Dannydyn

Debate!

FPSDavid

No.

hyhuu

It depends.

Andy Somnifac 

If it makes you more comfortable, sure.

If you're riding with a group, not a chance.

Dannydyn

I'm curious to hear the reasoning behind this one...

gashandburn

It is dangerous... if you need to come to a quick stop, your hands aren't by the brakes like they normally would be if you were riding on the hoods or in the drops.

L.L. Zamenhof

Probably something like this.

tagaproject6

What do you hope to achieve with aerobars?

Rekless1

Don't see the debate. If you like em buy em, if not then not so much.

David Bierbaum

I'm actually surprised that there isn't an aero-bar mounted brake lever being marketed, along the lines of those cross/interrupter brake levers for the flats on drop bars... in fact, couldn't you install interrupter brake levers on your aero bars?

Not that that would have helped the guy in the above situation. The "3 second" rule is just as valid for cyclists as for motorists, because human reaction times just suck, pure and simple!

StanSeven

Aero bars are meant to go fast in an aero position like in a time trial or a triathlon. Braking isn't normally a concern because you are on a race course.

Why would you want interrupter brake levers on an aero setup? The only reason I can think of is people that think they are benefiting from aero bars on their commuters. The reality is most aren't because a truly aero position is having the bars flat with the rider way forward on their saddle (using a forward leaning seatpost). Most commuters I see have aero bars titled way up in the air and that's no more efficient as just riding in the drops

Bostic

Getting a 21mph avg speed on my 18 mile commute to work. Every day for me is a max solo effort. Other cyclists are few and far between and never want to pull anyways. I know every red light time, every place to shave seconds, every place to tuck into a ball as much as possible to get just that little bit more. I'm thinking some mini bars, not full size for the long stretches in between lights.

David Bierbaum

I'd want them for the simple reason that when you need to stop, you need to stop! Never more so than when you are going really fast! In those cases, reaction time is king, and moving your hand to the brake takes up time you don't have...

As for why folks use them. I think that many use them not for the "aero" part, but more as an arm-rest for long touring setups. There are probably many who get them who really don't need them at all for what they do, as well. But even for track events, stray pets, children, and drunk frat-boys, are out-of-the-blue navigational hazards on rare occasions!

fly:yes/land:no

ivan basso and fabian cancellara say hi:

Andy Somnifac 

And in an aero position, you're still going to fall over if you had access to the brakes. Either way you're going to go down.

volosong

Aero bars in amateur group riding? Well, this video settles that argument once and for all. The only exception is if one is a professional, (they geta paid to ride a bicycle), and a member of a TTT.

Thanks for the video. Perfect example.

Hairy Hands

I use them on my long distance bike, but I'm on my bike sometimes for 24 hrs straight (minus pee breaks). It gives me additional hand positions mainly, and the ability to rest my upper body on 50 mile stretches with no stops or turns. Aerodynamic help, I doubt it, especially if its setup for comfort. Group riding, no way!

StanSeven

I cant tell what that is from the pic. Is that something like extra brake levers below the shifters?

That's an old pic by the way - probably five years

L.L. Zamenhof

YOU'RE WELCOMe.

fly:yes/land:no

that is a vision brake lever attached to the extensions backwards. here is a link to some tridudes discussing the bars.

yes, i am aware that it is an old pic. cancellara, basso, and dz all ran those in the csc days. i don't think cancellara or dz have run them since switching teams, as they haven't had vision as a sponsor since then. basso still occasionally rides his with cannondale since they ride vision parts:



that is from 2011, btw. haven't seen him with those on the new slice, though.

Spqr41

I never leave my base bar when riding in a group. Ever. If you go aero while riding in a group, you are a) crazy and b) endangering the group because c) you can't brake when the person in front of you breaks, hits a bump/whatever.

Aero bars are only an option when you're riding alone or not drafting, or when you are on a REALLY quiet road.

I love my aero bars and use the heck out of them, but I'm careful about when I use them.

look566 rider

I say go with the aero bars and ride appropriately. I have them on a Cannondale Optimo 800 with straight bars. This used to be my main ride. I choose to use them for a better aero set in windy conditions or when I needed to pick up speed. Also great to re-leave hand palsy. Rode in groups using my best riding practices. Mine are set up level with the top tube angle.

Looigi

Or participating in a team time trial.

rpeterson

I have aerobars on my commuter, makes it way faster and more comfortable.

And in many cases the bars angled up is quite a bit faster. Check out some wind tunnel tests from triathletes like tj tollakson. Pro cyclists only ride with flat bars because the UCI makes them, it's often a slower position.

StanSeven

Interesting. I've never seen that. I guess it helps on courses with lots of turns - like some of the U-turns on divided roads where organizers like spectators to gather