Advice needed: aerobars

[Kellie]

So, I think I want aerobars for my road bike - been riding a lot, done a few races, and would love another (more comfortable) position on the bike . . .

Any suggestions on brands, things I definitely want, things that aren't all they're cracked up to be, etc?

Thanks for the input!

[White Chocolate]

I got some great advice for you. stop riding a road bike!!!

[Telephil]

Ha, keep riding, and ride it even more. The only people who don't like to ride road bikes have never ridden one. I know, I used to be one of them.

For the aero bars, they're pretty much illegal in anything but a TT, a lot of stage races have a prologue early, then a TT later that you can use them for. Dunno specifics about them, but I'll be getting some for mine as well.

[Kellie]

I got some great advice for you. stop riding a road bike!!!

But I like my road bike :-) Plus, it makes a lot more sense to put aerobars on a road bike than a mountain bike!

p.s. I just got a really cool light for the mountain bike - ready for some night ridin' . . . can someone say "shopping spree"?!?!

I love new toys.

[cumerritt]

If you get aero bars, please dont use them when you are climbing. I see way to many people using those things when they are trying to go anywhere but straight and flat. I would not recommend them unless you are serious about TT'ing. They might be another hand position but they are heavy and can be a little on the expensive side.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

in addition to time trials, you can use aero bars in triathalons as well.

[Vinman]

I use the Syntace C2 bars for TT and tri's. Comfy, light and fairly affordable.

[Cornholio]

in addition to time trials, you can use aero bars in triathalons as well.

Ding!

What you pay for in aero bars, basically, is two things: weight and fit. Expensive-er bars are lighter and have more fit options. If you use your bike like me, and switch between an aero mode for tris, and a "normal mode", getting the stupid things off and on easily is key, too.

Trouble is, they usually come all boxed up so finding the best bars is hard.

You can get 'em with fold up elbow rests, but they're heavy and a pain. Generally, you're either in the bars or out, so it's sort of silly. Just take the bars off when you need to.

Syntace's C2 and Streamliner are super popular-- they have independent bars to get the width just right, which is nice. The Aerolink is a single bar, but lots of adjustment in the elbow pads.

[Viva]

Kellie, I'm assuming that you've been fitted on your bike, oui? That's the first step. A good fitter can also recommend the best bars for your size and intended use.

A friend who had suffered a badly broken back a few years prior used aeros a lot because it relieved some of the stress from long-distance rides and let him stretch out a bit. AThey were also nice to have when riding into a headwind.

Nytro Sports ( http://www.nytro.com/bike-aero-bars.html ) has a big selection of aeros for your viewing pleasure.

[Kellie]

in addition to time trials, you can use aero bars in triathalons as well.

That's the idea

[freshies]

So, I think I want aerobars for my road bike - been riding a lot, done a few races, and would love another (more comfortable) position on the bike . . .

Any suggestions on brands, things I definitely want, things that aren't all they're cracked up to be, etc?

Thanks for the input!

Kellie, unless you are doing tri's - DO NOT PUT AERO BARS ON YOUR ROAD BIKE! They are for gapers and posers with their cheesy little front-mounted water bottles w/big sippy straws....REAL roadies (unless in a TT) do NOT use aero bars...please, don't be one of those people

[Plakespear]

Lot's of good advice here. I'd start looking at the Profile Airstrike.

Decent price, not too heavy, and the spring loaded pads are nice if you'll be doing lots of climbs.

[Darkside]

First off, aerobars probably won't do anything for you, especially if you don't get them properly fit.
I would recommend the profile bars that are super adjustable, can't think of the name off the top of my head. The syntaces come in S,M,L, and the Profile Airstrikes only come in one size, and since they're all one piece, there's no adjustment at all.

[PNWbrit]

[QUOTE=Viva]Kellie, I'm assuming that you've been fitted on your bike, oui? That's the first step. A good fitter can also recommend the best bars for your size and intended use. [QUOTE]

75% of people you see riding around on expensive road bikes clad in lycra and often with aero bars have such appalling positions on their bikes. The single most important thing to get right. My particular peeve is having the saddle way to low forcing knees to be splayed out the side. 2nd most important thing is to resist the temptation to grind huge gears. It'll screw up your pedal action almost as fast as not being sat right on the bike.

[Cornholio]

First off, aerobars probably won't do anything for you.

This is a lie.

SHE'S DOING TRIATHLONS, PEOPLE! PAY ATTENTION.

Aero bars are a must in tris.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

This is a lie.

SHE'S DOING TRIATHLONS, PEOPLE! PAY ATTENTION.

Aero bars are a must in tris.

yeah no shit....with no drafting allowed, aerobars are key.

can't wait to get into the tri game next summer after I'm healed up. I'll have plenty of time to work on my, ummm, stroke, over the winter.

[Telephil]

This is a lie.

