Advice needed: aerobars

[Viva]

Kellie stated that she was looking for a more comfortable position and the right bars with proper fit can provide that.

Anyway, what do y'alls think about putting aerobars on ski poles? Would that be tits or what?

[Vinman]

Check out this article on aerodynamics. It aslo has a bunch o link as the bottom that go into more detail.

http://www.timetrial.org/aerodynamics.htm

Darkside, no need to get defensive over such a trivial thing were all maggots here.

And I disagree about wheel being the #1 most important aero feature of a bike. you will get more aero for your money with bars IMHO as well as opionons of just about every article I have read. I do agreee that wheels are very important and will make a huge difference but gettting into the aero position should be the first step.

[Viva]

I do agreee that wheels are very important and will make a huge difference but gettting into the aero position should be the first step.

I concur. A simple experiment: try an aero tuck vs. riding the hoods on a long decent. Feel a difference? What does the speedometer read for one position compared to the other?

Kellie, the boys are bickering in the sandbox again; You like it, don't you?

[cumerritt]

This is all a bunch of BS. Aerodynamics, weight and so on and so forth. I might be jumping to conclusions here, but I am willing to bet that no one here is a pro road racer, maybe not even a racer at all. The biggest difference in how fast anyone will go is with themself. Train, be fit and determined and you will go much further than a set of wheels or aerobars can bring you.

[scoober]

I concur. A simple experiment: try an aero tuck vs. riding the hoods on a long decent. Feel a difference? What does the speedometer read for one position compared to the other?

Kellie, the boys are bickering in the sandbox again; You like it, don't you?

i have opinions all over on this issue. Viva's right aero does make a difference and a good way to notice is on a downhill. even bringing your knees in tight, or if you've got the balls tuck down onto the top tube and you'll pick up some MPH.

however... i think aero bars are just another piece of garbage i don't want bolted on my bike, and they are for sissies.

seriously people, if comfort and efficiency are the number one advantage of aero bars, it is a slippery slope and you are one step closer to riding a fucking recumbant.

i hear supergo is having a sale on orange flags.

[Vinman]

I might be jumping to conclusions here

Exactly.

But you are right about the training and fitness. But even being the racing JONG (~10TT's and 1 Tri) that I am I can tell the difference when I am in the aero position.

[Viva]

This is all a bunch of BS. Aerodynamics, weight and so on and so forth. I might be jumping to conclusions here, but I am willing to bet that no one here is a pro road racer, maybe not even a racer at all. The biggest difference in how fast anyone will go is with themself. Train, be fit and determined and you will go much further than a set of wheels or aerobars can bring you.

So, what's your opinion on carbon derailleur hangers? I hear you can shave off 15 gm by switching to those! And handlebar streamers? Those rock!

[Angry Whelk]

PAY ATTENTION, YOU'RE A JACKASS.
But, hey, thanks for educating me.

Stupid gorilla polluting with jerk off comments gets bukkake to the face! you are drown in warm puddle of death form above! Atomic sputum will contaminate your monkey brain!

Shinjuku, MOTHERFUCKER!

[cumerritt]

So, what's your opinion on carbon derailleur hangers? I hear you can shave off 15 gm by switching to those! And handlebar streamers? Those rock!

Streamers rule

[gonzo]

the aerobar dealer in chicago is apparently an amazing salesman because every jackoff retard riding up and down the bike path on the lake has a pair on his $250 8 year old mountain bike. then there are the fat douches in US Postal gear DRAFTING eachother on their aerobars on the path, weaving around kids and pedestrians and runners.

kellie and the rest of you, if you get them or if you have them BE CAREFUL! there is a reason they are not allowed in regular races - they are fucking dangerous, you can't control your bike very well from them, and the vast majority are like spears sticking off the end of your bike like pointy battering rams.

that is all.

[Vinman]

They do take a bit of gettting used to and reduced your ability to handle a bike. Riding etiquette says never be in your aerobars while in a pack. But with enough practice I feel pretty comfortable handling my bike while in them. But I still switch out if there is alot of cornering or the road is rough, expansion joints on bridges etc.

