Carbonfiberboy 

I asked riders with TT or Tri bars sit in the back. I don't like that their shifters are up on the aerobars and brakes on the bullhorns. They have to move their hands to an unstable position to shift. I don't mind clip-ons and use them myself, so I know well what the dangers are.

Bah Humbug

Di2 renders that last bit moot.

Atlas Shrugged

One more try at this. TT Bars whether they are equipped with brake levers or not, do not mix well in a pack riding environment. The handling characteristics are totally different and a reaction to a sudden change in the group by a pothole, puncture, wheel rub or other unforeseen issues will exasperate the problem. There is a reason it is rare for Aerobars are permitted in an organized group ride or event. But to each their own so if it is the consensus in the group to allow TT Bars then that's up to them and enjoy your outing.

billridesbikes

I would say, “Hey man, I know you’re a super strong rider, but when you’re on your bars you’re a touch more wobbly than I’m used to from you and it’s freaking me out. Could you maybe just use the drops?” And they would say, “No worries Bill, wasn’t my intention to screw you up.”

Carbonfiberboy 

Good point.

HTupolev

TT bikes can have shifters on both the extensions and base bars.

Where do you draw the line? For example, if someone shows up on downtube shifters, do they also need to stay in the back?

What if they're not wobbly?

caloso

I would think that riders who would show up with downtube shifters have probably been riding long enough that they can shift safely in a group.

HTupolev

Well, they might only have downtube shifters because the bike was convenient to pick up on the cheap. And how does this situation differ from a person who happens to be on a TT bike, but who is a skilled and safety-conscious group rider, aside from differences in the arm motion demanded from the particular shifter placement?

(For what it's worth, I've shown up to a number of group rides on a bike with downtube shifters, and have never been questioned about it.)

caloso

In theory, there's none. Probably my bias against triathletes who show up to race rides with big engines and no bike handling skills. (I used to be one of those guys before I learned how to ride a bike properly.)

79pmooney

Thanks. The only time I've shown up without downtube shifters, I've been on a fix gear. (Actually not true, My Mooney had SunTour Command shifters for a few years until I reverted back to DTs. But little group riding over those years.)

tomato coupe

Not that you're wrong, but I think that's called "profiling."

mcours2006

Yeah, I've done it in front only, and only periodically. I've seen a couple of others do it as well. I do love that position when riding solo though.

Carbonfiberboy 

I'll just leave everyone to manage their own group rides. How 'bout that? Just what I'd need, someone in the group who'd argue with me. Thinking back, I don't think that's ever happened. There have been email exchanges after the ride, and I did lose a rider from one of those. If you want's their own rules, start your own ride. I don't publish rules. I decide in the moment how it's going to be. I do give a pre-ride in which I outline general expectations. Sometimes those are followed, sometimes not. If your group grows, you're doing it right. If not, not. It's tricky.

Back in my "youth," I could run the paceline and make sure everything was working well. Haven't done a group ride since March, but the last few years, we've been off the back and ask how it went when we get in.

Zaskar

You could be sitting on that bike backwards and I'd still be focused on the bike... so many things to distract one from your forearms on the bar position.

colnago62

Even the best of riders have accidents. There are crashes that occur that not the fault of the riders, but something beyond their control.

LAJ

I did a ride with downtube shifters, and they did ask me to roll near the back. Every time I shifted, they thought I was pointing out a hazard.

Wildwood

Really?!? Most of the group rides I've been on in the last 5 years were with C&V riders.

i think the best answer lies in answering 2 questions. How fast a group? How tight a pack or paceline?

Fast and tight - everyone needs to be attentive and immediately ready to adjust speed.
Slower and loose - enjoy the scenery

Sy Reene

No problem here.. coaster brakes work just fine.

SapInMyBlood

I have clip-on aerobars on my Specialized Roubaix. I ride a lot of solo long-distance stuff and there is just a massive advantage to being lower, supported, and comfortable on aerobars.

With that being said, I generally try and not use them on group rides. I'll ride in the drops mostly, with ample control of shifting and brakes.

The one exception - with groups I regularly ride with - is if we're putting the hurt on for a 10km stretch or something, averaging 38-45kph ... then when I'm at the front pushing 45kph and holding fast on the aerobars no one seems to mind. Again, this is on good, straight roads with lots of visibility.

I'm also pretty stable and comfortable on bars, to the point where I can climb out of the saddle in them ... I can also sprint fully tucked with no arms on the drops (Think Naruto style?)

TLR It all comes down to your handling ability, the comfort of your group and the conditions around you.

tomato coupe

I guess you wouldn't want to reach for a water bottle either.

rubiksoval

Why?

SapInMyBlood

For ****s and giggles ... mostly to make people laugh.

merlinextraligh

IMHO, there’s a big difference between being able to access the brakes and accessing your shifters.

If you can’t break timely and appropriately in the middle of a pace line, you’re a hazard to the group.

if you can’t shift, it’s only an issue for your own efficiency.

and seriously, if you can’t shift a down tube shifter in a group, you have bigger issues.

tomato coupe

In a "Here, hold my beer" kind of way?

HTupolev

I wasn't talking about using downtube shifters versus being on the aerobars. I was responding to Carbonfiberboy's concern about people shifting bar-end shifters on a time-trial bike while riding the base bars.