aero bars for a century ?

[RDL]

I'm new to cycling with my longest ride yet of 40 miles (today). I would like to ride a few centurys this summer. Would clip on aero bars help ?

[Carbonfiberboy]

I ride with aero bars, but find that they only get really useful on rides of over a century. Since you're new, I would definitely recommend against them. They take a lot of practice, lower back strength, flexibility, and a very smooth pedal stroke to use properly. Ride a few centuries first. Instead of aero bars, develop a variety of hand positions on the hoods and bar tops. If you're experiencing pain, have your bike fit checked.

[supcom]

Aero bars will help improve your speed due to reduced wind drag. However, be aware that you will be less stable when you are using them. This makes it harder to avoid obstacles, slower to reach the brakes, and harder to recover from hitting a pothole or other obstacle. As a result, you should not use aero bars in crowded conditions or in a paceline unless you are at the front or back of the line.

[ericgu]

I'm new to cycling with my longest ride yet of 40 miles (today). I would like to ride a few centurys this summer. Would clip on aero bars help ?

The answer is no.

Aerobars can make you faster.

But you need a fair bit of work to be able to hold that position - both flexibility and core strength. And you need to be able to control the bike with the aero bars. And you can't use them if you ride in a group.

My advice is to save your money, and try to find a group to ride with. You will get a lot of benefit from working with a group, and it's a far more pleasurable way to spend a long day on the bike.

[Kimber]

I love my aero bar. I had it installed on my bike (Trek 1220) when I first bought it. I had no road bike experience. I almost never ride in a paceline and find the bar extremely useful when bucking headwinds solo. This is also when your handling can be most affected. A gust of wind will turn your front wheel if you aren't prepared, don't get distracted. I would advise firm forearm support, like the Profile F-19 type. I uppgraded my bar with these and find it more stable. Like I said I don't often ride in a paceline, but I wouldn't recommend using the bar in one front , back or middle. Just my 2 cents.

[sch]

It is generally considered bad manners if not outright dangerous to ride on aero bars
when with a group of more than 2-3 riders. If you can comfortably ride in the drops
for mile after mile without discomfort, you can probably adapt to aero bars equally
well. They are especially useful in very windy conditions or solo long distance.
I ride a bent than is fairly aerodynamic, ie if coasting down a hill long or steep enough
to get the bike speed upto 22-25mph I will just coast away from riders on standard
bikes and keep the speed a lot further on the bottom. This is good for a 100 to 400 yard
advantage for me at the end of a decent downhill. The only regular bike riders
who have ever coasted with me were TT bikes with very svelte riders tightly tucked.
OTOH if your average speed is in the 13-16mph range, you won't get that much of an
advantage from the aero setup except in significant headwinds. If you are a 19-22mph or
faster average rider, the bars will be a significant advantage, well worth the weight
penalty. The faster you go the more the benefit.

[SesameCrunch]

Last year, I did my first century and got a clip-on aerobar. I wanted it for riding against the wind and for a variation in riding positions. The aerobars proved very useful to me in that ride.

All the precautions apply:

- don't use them in a group,
- make sure you position them and get used to them a few weeks before the ride,
- you'll have to move your seat forward a bit to find a comfy aero position.

I like them for long rides!

[timbentdude]

Not to highjack the thread but, whats the optimal way to fit aero bars I have some f-19 airstrykes. I use them for another hand position (comfort) didn't know if their is a starting point for fitting.

Tim

[dahoss2002]

http://www.tri-ecoach.com/art20.htm This is the info I used to set mine up

[timbentdude]

http://www.tri-ecoach.com/art20.htm This is the info I used to set mine up

Thanks dahoss

Tim