PatrickGSR94

Hey folks, I'm participating in my local Tour de Cure ride this year, coming up next month, doing the metric century 62 mile ride. My longest ride to date has been 35 miles, so this will definitely be my longest ride ever. I'm contemplating getting some clip-on aerobars to help give me some relief from my hands being on the hoods and tops for long periods of time.

I've looked at a few, and it seems like the cheaper ones don't have any fore/aft adjustment for the elbow pads, while the higher priced models do have that adjustment. I checked on my bike last night and I'm thinking I may need that fore/aft adjustment.

Anyone have any suggestions, what brands/models to look at, what to consider with respect to fitment on my drop bars, where to put light/computer mounts, etc? Profile Design is one brand I keep seeing everywhere. Is that pretty much "THE" brand for aerobars?

Homebrew01

I count 7 different hand positions on my drop bars. Never felt the need for any more.

LowCel 

Not to be a smart ass but if you put aero bars on your bike don't plan on getting in any pacelines to make the ride easier on you.

Elduderino2412

Not to derail the thread, but i wouldn't suggest aerobars for group rides like that. Unless you don't want to draft.

cvall91

I've never tried, but I would think the aero bars are actually less comfortable if you don't have the flexibility and aren't used to them.

datlas 

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but I also vote no.

Not necessary, and other riders will fear you.

No.

seymour1910

you may want to look into the ride details, the large events around here don't even allow aero bars for safety reasons.

gregf83 

Don't.

Aerobars are for speed not comfort. Switch up your hand positions. If your hands are getting sore you may need to have someone look at your fit.

Racer Ex 

You guys know it's possible to have aero bars and not use them while you pace line don't you?

And I can tell no one here has every ridden a TTT or team pursuit.

It's Tour de Cure folks. Not the "Bragging Rights Race Century".

To actually ANSWER the OP's question, check at the local bike shop, especially if you have one that does a lot of triathlon business. REI and some of the other sports retailers carry them as well. You can see which bend and arm rest might work best for you.

gregf83 

Pacelining or not, it just doesn't seem like a good idea for a relatively new rider to be using aerobars in a crowded ride when you should be able to ride just as comfortably with more control on normal bars.

Racer Ex 

A month to practice. Let's assume the OP isn't a complete moron and will use them prudently. As far as comfort I've got carpal tunnel, so do a lot of other people. I can do 3 hours on my TT bike without that being an issue where in a 45 minute crit my hands might go numb 2-3 times.

I've seen more poor riding on drop bars than I have on aero bars BTW.

seymour1910

all that being said the fact still remains that some large rides just don't allow them. The last big ride in Richmond, Va was in Oct and those that showed up with aero bars on were asked to either remove them, ride another bike, or not ride at all.

PatrickGSR94

https://tour.diabetes.org/tdc12/tdc_cyclist_guide.pdf

Nothing in here about aero bars. It does say to NOT ride in a pace line if you haven't trained in one. I haven't so I doubt I will be, because I'm just not fast enough for those who do ride in pace lines.

This ain't a race. It's just a fun ride to raise money for a great cause. But it's a long ride, and I'm looking for ways to make it be the best experience possible.

Commodus

Lots of the long-distance guys around here use them, and like them. I would suggest though, barring any medical issues like Racer Ex's carpal tunnel syndrome, you should be comfy on normal drop bars for a century at least. Perhaps there's something amiss with your fit that would benefit from some experimentation.

Still, that's no reason not to try out some aero bars if you think you might like them.

laserfj

If you have time, it might be helpful to do a couple longer rides between now and your event. It will probably make the event more enjoyable, and at the very least will reduce your worries about it.

Inertianinja

I'm very much against this.

riding in aero bars in groups that are not all doing the same thing is dangerous.
if you're doing this because you need skeletal support of your upper body for the ride, that only supports my suspicion that you would not have as much control on the aerobars, the flexibility to look around you properly, etc.
i would recommend training more or raising your bars for the ride.

my opinion.

JerrySTL

I'm all for aerobars and have used them since 1990. My hands go numb otherwise. Of course you don't use them if in a group.

However I say no for you at this time. A month isn't enough time to really learn how to ride on the properly unless you go out almost every day. The first time you put your elbows down on the pads, you're going to experience some fear. The handling is that different.

But if you do decide on aerobars, I'm partial to Profile.

Smiziley

Aerobars? Ride the whole thing with no hands on the handlebars. Just as safe, and no hand pain issue....at least till you hit the ground.

waterrockets 

Your first time trial must have been pretty entertaining.

Inertianinja

we're talking about the Tour De Cure, which is not a time trial. it's a century that is full of new / inexperienced riders.

i marshaled it last year and even some triathletes couldn't finish the thing in under 9 hours.

TrojanHorse

They clip on, they clip off - feel free to try some out. If they don't work for you, remove them before your ride. if they work, GREAT! Don't get in 'em when you're around a ton of people but most long rides end up with people pretty strung out and you won't be endangering the future of the human race by using them.

The last century I did featured people on actual TT bikes... including one soul in a skin suit and a TT helmet. maybe that's all she has for riding on the road, I don't know, but there were no waves of terror washing through the rest of us when she went by.

I like to periodically sit up and ride no-handed on long rides, that helps my hands. Move your hands around a lot, make sure your gloves fit etc etc.

Good luck on your ride!

Jobiensis

Wow, Not arguing, but a tri-athlete not being able to complete a metric century in 9 hours. I'm not fast, but that is a whole new level of slow. Were they running it?

I've seen people wearing time trial helmets on fun rides.

waterrockets 

Even triathletes​? Whoa.

Elduderino2412

9 hours, damn. I can grow one of those ZZ Top beards in less time than that.

PatrickGSR94

haha dang I expect even I'll be able to finish it in 5-6 hours.

And yes I'll be riding plenty between now and 27 April (7 weeks). I have a 40-mile route planned this Saturday now that it's finally getting up into the 60's.