Confession: I love my aerobars
#1
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Confession: I love my aerobars
I'm a semi-longtime road biker (20 years now) who usually does short to medium length solo road rides (~2k mi a year). I like to chase breaking my own PRs on Strava, and do the occasional time trial a few times a year. Many, many years ago a friend bought a full TT bike with aerobars, and I tried it out very briefly (in a parking lot, basically), and the handling was rather dangerous feeling--seemed like a bit of an ordeal to keep thing thing upright at all, and fine-grained steering seemed more or less out of the question. I figured aerobars were super specialized and not good for regular road riding with much in the way of traffic, potholes to dodge, etc, and didn't consider them for years. As I started to do the occasional time trial, I got interested in clip on aerobars again (I don't want to maintain two bikes, and do enough general riding that I would barely use a full TT bike). When doing a recent bike upgrade (Gen 6 Trek Madone), I realized I could add in pretty decent clip on aerobars that were designed for the bike, and ordered parts for them over the winter.
I've been on them for about two months now, and I have to say...they kind of kick ass. The handling is insanely better than I expected--barely worse than without them. I can dodge potholes, place myself on the road where I want while cars pass, and navigate all but the sharpest/most dicey turns easily. They've more or less replaced the drops for me when sightlines are clear and I don't need to shift tons (probably on big descents I'd stick w/drops for control and braking, but I don't do tons of crazy climbing and descending...it's more rolling hills and non-mountains where I ride). They are FAST...it feels like I pick up 1-1.5mph when I get into them at any kind of decent speed (25mph+). I'm far from super aero in my position (not being the most flexible person), but they still help a ton. Using them has relieved a bit of hand pain I've had recently, the position I'm in is comfy enough to hold for decent chunks of time, and it feels like I can really put down some power when when pulling back on them and going hard. I've been destroying PRs left and right. Using them feels like a cheat code for free speed. I know that there are downsides...they add weight, you can't brake nearly as quickly from them (or shift, though I could remedy that with di2 satellite shifters if I really wanted to), meaning use during group rides would be straight out, and I have to watch it when on the road and only use them judiciously/when it's reasonably safe to do so. But despite those downsides, they've been pretty stellar for the riding I do. And, I can take them off in about 1-2 minutes by removing four bolts if I don't want them on.
I know this means I probably need to turn in my BF road riding card someplace, but at this point...eh, it may well be worth it. : )
I've been on them for about two months now, and I have to say...they kind of kick ass. The handling is insanely better than I expected--barely worse than without them. I can dodge potholes, place myself on the road where I want while cars pass, and navigate all but the sharpest/most dicey turns easily. They've more or less replaced the drops for me when sightlines are clear and I don't need to shift tons (probably on big descents I'd stick w/drops for control and braking, but I don't do tons of crazy climbing and descending...it's more rolling hills and non-mountains where I ride). They are FAST...it feels like I pick up 1-1.5mph when I get into them at any kind of decent speed (25mph+). I'm far from super aero in my position (not being the most flexible person), but they still help a ton. Using them has relieved a bit of hand pain I've had recently, the position I'm in is comfy enough to hold for decent chunks of time, and it feels like I can really put down some power when when pulling back on them and going hard. I've been destroying PRs left and right. Using them feels like a cheat code for free speed. I know that there are downsides...they add weight, you can't brake nearly as quickly from them (or shift, though I could remedy that with di2 satellite shifters if I really wanted to), meaning use during group rides would be straight out, and I have to watch it when on the road and only use them judiciously/when it's reasonably safe to do so. But despite those downsides, they've been pretty stellar for the riding I do. And, I can take them off in about 1-2 minutes by removing four bolts if I don't want them on.
I know this means I probably need to turn in my BF road riding card someplace, but at this point...eh, it may well be worth it. : )
#2
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No need to turn in a card, I've used them on bikes as I live in a really flat area, they are a tool to be used and if you like them, enjoy them.
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Glad you could get that off your chest. I'll confess:
I like dreaming, cause dreaming can make you mine
I like dreaming, closing my eyes and feeling fine.
Sweet dreams, baby.
I like dreaming, cause dreaming can make you mine
I like dreaming, closing my eyes and feeling fine.
Sweet dreams, baby.
Last edited by seypat; 08-08-23 at 05:52 AM.
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I'm afraid to clip them onto my handlebars because it might make them quiver and the bike will become twitchy.
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I never liked clip-ons. A well-fitted tri bike is amazing for the right sort of riding though.