SHE'S DOING TRIATHLONS, PEOPLE! PAY ATTENTION.

Aero bars are a must in tris.

Agreed, same in TT's, and don't worry, I'll be taking them off after the TT is over.

[Vinman]

I must be a fred then, cause I usually ride with my aerobars on even on regualr rides. but most of my regular rides are actually training rides for either TT race series, tempo rides or training for tri.

And they do make a huge difference. I can now break 20 mph for the distance of a 12-14 mi TT with my bars on. I know that is lsow for some but for me it is an improvement over last year at 18-19 mph. And during a TT or tri 1 mph can make a huge difference.

[cantunamunch]

First off, aerobars probably won't do anything for you, especially if you don't get them properly fit..

I am going to support Darkside on this because dropping the elbows onto the handle bars has a great chance of putting Kellie forward in the saddle as well. Two fold danger here:
- closing the hip angle for less possible extension and less power
- If Kellie pulls far enough forward, the balance point shifts to the front of the pedal circle and either the hamstring works twice as hard (cramp city before she even gets to T2) or she's posting up-down with no smooth circle at all.

So: Be aware you may need a seat with longer rails, one that is higher on the bike, and possibly a seatpost with less set-back, for an effectively steeper seat tube.

Even if you don't have a Softride, the positioning comments on their website are fairly relevant.

Be aware that a truly aero position is mostly dependent on the position of the elbows (together and in front of the lungs) and that such a position will be noticeably hotter on hot days (as well as a considerable advantage on windy days).

If this is going to be your primary riding position, please, please, please at least put reverse-pull brake levers on the ends of your aerobars. For the reason why, watch the Sydney women's olympic tri.

[Cornholio]

Let's just assume she'll be fit right, ok? The question, again:

Any suggestions on brands, things I definitely want, things that aren't all they're cracked up to be, etc?

[the_eleven]

They work great for Centuries as well. Like when you are riding into the wind at mile 80 and are hitting the wall.

Scott used to make one that was all one piece, somtimes available on eBay. Best I have seen.

[Oarhead]

I personally use the Profile Aerolite bars.

Pros:
light, simple, very ADJUSTABLE (very important for me), comfortable, can fit on oversize bars, independent of each other being a 2 piece set-up, cheaper than a lot of other similar types, a recopgnized and respected name (for any warranty issues), you can roll the bars inward or outward for maximum comfort if needs be (I prefer my hands to roll inwards a bit). I think you can sling them under the bars if you wish - not just on top - which is great for more positions.

Cons:
they are profile bars so it is very easy to strip them if you overtorque the cap screws, if you don't tighten the screws enough they can rattle loose (as I found out in a 2-up time trial over a shitty road).

I am very happy with them, I have used them on the track/velodrome as well as the road and they work great. Initial set-up was not as simple as a one piece but hey, it is a 2-piece so what can you expect.

The one other thing that I would add that is very important: if you are going to use aeros for triathalons then don't jsut use them for the race, train with them on a fairly consistent basis. I have seen a lot of people jsut bolt them on for race day and ride slower than if they were in the drops. Your body has to get used to the position and adjust its output so that you are efficient in the aero-position. If you train without bars then you will probably be faster without bars. The body must be given time to adjust to the new position.

Hopefully this helps.

[cantunamunch]

2nd thumbs up for Aerolites.

the_eleven, take a look at the Scott handlebar RAKES as shown on fleaBay here

As well as draft-legal tri, I'm fairly sure I remember seeing a pair at the local crit.

[altagirl]

Ha, keep riding, and ride it even more. The only people who don't like to ride road bikes have never ridden one.

Except for me, apparently. I had a beautiful custom Italian road bike. It was sweet except for the fact that I absolutely hated riding on the road... so I sold it and bought my first DH bike with the money.

[Darkside]

This is a lie.

SHE'S DOING TRIATHLONS, PEOPLE! PAY ATTENTION.

Aero bars are a must in tris.

PAY ATTENTION, YOU'RE A JACKASS. I did see that she was going to be doing triathalons. Without buying a set-forward seatpost, and if she's built like an average woman (short torso, long lower body), there's little chance that she can get in a good position on a normal roadbike. Here's an example, maybe you'll pay attention...someone who generally rides a 55-56cm road bike, will usually end up with about a 52cm tri/tt bike. There are a lot of reasons for this, but one large one has to do with the toptube length and how it affects fit.
Also, with aerobars, you lose access to the tops of the bars, and this happens to be many people's (including myself) favorite place to have one's hands while they are climbing. If you're only doing flat TT's though, maybe they'll make a small difference.
I think that if you're looking for the best place to spend money, it's wheels, wheels, and wheels. This will make the biggest difference in your speed. Plus, if you just get used to riding in the drops, you'll be just as aero as with aerobars.

But, hey, thanks for educating me.