bWurtz

Two questions..

1.) If I buy aero bars and put them on my old beater of a Trek 1000 (that I am secretly frequently quite proud of) just how big of a faux pas am I committing? I've read through a couple threads here where guys have put aero bars on their hybrids, so no one seems to argue against the personal freedom to do whatever the hell you want.. but would I be putting a spoiler on a minivan here?

I am thinking they'd work for me because the route I ride most frequently involves a pretty strong headwind, and I find myself increasingly drawn toward getting as low as possible.. the bars would work well, I think. And having a third option for positioning while riding seems like a good idea, as the bars look like they could be comfortable.

2.) Does anyone have any recommendations for a good mid-level aero bar?

recon455

Do it if you need to get through the wind to get somewhere. Otherwise, you're just making your training easier for no reason...

With that said, companies like Profile Design make many different levels of clip aerobars. I picked up their cheapest version(I can't even remember what it is called anymore) and the more expensive versions don't really add much, especially if you are only putting them on a Trek 1000.

waterrockets 

Make sure you check the clamp diameter. An old Trek 1000 bar is going to have a smaller clamp diameter (25.8 or 26.2mm) than modern sets at 31.8mm. A dedicated 31.8mm clamp won't grip the smaller bars. Some aero bar models come with bushings that will adapt to smaller bars, and I think some just work with different bar diameters.

Anyway, I like the Profile T2+

It never gets easier, you just go faster...

adclark

I used an set of Scott clip on aerobars for a while on an older Bianchi before I decided that they weren't for me. I would suggest trying to get some used so if you end up letting them sit up in a closet like mine, you didn't waste a lot of money. I got my set because I couldn't see much difference between the older used set and a new set from the LBS. The main difference was the price.

kini62

Profile design CGT or Jammers are very nice. I have the CGT model on my Allez and wouldn't ever be without them. They make 50-60 miles very tolerable. I can't stand riding in the drops.

jrobe

If you really want aerobars, go fo it but isn't that really what the drops on your regular bars are for (ie. to get in a more aero position for a short period of time). If you can ride efficiently and comfortably in a even more "aero" position than your drops, maybe your bars aren't low enough to start with.

Go into your LBS and have them set up a time trial bike on a trainer and try it in the aerobars for a few minutes. The geometry of a TT bike is totally different than a regular road bike and it is set up to allow you to ride on the aerobars with a hip angle that is pretty similiar to the position that you would ride your regular road bike on the hoods. If you take your road bike and install aerobars, you are now trying to ride the bike with a much smaller hip angle than is optimal for efficiency. That is why aerobars on a road bike seem somewhat foolish. But to each his own.

recon455

My Profile Design bars came with shims for this purpose.


Yes, I know. But if he is going to get out and do 40 miles, it will benefit him less to use the aero bars. OP, just make sure you train for time.