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i love my bars too. i got them about three years ago only because i wanted an additional hand position. after a few rides with them i wondered why i hadn't done it sooner. absolutely great. i have no trouble navigating the road with them and i am always riding alone. have i gotten more PRs with them...yes, but not necessarily related. i have Di2 and am planning to install satellite shifters on the ends, i just don't want to pull off the tape right now. i started out with the airstrykes on my trek but went with a smaller profile on my current ride:
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#8
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i love my bars too. i got them about three years ago only because i wanted an additional hand position. after a few rides with them i wondered why i hadn't done it sooner. absolutely great. i have no trouble navigating the road with them and i am always riding alone. have i gotten more PRs with them...yes, but not necessarily related. i have Di2 and am planning to install satellite shifters on the ends, i just don't want to pull off the tape right now. i started out with the airstrykes on my trek but went with a smaller profile on my current ride:
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"Aero Bars" are great...ask Greg LeMond...
They offer a wide variety of benefits, don't have to be uber costly...enjoy !
They offer a wide variety of benefits, don't have to be uber costly...enjoy !
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Looks like you have the pads up high enough that you can use the bar tops - I see that these are not flip-ups. True? I've been using aero bars on my road bike and tandem for many years. My fitter recently suggested a complete redo of my bars, now with flip-up pads, which I really dislike though I do like having my bar tops back.
i wanted this style because the angle is not as steep as the flip up airstrikes.
what makes yo not like the flip up feature?
#11
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I actually can't quite get my hands under, maybe just the index and some middle but that's it. although looking at the photo you'd think differently. these are not the type that flip up, i have those on my trek. i like that i can use the tops of the bars with those but don't like the racket they make on the rough roads i have here when i am not on them. i've actually tie-strapped them down for a while but then miss being able to use the bar tops. love-hate relationship i guess.
i wanted this style because the angle is not as steep as the flip up airstrikes.
what makes yo not like the flip up feature?
i wanted this style because the angle is not as steep as the flip up airstrikes.
what makes yo not like the flip up feature?
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I tried clip-ons on my randonneuring bike, to give my hands a break on all-day rides. The unexpected benefit has been increased all-around comfort, including lower back. Speed does increase, even compared to the drops; I'm not sure how much is aero advantage and how much is a result of comfort. Doesn't really matter.
I use them when solo, on open and relatively flat roads.
Honestly I'm more inclined to eschew joining a paceline in favor of riding solo on the aero bars. That may be slower overall, but with less pain and less drama.
I use them when solo, on open and relatively flat roads.
Honestly I'm more inclined to eschew joining a paceline in favor of riding solo on the aero bars. That may be slower overall, but with less pain and less drama.
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A couple dozen years ago (yikes) I broke my wrist. When I could ride again, I couldn't sustain a "normal" hand position for more than maybe half an hour, so I mounted clip-on aerobars. Because of my work schedule back then, I was mostly doing solo weekday rides so when my wrist was fully healed I left them on. Pretty comfortable, I didn't have problems controlling the bike, and since I had a power meter even back then I could see that I could still put out threshold power. Eventually my job changed and I started riding with others again so I took them off.
I never understood the riders who claim that aerobars are uncomfortable.
I never understood the riders who claim that aerobars are uncomfortable.
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As you point out, they rattle but I can deal with that. It's that I have to open the pads with my forearms before I can settle down in them. That little bother takes my attention away for a little bit and I hate that. Also pushing on the pads with my forearms wiggles the bike a little and I don't like that, either. The fixed pads were wonderful. The hinged pads would be fine if I were going to be down on them for a long time but that isn't always the case.
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As you point out, they rattle but I can deal with that. It's that I have to open the pads with my forearms before I can settle down in them. That little bother takes my attention away for a little bit and I hate that. Also pushing on the pads with my forearms wiggles the bike a little and I don't like that, either. The fixed pads were wonderful. The hinged pads would be fine if I were going to be down on them for a long time but that isn't always the case.
i do spend a lot of time on them except when climbing of course. i'm out of them at about 3-4% unless a very short hill and i'm just tooling along.
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Nothing wrong with using aerobats on a road bike but that is totally different than using a properly fit TT bike. The geometry of the bike and riding position is totally different. I used to have a TT bike when I was younger and the riding angle at my hips and waist was almost exactly the same as on my properly fit road bike, except that I was rotated downward on the TT bike. If I was simply using aerobats on my road bike, the angle at my hips and waist would have had to be much smaller to get me down on the aerobars which would put me in a less efficient riding position (a much smaller angle than just riding in the drops of the bars). I could definitely ride faster, more efficient and more comfortably on the TT bike because I had maintained my proper riding position.
Again, aerobats are fine if you like them. There is a significant advantage though to a properly fit TT bike if that is how you like to ride.
Again, aerobats are fine if you like them. There is a significant advantage though to a properly fit TT bike if that is how you like to ride.
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Nothing wrong with using aerobats on a road bike but that is totally different than using a properly fit TT bike. The geometry of the bike and riding position is totally different. I used to have a TT bike when I was younger and the riding angle at my hips and waist was almost exactly the same as on my properly fit road bike, except that I was rotated downward on the TT bike. If I was simply using aerobats on my road bike, the angle at my hips and waist would have had to be much smaller to get me down on the aerobars which would put me in a less efficient riding position (a much smaller angle than just riding in the drops of the bars). I could definitely ride faster, more efficient and more comfortably on the TT bike because I had maintained my proper riding position.