[L7]

I guess I'll throw in my two cents and try not to tell everyone else they're a moron and everything I know is first, right and second the only way. Because that would just show how stupid I am.

I'm not sure what brand my aero bars are as they were donated and they fit ok and that's all I need. First thing I would look for is lightness. Putting them on affects the way the bike steers as the inertia extended a ways in front of the steering tube has an impact. That and the above mentioned limit of climbing positions is the main reason I don't have them on much.

Aerodynamics, if you think there is no difference then you could watch my tape of Lemond winning his last TdF by 7 seconds by taking 57 seconds out of Fignon in the last time trial. Will it win you prize money? For most no. Will it maximize your speed while minimizing your effort while putting less strain on you swim tired shoulders and arms? Absolutely and in triathlon that means something.

I use them in TTs since I like to do well and the $200 compares well in time savings to the $2000 tri spokes and discs I find myself up against. I also used them in a 320km ride I did this summer. That ride was all about making it and minimizing my effort into a head wind was key. My neck and upper back generally go on a big day before my legs especially if I'm going easy to make the long haul. Again aero bars were extremely helpful there in taking the pressure off my shoulders while letting me maintain a low position for a very long time.

A good road set up is generally the better way to go for tris especially in the ironman and 1/2 ironman distances. A harsh riding TT or tri set up might help in sprint distances but if it's your only bike that means a lot of evil training. Do some of the top ironmen ride tri bikes? Absolutely but it's hard to say how much of that is preference and how much is sponsor dollars. The forward seat tube generally just encourages triathletes to mash the pedals like it's a stair climber which is the bain of most new triathletes.


The one thing you don't want to do is only throw the aero bars on for race day as the muscles you use are a bit different and you want to train them for riding in that position. The flip side is the last thing you want to do is try to climb down in the aero bars when you can't even make 20 kms/hr and you're mashing pedals like a stair climber with a 60 cadence. Anything under 30km/hr I tend to come out of the aero bars unless it's a big head wind. Yes Ullrich climbed in that postion but he's not human and his pedal stroke remained smooth.

Just read Cornholio's post and agree with what he says. I also use the separate (bullhorn) units and find they give more fit options for given weight. I also agree that the fold up arm rests offer little advantage compared to weight they add and breakdown issues.

Brands aren't really as important as what fits and works for you and your bike. Unfortunately that is just experimenting and as Corn dog says sadly they come boxed up usually.

edit, Oarhead already covered the bit on training with the aero bars. That Oarhead, very tall and clever.

[Kellie]

Hey guys, thanks for all the input - despite the "sandbox," the maggots are always a great source of knowledge . . . and I appreciate it. Plus, it cracks me up how silly we (and by "we," I mean the collective us) get

[freshies]

the aerobar dealer in chicago is apparently an amazing salesman because every jackoff retard riding up and down the bike path on the lake has a pair on his $250 8 year old mountain bike. then there are the fat douches in US Postal gear DRAFTING eachother on their aerobars on the path, weaving around kids and pedestrians and runners.

kellie and the rest of you, if you get them or if you have them BE CAREFUL! there is a reason they are not allowed in regular races - they are fucking dangerous, you can't control your bike very well from them, and the vast majority are like spears sticking off the end of your bike like pointy battering rams.

that is all.

classic...yeah, even here in the bay area, where people are generally pretty fit, the "aerobar crowd" (as we call them) is everywhere. decked out in full postal outfit and/or various euro teams (the phonek jersey is most poplular this year), these gapers draft ea/ other on the bike path from sausalito through larkspur, or around the paradise loop....while we ride by passing them in normal position on top of te drops

then my favorite: wen you see these gapers climbing slight hills, etc IN THE AERO BAR TUCK

DON'T GET THE AEROBARS, they reek gaper....unless you really race, and even then, get removables for TT only....Just my 2 cents