an enduro ride - you will cover some of the course a little quicker because your profile on aeros means less wind shadow which means you go faster.
The other aspect to this also is you are less tired for the same effort, as you are pushing less body resistence through the air...

Evil smiley substitute...

>: )

[ilima]

I think they could be beneficial. But get a pair that has the flip-up armrests, otherwise you lose the position with your hands on the top of the bar. That's one of my most comfortable positions for riding, so I wouldn't want to lose it.

[Pedal Wench]

My bf loved his in the 24-hour race we did. I had them ready to go on a spare bike, but didn't want to stop and move the timing chips to that bike. I really recommend getting used to them well ahead of time. Even though I planned to use mine, I wasn't really comfortable, and at 3am, you want everything to be second nature.

[alpinerabbit]

I think they could be beneficial. But get a pair that has the flip-up armrests, otherwise you lose the position with your hands on the top of the bar.

Alternative: Syntace XXS with the risers.
a) you keep the top bar position
b) the risers make for an easier aero position.

[deeaimond]

Thanks for the advice, I was gonna wait before getting them but I can imagine i'll need to use them for some time before getting used to it.

About those with flip up arm rests, First time i've heard about them but i'll definitely start looking for them because I really love the hand position that the potential bars will block.

I mentioned the situation to the guys today (the guys i usually ride with), and it seems one of them has an old pair of clip-ons he'll give me. So I'll just try to use them first. and see how it goes

I've heard about the dangers they can pose while riding with other pple in a group. But I intend to just use them for the straight stretches of road, and when i'm jealous of my buddie's aeros (which is everytime he uses them...) I'm pretty much a scaredy cat anyways and like to be close to the brakes.. heehee

I've only had this bike for 2 months, and its time to make those little adjustments to my position. hopefully everything works out well!

cheerios and big kisses for the help everyone! D

[deeaimond]

Here is my two cents worth.

FYI - just for fun. Last Wed night we were on a 30 mile ride and for the last 8 miles I went down into aero and picked up 1.5 mph so we were averaging about 19 mph - a friend (who always drops me ) was riding behind me and kept hollering out - "slow down! you are an animal - you are killing me" Where is the evil smiley when I need it?

OOoh Eclectic, I know how that feels, when u get to be a little bit faster than yr friend. its great even if it does not last the whole time.. but even better when it does.. oh another reason for me to get aerobars...