Except
Again, aerobats are fine if you like them. There is a significant advantage though to a properly fit TT bike if that is how you like to ride.
Except
Again, aerobats are fine if you like them. There is a significant advantage though to a properly fit TT bike if that is how you like to ride.
Of course you're correct about it being easier to breathe on a TT bike than a road bike with aero bars. Still, it works. I once overtook a younger rider on ~3% grade with a headwind, down on my aerobars. This was sort of covered on a recent aero vs weight wheel thread. Aero does kick butt. So often I see folks pulling a line, sitting up on their hoods. Yeeesh. The first 2 riders should be in the drops or with horizontal forearms on the hoods. I always pull on my aerobars.
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#19
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A couple dozen years ago (yikes) I broke my wrist. When I could ride again, I couldn't sustain a "normal" hand position for more than maybe half an hour, so I mounted clip-on aerobars. Because of my work schedule back then, I was mostly doing solo weekday rides so when my wrist was fully healed I left them on. Pretty comfortable, I didn't have problems controlling the bike, and since I had a power meter even back then I could see that I could still put out threshold power. Eventually my job changed and I started riding with others again so I took them off.
I never understood the riders who claim that aerobars are uncomfortable.
I never understood the riders who claim that aerobars are uncomfortable.
I also get off them for any hard corners or when weird stuff is happening in front of me. Descending, I'm only about 1 mph faster on the bars than in my max tuck position. OTOH, I can't pedal at all in that position and the 'bars involve a lot less body effort. I will trade back and forth depending on my spidey sense.
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#20
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Nothing wrong with using aerobats on a road bike but that is totally different than using a properly fit TT bike. The geometry of the bike and riding position is totally different. I used to have a TT bike when I was younger and the riding angle at my hips and waist was almost exactly the same as on my properly fit road bike, except that I was rotated downward on the TT bike. If I was simply using aerobats on my road bike, the angle at my hips and waist would have had to be much smaller to get me down on the aerobars which would put me in a less efficient riding position (a much smaller angle than just riding in the drops of the bars). I could definitely ride faster, more efficient and more comfortably on the TT bike because I had maintained my proper riding position.
Again, aerobats are fine if you like them. There is a significant advantage though to a properly fit TT bike if that is how you like to ride.
Again, aerobats are fine if you like them. There is a significant advantage though to a properly fit TT bike if that is how you like to ride.
#21
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I once bolted some aerobars onto my road bike and signed up for a TT (10+ years ago). It went well until I hit a speed bump (or was it a pothole?) and the bars slipped. I didn't crash but the aero extensions were now pointed downward. I did the rest of the ride in the drops, until I flatted maybe 500m from the finish. Got a DNF.
Fast forward to last month I put some bar ends inline on the flat bar of my gravel bike. The inline bar ends are spaced to 37cm (on a 64cm flat bar) and I am pretty much on the ends all the time except when descending. This experience, and this post, is creating an itch in me to set one of my bikes as a TT bike. I already have some bar end shifters from the last time I felt this impulse about a year ago😆
Fast forward to last month I put some bar ends inline on the flat bar of my gravel bike. The inline bar ends are spaced to 37cm (on a 64cm flat bar) and I am pretty much on the ends all the time except when descending. This experience, and this post, is creating an itch in me to set one of my bikes as a TT bike. I already have some bar end shifters from the last time I felt this impulse about a year ago😆
Last edited by tFUnK; 08-09-23 at 02:10 PM.
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I’ve never used aerobars clip on aerobars, but have put a couple “loose hanging bars” and used the “forearms on the bars, puppy dog hands” riding position a good amount. I find that I’m steering with my forearms, and it’s fine but definitely provides less control. Are the rigid ones similar in that you control the bike with your forearms, or do your hands help?
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I’ve never used aerobars clip on aerobars, but have put a couple “loose hanging bars” and used the “forearms on the bars, puppy dog hands” riding position a good amount. I find that I’m steering with my forearms, and it’s fine but definitely provides less control. Are the rigid ones similar in that you control the bike with your forearms, or do your hands help?
#24
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I have them on every bike I ride, three road bikes and two dedicated TT/triathlon bikes. I've gotten way more comfortable with them over the last couple of years. I don't use them nearly so much for the aero as I do just so I'm not carrying all my upper body weight on my arms. That's kind of a big deal for me after I've swam 1500m in a triathlon.
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#25
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I’ve never used aerobars clip on aerobars, but have put a couple “loose hanging bars” and used the “forearms on the bars, puppy dog hands” riding position a good amount. I find that I’m steering with my forearms, and it’s fine but definitely provides less control. Are the rigid ones similar in that you control the bike with your forearms, or do your hands help?