androidtt

lol smh

lol smh

lol smh

aerodynamic benefits are aerodynamic benefits. i also know some people that use aero bars purely for comfort. they really don't care to go faster, but want more positions. also, a lot of people that have completely horizontal backs while in the TT position have gotten used to the position over time. not everyone needs to be horizontal to realize benefits. any way you can make your profile smaller, you can reap aero benefits.

ThermionicScott 

60-80 miles per day isn't that far, and there's no reason you need aerobars to be comfortable doing it.

cplager

Doesn't that depend, well, a lot on the individual?

alexaschwanden

You wouldn't notice any difference in speed unless your a pro rider.

LowCel 

Actually that is incorrect. I don't like the safety of them for newer riders, or riding in a group, but they will let you ride faster.

vesteroid

Not nearly as much as the condition of the individual. I agree with scott, doing a metric a day is not crazy distance and I cant say I see any reason for areo bars. Also its not a race, there are plenty of hand options on regular bars, and you can simply take a break to get circulation going again if you need.

I think they add weight, and risk, for no real benefit on a group tour so to speak.

AngrySaki

Aerobars are faster. How is that not a valid reason to use them?


Incase you missed it, the OP said he's not planning on doing any/many group rides.

StanSeven

Did you make a mistake and think about something else? I've seen your posts before and you are knowledgeable. Actually this comment is right on the mark

AdelaaR

Can everyone who made negative comments about aerobars please state how many kilometers they have been riding and/or racing with them, please?

Making negative comments about something that you have little to no hands-on experience with isn't helpfull and I have a feeling most people just say what everyone else is saying when it comes to this subject.

I just LOVE aerobars ... for various reasons.
Nothing you say can change my mind about that because I know what I experience when I ride.
I've done about 2500 kilometers of training and about 5 races on them ... not that much ... but enough to know what I'm talking about.
I guess that about 70% of my riding is in the actual aerobar position, btw.

I might get a new roadbike this fall ... and the first thing I'll be installing once the basic build is completely are some nice shorty tri-legal aerobars

LowCel 

Racing with them in mass starts - NONE. They are illegal.

Racing / riding with them on my tt bikes. Plenty.

Riding in group rides with them. None. I don't feel they are safe.

I can be as stubborn as you, nothing you can say will change my mind about the safety aspect of them in a group ride. You can do whatever you want with them when you aren't riding with me, doesn't affect me a bit.

Elduderino2412

i don't have anything against aerobars, but you arent getting in my paceline w/them. That's the only thing i disagree w/you about. No aerobars and no bar top hand positions.

JoelS

I have no opinion on them other to state that they aren't safe for rides that aren't solo. If you're riding with other people, stay off them. No immediate access to brakes, shifting, pointing out obstacles and other hazards, reduced control, etc. I don't allow aerobars or TT bikes (or music players for that matter) on group rides that I manage/run. If you're riding by yourself, do what makes you happy.

island rider

Add these two comments together and you can get a REALLY scary ride. Put on the aerobars if you want, either because they will make you more aero, or because you will have more position options, whatever. Just PLEASE don't think that riding on the aerobars is as safe as riding on the tops, hoods or in the drops. There are MANY reasons for this, but if you want to test it please do. Try riding over really rough road in each manner. Try panic stopping in each manner. Try signalling with one hand in each manner. Try executing sharp turns in each manner. Etc, etc, etc.

cplager

My hands go numb when I put too much pressure on them. I wouldn't be able to feel them after 15 miles on a road bike. I'm not weak in my arms/hands, but this is how my body reacts. I found that I could use aerobars without any problem and my elbows would take the weight without any issues.

So I disagree.

I do understand not liking aerobars in group rides/crowded situations and that caution should be used there. But let's not throw out the baby with the bath water...

That's a nice asinine statement (not to mention that in the rest of your post, you're arguing against something that nobody stated).

Riding in a paceline is much more dangerous than riding alone, no? There's a time and a place for different types of riding. Having aerobars give a different position that lets you change things up.

Seattle Forrest

No, because we use miles.

