How different is gripping L shaped aero TT bar and s shaped one?
 

I've never had a chance to use them, still they're extremely intriguing.

how are those different in arm and hand positioning and grips?




https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...37436650e5.jpg

I’ve only ever used the style on the left...and I’ve never felt like the style on the right would be comfortable for me. But I think it just comes down to personal preference.


Dan

Theory of how air goes over the hands and arms. When the idea was perfectly parallel arms to the ground, s-bend was the deal. Then they figured out air around the whole "system" of the rider was better with the forearms NOT parallel to the round.

I guess the ski bend was comfort, but, in modern aero theory actually works fine with either. The limit on the tilt is 15 degrees or so that is a workaround on the math of how high your hands can be above the pads.

IMHO, there's no reason to run s-bends any longer unless it's really short TT's with a super marginal gain with higher hands AND the uncomfortable "wrist bend".

If the road is really good and wind light, I stack my hands together as a unit. I use ski bends at 15 degrees and the max UCI hand/pad rise.

Really? Is that a USAT/ITU rule, or just wind tunnel testing results? Because, I want to think I've see some completely straigh aero bars. Doesn't seem comfortable to me.

Dan

Probably not for triathlon and most USAC. Only the UCI buggers care that much and some British cycling TT groups. But 15deg is max pad tilt. Then there is also a max rise from pad center to extension tips vertically.

Here’s an example:
https://www.aero-coach.co.uk/store/p...-for-arm-rests

https://www.aero-coach.co.uk/store/p...bar-extensions

I own the shims but not extensions. I flipped and cut down my alloy extensions to get them close enough for now.

I want the aerocoach extensions though.

I'm using a Profile setup with flip-up pads above the handlebars and L-shaped extensions mounted below the handlebars. That gets the pad height down, which I needed to get lower. I've held bars both ways and don't see much difference. I run my forearms fairly flat, just a few degrees of angle - I feel like I have more leverage that way, more comfortable somehow.