Commuting - Aero bars on a hybrid?

I have recently started commuting on a hybrid with road tyres and it is going well.

However, I would like an alternative hand position as a single position is rather annoying for 3 hours a day. I don't have to climb many hills, but I do have a few long straight roads with a headwind so I was thinking of some sort of aero bar.

I don't really want full aero bars, and I'd like something that will fit easily onto the current bars. Is there a simle way to add an aero position to my bike, either by misusing large bar ends or by using simple clip on style bars?

I saw someone last week with bar ends that went both up and down.

you can buy clip-on aero bars from http://www.wiggle.co.uk :)

Profile clip-on's are ones that I know a friend of mine uses.

Welcome to commuting. However, if you are on your bike for 3 hours a day and you stick with it, you should treat yourself to a road bike with drops soon. Took me 4 years to figure this out. May you be a faster learner...

Bar ends are a choice, but you could also look at trekking bars from Nashbar. I've had a set on my hybrid for a couple of months and really like them. They give you at least three completely different hand positions (with multiple variants in between) and they are very cheap. Conveniently they will probably work with the brakes and shift levers you already have (but check sizes before you buy).

I run clip on Profile Design aero bars on a rigid tail MTB commuter. Just started a couple of months ago. It takes awhile to get use to using aerobars as steering from the center of the bike is touchy but the longer they have been on the more I have been using them. I originally put them on for the extra hand position but they are great for bucking a headwind, which happens all to often in Illinois. One caveat is that they are not good in traffic and the aero position limits your view down the road.

I have a mountain/comfort/commuter type bike that I sometimes ride for 30 or 40 miles in a given day. It has some pretty high riser bars. I bought an extra pair of bar-ends and mounted them far inboard of my shifters and brake levers. When I grasp them my hands are nearly touching. This allows me to get into a pretty effective semi-aero position, although since they don't have bona fide armrests, it's not comfortable to stay there for a long time. Still, it's just the ticket when I find myself fighting a headwind. And in combination with my outside bar-ends and the original grips, I've got a good variety of positions to shift around to. And that's what keeps you comfortable.

If you want to try mounting bar-ends in this manner, they might get tight as you slide them in. Remember that you can CAREFULLY pry them open a bit with a large screwdriver. Doing so helped me get them in there without scraping up my bars.

DanO

I added a forte aero bar to my hybrid. The biggest problem that I had was that the attachments were way too big for the hybrid handlebars on my stock Giant bike. I had to use electric tape to fill the gap and tighten up REAL tight so when I lean on it it won't slip down.

In the end, I just removed it and rode it regularly. I found it hard to control and uncomfortable on a hybrid...

Just get drops. Or bar ends.

Aero bars are difficult to handle, and I really think they shouldn't be used where you might need to stop suddenly or turn.

I have recently started commuting on a hybrid with road tyres and it is going well.

However, I would like an alternative hand position as a single position is rather annoying for 3 hours a day. I don't have to climb many hills, but I do have a few long straight roads with a headwind so I was thinking of some sort of aero bar.

I don't really want full aero bars, and I'd like something that will fit easily onto the current bars. Is there a simle way to add an aero position to my bike, either by misusing large bar ends or by using simple clip on style bars?

I Had allmost the same issue on my MTB commuter.
This is how I Solved it.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g49/skyerz4130/100_7532.jpg

At first it was really scary to hang on to them but give it some time and it will be fine.
They are a huge help as soon as I hit a head wind

.

Did you make those or what?

Do you rest your forearms on the "normal" bars and grip the LMD part?

I've added aero bars to my hybrid, not for the aero tuck but rather for having an alternative hand position. Rode 350 miles in 4 days a week ago, and very little hand irritation. They're not for manuevering or riding close to anybody (or anything), but when used with judgement it's a pleasure to take your hands off the bars completely.

http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/060624-bike-d.jpg

These flip up when not in use, leaving the top of the bar available for use.

Since I couldn't use my handlebar bag, I got a mesh bag that hangs through the aero bars
for my GPS, cellphone, and camera. I really like having the alternative hand position.

Did you make those or what?

Do you rest your forearms on the "normal" bars and grip the LMD part?

They are just plain cheap bar ends that came on my wifes bike, I moved them from the outside of her handlebars to the middle of mine added some old BMX grips to make it softer. I gives me 3-4 new hand positions.

I usually ride with my hands at the very bottom of the bar ends where it attaches to the bar but in a stiff head wind or if I am going real fast (over 40km/hr) I reach for the top grippy part. I don't lean my elbows on anything they are just bent at a 90 and directly under my chest.
There is no "rest" position to rest my elbows on, I guess I could buy some real aero bar elbow holders but so far these have cost nothing and I dont think I need/want to lean on my bars that much.
I only do a 10km commute each way so I dont know how they would be for the longer distances

Welcome to commuting. However, if you are on your bike for 3 hours a day and you stick with it, you should treat yourself to a road bike with drops soon. Took me 4 years to figure this out. May you be a faster learner...

+1