RaleighSport

I've got an old set of clip on aerobars that I use on occasion, that occasion being when I do a 30 mile one way commute and when I do that I sure don't hop on them for the in city parts of the ride, but about 20 of the 30 is on non highway main roads with huge bike lanes or shoulders, the only danger is if someone tries to pass too close without calling out first. Aerobars are good, but only if you want them to be.

hhnngg1

Agree with the post above in that:

If you have never ridden with aerobars, or have barely used them, you really shouldn't be making blanket statements on aerobars based solely on what you've heard/read about.

Things that are hugely overstated by those who have never used them:
- They're SO DANGEROUS!!! Uhh, not. Not even close. They're actually extremely safe. Everyone who hasn't used them assumes people will be riding down someone's wheel in a paceline with hands off the brakes but that almost never happens - it's dicey enough to do that with your hands ON the brakes, so odds that a new aerobar user will draft inches from another fast wheel while on the aerobars is vanishingly low. And if you're confident enough to do that (like a team TT), you know what you're doing as well as the risks.

- They're SO UNCOMFORTABLE! I'll acknowledge that an aero position, aerobar or not, is generally lower than a more comfort position, but plenty of average or below-average athletes successfully ride the aerobars for 100+ mile rides, so you shouldn't be limited by comfort unless you have some major back issues (some older folks).

- They don't work unless you're going pro speed or 25+mph. Also totally incorrect. While the % gained in speed is indeed higher the faster you go, if you actually measure time saved, slower riders save just as much time as the speedy pros with aerobars over a given course since they're on the course for longer. Triathletes have looked very hard at this, and it turns out that because of this phenomena, there's essentially no difference in the total amount of time saved by pros or amateurs on a given course with aerobars. (The pros do finish faster so the % time saved is higher.)

I hear so much misinformation and righteousness about aerobars on this forum from people who have never used them that it's ridiculous.

island rider

Nope. Read it again. I'm not arguing for or against anything. I am simply saying that if someone thinks that riding with their weight aerobars is as safe in all circumstances as riding with your hands on the tops of traditional bars, I would urge them to try the things I suggested. As long as you understand effects of what you are doing on bike handling, braking, etc. there shouldn't be any issues.

Sure, which is why I said the OP should do whatever the hell they want. But your comment on supporting weight on your elbows (if feels better for you fine, I don't care) coupled with a person thinking they can get out of that position and into a safe braking position as quickly as they could with their hands on the tops would make for a dangerous rider.

cplager

O.k. I'll upgrade your comment from asinine to a bit goofy. It's kind of like saying

and

From two completely different quotes and saying "Whoa! I wouldn't want to be that person."

Again, since I think we're now basically in agreement, I'll stop here.

island rider

I think you missed the point of what I was saying a bit. But I agree that we are pretty much in agreement. Like 'em? Then use 'em. But like anything else, understand the impact of your decision.

Ferrous Bueller

Though hated by some, aero bars are generally fine for solo riding. They offer a different position for the rider and can improve speed. There is an insignificant weight penalty.

Aero bars are fine in a group if you are:
A) in a team time trial
B) in a training session with a small group of others who know all what they are doing.

Aero bars are not fine if you're:
C) in danger of colliding with another rider
D) potentially needing access to your brakes
E) needing more agile steering or road shock absorption.

That is all.

ovoleg

drafting tri's...really? Is this a TTT? I wasn't aware you could grab your brakes on the aero bars or maneuver just as well as a road bike, but I could be wrong >_>

Triathletes, not even once.

Jseis 

While watching Paris-Roubaix (TV version) I noticed the lead out riders would occasionally drop into an aero position with forearms resting on bars and hand clasped together. But only the lead out rider. One of my cycling friends said that's a riding position granted only to the lead out rider and no one else in a pace line would dare use that position. Of course I tried it and it does take exquisite balance and control. Do pros add slight padding to the bar to add comfort and control or is that a rare position to take when circumstances favor (long smooth flats?). Curious.

Ferrous Bueller

^The words 'comfort' and 'lead out guy' are rarely seen together. I'm sure they're just using a conventional tape wrap. It's not a very stable position, but the best bike handlers make it look easy.

Elduderino2412

If your bike is set up right it's actually a pretty comfortable position(for a little while). I changed stems, now i'm too stretched out to have much control. I'm going to put my old stem on just to regain that aero position. It's great when you are trying to catch a group by yourself.