Triathlon - Aero bars on road bike VS aero bars on Tri bike

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HiYoSilver
12-15-05, 02:44 PM
Just curious is there any breathing/exericing difference between riding on a road bike with aero bars and a tri bike with aero bars?

I have heard most riders are squishing their middle too much with a road bike and normal aero bars, and a tri bike is supposed to solve this problem.

Well, does it???

Sprocket Man
12-15-05, 07:22 PM
Just curious is there any breathing/exericing difference between riding on a road bike with aero bars and a tri bike with aero bars?

I have heard most riders are squishing their middle too much with a road bike and normal aero bars, and a tri bike is supposed to solve this problem.

Well, does it???Not necessarily. If a rider is "squishing their middle", it means that the distance between the seat and the aero bar pads is too short. But positioning is such a rider-specific thing. Lance Armstrong looks like he's being squished in the middle but it doesn't hurt him at all. 4 factors control this distance:

1. Seat fore/aft position
2. Top tube length
3. Aerobar arm pad position (some arm pads are right over the stem, others are further back)
4. Stem length
HiYoSilver
12-16-05, 10:41 AM
So if you can use aero handlebars with either road or Tri bike, then what are the variables that make one love one setup and hate another? Are their some online references to bone up on?

Sprocket Man
12-16-05, 12:27 PM
So if you can use aero handlebars with either road or Tri bike, then what are the variables that make one love one setup and hate another? Are their some online references to bone up on?Check this link out: http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/difference.shtml
Hope that helps.
HiYoSilver
12-16-05, 05:32 PM
That's why I am asking the question. I sent them an email and got zippo response so didn't know if they were a decent shop or not.
TysonB
12-16-05, 09:47 PM
HiHo

I asked this same question of T-Mar in the vintage forum. He had lots of good advice. I put aeros on my very relaxed Peugeot U08, circa 1968. The geometry was unmanageble. I could ride with less wind resisitance for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, but inevitably needed to sit up and get back in the drops to be comfortable. I am happier going a bit slower with more comfort at the level at which I compete.

A tri-bike with aeros would be a significant advantage in my situation.

Tyson