Touring - Touring with aero bars???...

I toured with a guy once who had aero bars on his bike....said it added to the range of positions and he found it rather comfortable....i would like to hear from anyone that has used them regarding comfort, bike handling etc..thanks a bunch...

I toured with a guy once who had aero bars on his bike....said it added to the range of positions and he found it rather comfortable....i would like to hear from anyone that has used them regarding comfort, bike handling etc..thanks a bunch...

I bet it would. They're handy things, aerobars are. :) Just don't use them if you expect to have to make any quick manuvers or have to brake suddenly.

I guess handle bar bags are out of the question when you add these things?

They do look very comfortable

I used an old set of Scott RCO aerobars attached to a flat Mtn. bar for a tour last year and found them to be very comfortable and nice for a change of position. If properly fitted, the aerobars will place you into a more aero position while at the same time supporting your upper body weight "skeletally" rather than "muscularly", offering you faster miles for less energy expenditure. I didn't find that bike handling was effected significantly, but I would recommend against using them in town or anywhere else you might have to stop or turn often. If you're seriously considering a set of aerobars, I would look for a set like the Scott RCO's or some Profile models that have flip up arm rests which still allow you access to the flats on drop bars.
Happy Touring,
CC Rider

"I guess handle bar bags are out of the question when you add these things?"

There was a post within the last 6 mo ?? about using both. There are quite a few people who figured out how to do it.

"I guess handle bar bags are out of the question when you add these things?"


I've recently ridden Pittsburgh-DC in 4 days / 357 miles, and we all used aero bars on our bikes. We all noted a remarkable improvement in our hand conditions vs previous rides without the aero bars. There are caveats - no close proximity to other bikes, no pacelines, not for rough spots/mud - but used in their place, they're ok.

I replaced my handlebar bag with a tri-athlete bag, a mesh thing that hangs down between the aero bards. There's two pockets, a tall skinny one for my GPS, and a smaller boxy one for my camera/cellphone. Everything else went into my trunk bag, and I added two Bento Boxes for the snacks I wanted to have available.

http://localhost/05/bike/aero-bars-060624.jpg

This link : http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/trek830.cfm
has a few more pictures of the bike with the aero bars on it.

I guess aero bars are also out of the question as I captain a tandem which is towing a Piccolo trailercycle.

When the situation is calm, I sometimes rest my hands by keeping one hand as usual on the drops, and resting my other forearm on the handlebar. Usually 1 minute is all one needs to rest one's fingers.

I toured with a guy once who had aero bars on his bike....said it added to the range of positions and he found it rather comfortable....i would like to hear from anyone that has used them regarding comfort, bike handling etc..thanks a bunch...

I toured across America using Aero Bars in May 2006. Here are some observations.
Pro:
Going all day against a strong headwind is much more acceptable.
Catching up with a group you fell behind is more doable.
Takes the weight off the saddle.
Takes weight off your hands, wrists.
Aero Bar position can be comfortable if saddle and bars are adjusted for it.
Same effort, speed is up perhaps 5-10% compared to hands on the bars. (not so much on the drops)
Con:
No good at all in traffic, cross winds, very fast downhill, pace lines, any situation requiring fast stopping.
Need to learn steering with elbows. (takes a while)
Changing gears is more of an issue.
BTW, I had no trouble mounting a bag up front, under the Aero Bars.

When I built my Spectrum touring bike, I was not going to part with my beloved Kirtland handlebar bag, so I have a set of Profile Split Second bars mounted right alongside the handlebar bag --just enough clearance to get the bag on and off.
This gives a bit wider spread than normal aerobars, but the benefit is still there.
My particular set up does basically eliminate the top of handlebar riding position. To reduce this as an issue, you might consider a slightly (1-2cm?) wider handlebar to give more room on the tops --assuming that extra width does not cause a probem for you when riding the hoods/drops.

Another question to those that have toured with them....any specific ones to try and any ideas where to get them?

"I guess handle bar bags are out of the question when you add these things?"

If the fork neck is long enough, fit two head stems, with the lower one upside down, and cut a piece of old handlebars to put in the lower one, and attach the handlebar bag to this one. There is enough room to pull the bag up to disengage it from it's clip.

I have used aero bars on every tour and day-trip since 1994. For me, they are indispensable. The extra riding positions add substantially to my comfort, endurance, and enjoyment.

I have the Profile Design Air Strykes, which have spring-loaded arm rests.

Another question to those that have toured with them....any specific ones to try and any ideas where to get them?

I purchased Profile Airstryke from one LBS and Aerolite from another LBS.
The type with the flip up armrest is not so good IMHO. These things rattle on any rough road. Yes, they provide hand clearance, but the rattle kills it. Also, there is a very small pin in the pivot of that armrest. I managed to break it. I am a big guy and the LBS did not honor the warranty. So, I went to another LBS and got the Aerolite.
I am satisfied with that one. Lots of adjustments and no rattle. But also no room for hands on the bars. Life is compromise.

Will, my pin broke on my Profile Airstryke aerobars a couple of years ago. Profile mailed me the replacement pin no charge.

Will, my pin broke on my Profile Airstryke aerobars a couple of years ago. Profile mailed me the replacement pin no charge.

The bracket broke at the pin location. It is Die Cast Aluminum. Yes, I could have contacted the manufacturer but I was NOT satisfied with the rattle also. So, I tried to get an exchange or at least consideration. The LBS decided to be noncooperative. They lost a customer, permanently.

I've recently finished a two month tour of Mexico with aerobars on the bike.

They weren't very useful for riding position since the road was mostly narrow and in fair condition, I had to be ready for quick manouvers and the aerobar position makes that tricky.

The bar was very useful for mounting my gps though, as you can see in this picture (http://bici.gundi.net/20060300-The-Bee-and-Bici-over-Mexico-Pacific/index.php/03-Valle_de_los_Cirios/DSC00616/).

I have aero bars on every bike I own. More positions, and for touring it is a comfortable way to reduce the wind resistance when slogging into a headwind all day. The bars do present a challenge for handle bar bags but I believe that the tradeoff is worth it.

Here's my old Trek Touring bike with Profile Aero bars. I used an MTB stem to get them higher than normal for a little more comfort. Note the large blowout bag mounted on them. It was a sweet setup.
That bicycle got trampled and destroyed by an out of control mule with a rider on it's back. I barely survived the incident as well and it took me three months to get over the damage inflicted to me.

Pick up a set of clip-ons from ebay. If you don't like them, turn around and sell them again. The re-sale value is pretty constant. If you aren't used to an extreme tuck, set them a little higher for now.

I love mine. I probably only spend five minutes at a time hunkered down on them, but the extra position is good for breaking up the ride and taking weight off my hands.

...pin broke on my Profile Airstryke aerobars a couple of years ago. Profile mailed me the replacement pin no charge.


I had a similar experience. The pins on mine worked themselves loose, and as a result one of the assemblies broke. But I reported the problem to Profile, and they sent me replacement parts immediately. What good customer service!

When I bought these aerobars in 2004, the pin was held in place by friction alone ("interference fit"). The pin and assembly must have been redesigned, because the replacement pins were cotter pins, which don't loosen up.

Keep in mind that my information is that aerobars were first invented for touring a long time back in California. It was only later that they were adopted for time-trialing.

I think my aerobars saved I don't know how many nerves in my hands. I can't imagine any kind of distances without them.

Handlebar bags are absolutely possible. At least, they're possible with the Syntace C2s + the 1" risers:

http://static.flickr.com/41/85065930_208cd7051e.jpg

Plus it gives you the hella-high hand position with hella padding. Very nice.