Road Cycling - Centuries, Aero Bar, misc questions

I am getting interested in doing organized rides. Mostly Centuries. One of the things I have noticed on my training rides is the difficulty of keeping the directions ready etc. I like to position them somewhere on my handlebars so I can read as I go. The last training ride I did was a metric century and the way I had the cue cards positioned restricted my hand positions.

Now I noticed a rider on Sunday who had an aero bar and some sort of pack in the middle of it. He had some sort of cue card holder on the top of it.

I have a number of questions.
1- Are aero bars a good idea for someone who is mostly concerned with centuries?
2- Can anyone think of a manufacturer for a bag or pack that fits in the space between certain aero bars? I don't even know what to call such a thing.

Thanks
-Duncan

No idea if you'll find anything, but it seems pretty clever. Another good idea might be to make a stem cap with a little clip built in to hold 4x6 cards or whatever (I have no clue about route notes, so forgive my stupidity).

Every Century I've been on, the routes were marked quite well, with either big signs at turns or painted marks on the road. But there are aerobar packs available. I'd check with my LBS first.

Thanks for the responses. I will be at my LBS tomorrow and we will see.
-Duncan

I have worked for a "major bike company" for 8 years. While we carry over 12,000 skus of parts, I have never seen a aerobar bag. Can anyone come up with a name brand or a website that sells one?

I have Syntace C2 bars with a link up front to connect the sides.

I remember seeing them before, but now I can't find one on the web. I have a friend that makes custom bags for ultralights, so I'd bet given the dimensions, he could make one!

if you're gonna ride solo, having aerobars is a great way to conserve energy. not having them is also a great way to force yourself to work harder ;)

if you prefer to ride in a pack with a group of people, aerobars aren't really necessary, and some would even say they're dangerous

Aero bars in large group rides can be dangerous. My $.02 worth.

I ride a lot of centuries and have also found that they are usually well marked and somewhat easy to follow.

I have seen a cue card holder that attaches to your handelbars with velcro and has a big plastic clip. It's cheap and works great. Sorry I don't remember the website, I'll see if I can locate it.

I use the Syntace C2 aero bars with my aero bag that goes in between the bars. You canfind it here http://www.sportsbasement.com/jump.jsp?iShadCat=1744&itemID=4675&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=1745&iSubCat=1746&iProductID=4675 they also make a deeper one.

I have never used aerobars.

Of course, they are a benefit at speeds in excess of about 20 mph and into headwinds.

Aerobars should not be used in paceline except for possibly the guy pulling. Riders tend to be a tad erratic using aerobars.

Oddly enough, aerobars were invented by a ride who competed in Race Across America. He made the aerobar without even intending on making a more aerodynamic configuration. His hands went numb on long rides so he came up with an aerobar so he could rest on his forearms and give his hands a break. It just happened that this approach was more aerodynamic then the conventional one.

Try these:

http://www.sidetrak.com/Catalog/accessories.html#Bar

http://www.webship.com/smpcycle/

http://www.fred.net/tdmbear/

http://vandesselsports.com/accessories.shtml

If one has drop bars and integrated brake/shifters, without aeros, there's always the $.05 Acco clip solution.

Rixen and Kaul make a mini mapholder:
http://www.klickfix.com/minimape.htm

As noted, aerobars can be used in a low and extended position for time-trialling aerodynamics, or higher and closer for a relaxed and comfortable position.

Originally posted by sherpa
I use the Syntace C2 aero bars with my aero bag that goes in between the bars. You canfind it here http://www.sportsbasement.com/jump.jsp?iShadCat=1744&itemID=4675&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=1745&iSubCat=1746&iProductID=4675 they also make a deeper one.

Thanks Sherpa:D

Originally posted by UncaStuart
If one has drop bars and integrated brake/shifters, without aeros, there's always the $.05 Acco clip solution.
I did something similiar with an even cheaper clip and some packing tape the last few long training rides. I didn't attach to the cable. That looks more out of the way. I will experiment.
-Duncan