aero bars

[smw380]

ok, i have to face facts and the fact is it's time for me to get aero bars. i'm not the world's most confident cyclist, so i've avoided them, but it's time now.

so i could use some advice about the factors to consider when choosing them - there are so many options!

i'd appreciate hearing your various opinions on this one.

Comments

[tar_miriel]

I guess I'm assuming you mean clip-ons added to a road bike setup? Whatever choice you make I think the most important thing will be to use them. I've got plenty of training partners who almost never ride on their bars.

Anyhow fwiw I prefer s-bend bars to the j shape, I like the range of forward - aft position you get with them. I find long rides are easier if you can shift position as you ride.

I'd say when you get them spend some time spinning on a trainer in aero, just to get your body used to the position before you add steering.

I am a confident cyclist, I can carve turns in aero pos'n and ride rollers in aero. You can develop riding skills with spin-ups, ILT drills and focusing on precise steering when you're out riding.

Best luck!

[triman]

Why do you think its time? They are great at helping you "fit" in with the triathlon crowd, but unless you have very big shoulders, they won't do much for you until you can average >18MPH.

They can also screw with your bike position unless you fit them carefully. Also, what distances are you thinking of riding with them?

I fitted the original Profile Jammer bars on all of my road bikes, and still have them fitted except for big red my race bike, that has a full bull bar/aero set-up with bar end gears etc.

[smw380]

i think as i add distance it will be more comfortable to have more arm position options. and i do think i'll be more aerodynamic. i have a note in to my coach, we'll see what he says.

[triman]

yes, you'll get more aero, but the question is if it will make any difference. At slow speed <18MPH it makes little or no difference. If you are a big person then it will tire you out less.

Given you said you were thinking of stepping up to HIM distances, then it is probably a good idea, to get real benefit though you can probably also use a FF seatpost, assuming your bike is a tri frame with a steeper geometry seat-tube already. That will put you further forward and your shoulders should be more over the bars, and so you might need a shorter stem. All these changes mean you *SHOULD* be using a slightly different muscle group for cycling, and you should aim to spin more, when you get off the bike you should find running easier!

OF course, you can just stick bars like the Profile Century on and use them from time to time until you get used to them.

And thats what most people do ;-)

[smw380]

i have a cervelo soloist with a reversible seat post, so i can change it around for different geometry.

after the marathon, when my coach is less crazed, he's going to ride with me and we'll figure it out. i hope.

[mommynurse]

I have a very cheap bike with flat handlebars instead of drops. I added aerobars this year and it helped my power output quite a bit. With the flat handlebars I was like a piece of plywood in the wind. There was so much drag I couldn't get any real speed. Once I added the aero's and got down out of the wind, I increased my speed and felt stronger. Granted, my bike doesn't have tri-bike geometery and so the bars are fit as best they can. I went to my lbs with people who know triathlon and how to fit bikes well, which helped. The aerobars definately help with position changes for comfort. With the flat handlebars there's only one way to ride. I'm looking forward to shopping for my *new* bike this winter. Good luck with your shopping.

[smw380]

yeah, i'm hoping that a different body position will get me moving a little faster. i really want to improve on the bike this coming year.

[bekilynne]

not to say that i'm recommending this... BUT...

I had aero-bars for nearly two months before i worked up the courage to try them out... and its only because i was a little bit drunk in the parking lot across the street from my house at 3am.... my friend wanted to see my bike in action (i was storing it in the kitchen at the time, so after sh had spent the entire night bumping into, she decided i needed to ride it)

Turns out, not NEARLY as scary as I thought, and i heart them now!! After I did it, it was like "well, that's IT!?!?" I was actually a little disappointed! lol!

[smw380]

i'll keep that in mind as a training plan. maybe.