Road Cycling - Aerobars for comfort on a road bike

I'd like to hear from people who are far more concerned about comfort on their roadbike and how aerobars have helped.

Again, this is strictly about long-distance comfort, not aerodymanics.

Some questions:
-- do aerobars have different setup styles between comfort and aero? If so, how do you set 'em up more for comfort?
-- Is there a reason they might not be good for riding up mountains? Some climbs here (4-7%) are pretty consistent and long (10-25 miles).
-- Is there a brand/model that's more designed for comfort than performance? What should I look for in a model for comfort?

Thanks!

> do aerobars have different setup styles between comfort and aero? If so, how do you set 'em up more for comfort?

I think this depends upon how you set up the bars and also what bike you're riding. I'll assume you're not riding a TT bike so your setup would be like mine ... standard issue road bike, road bars, seatpost (not one of those forward lean thingies), with an aero bars. My road bars are slightly below saddle level. I use the Syntace C2 with the risers. Without the risers, I cannot grab the road bars close to the stem. The C2's pads are positioned equal with the saddle height.

I ride predominantly on the road bars ... on the hoods, the bends, the flats ... almost never on the drops. After years of wrestling, probably bad posture, etc. ... I don't like riding in the drops (used to in my younger days, many many moons ago). For the "aero" advantage, I use the C2s rather than the drops. I notice the approximately the same amount of gain (1-2 mph) on the drops and on the aero bars.

Because I'm on not on a TT bike, I do NOT lean way over on the aero bars. My mid-forearms are resting on the C2's pads. To grab the end of the C2's bars, I'd have to be closer to my elbows. This would mean riding towards the nose of the saddle. I do do this occassionally. I do feel a bit more power from being over the pedals more ... but riding on the nose of the saddle has its limitations.

My C2s are positioned more for comfort than for aero. Since I use the risers, if I dropped the aero bars down more, then the road bars would be way too far below the saddle height. I can ride the C2s for extended stretches. It is also nice to get the weight off of my wrists and onto my forearms for a while.

> Is there a reason they might not be good for riding up mountains? Some climbs here (4-7%) are pretty consistent and long (10-25 miles).

Generally, you can't unless the gradient isn't that bad. There's a road here in Orange County called Newport Coast drive. Climbing from the Turtle Rock side is about 1.8 mi, the last half being easier (after it crosses under the 73). My guess is < 4%. I have Topo but I just don't trust it's values. Anyways, on this stretch, I do use the C2s ... but again, it is NOT that steep and it is a straight shot to the top.

One note ... when you're really whooped, you can grab the C2s by their pads. The reverse side of the C2's pads are slotted for fingers. So, you can grab those as if you were on the road bar flats ... only you're a little higher up. Bring your elbows in and lean down a bit and you can climb very effectively. In wind, this helps as you can breathe easier but not get a chest full of wind.

> Is there a brand/model that's more designed for comfort than performance? What should I look for in a model for comfort?

I got the C2s because they were rec. by some friends. I was cautioned about aero bars with spring loaded arm rests. Every person who I've run into with the C2s likes them ... for whatever that's worth.

OK, that's enough for now.
Best.

CycleFreakLS, thank you for all that info and stuff to consider.

I just took my Profile aero bars off about 10 minutes ago.
I just could not get used to them. They felt heavy in the turns and made riding at high speeds (> 35mph) unstable.
The only time I did not regret having them on the bike was on dead flat rides with few turns.

Enjoy

I just got off my profile century aerboars about 10 minutes ago. I'll never take them off unless i'm primarily riding in the city. So useful busting that headwind. There were many times doing my regular route that I thought, man what if I had aerobars right now.

Got my wish today :D

Setting them up for comfort just means you sacrifice some aerodynamics for comfort. When you install them, you can dial in what you want. Raise handlebar, forward, backward tilt etc.

Setting them up for comfort just means you sacrifice some aerodynamics for comfort. When you install them, you can dial in what you want. Raise handlebar, forward, backward tilt etc.
I guess I have to see 'em in person cuz I didn't know they were that adjustable. Sunday's supposed to snow/rain here, so that's a good day to hang at the shop :)

[QUOTE=CycleFreakLS]> I was cautioned about aero bars with spring loaded arm rests.
QUOTE]
? in what way? why?
Just curious ... these always looked like a good idea to me.

[QUOTE=CycleFreakLS]> I was cautioned about aero bars with spring loaded arm rests.
QUOTE]
? in what way? why?
Just curious ... these always looked like a good idea to me.

First, I've never used them so this is second hand advice ... but, the cautions were [a] the springs don't necessarily work as intended for years on end [b] sometimes people (for whatever reason, fatigue at the end of a long ride) have trouble "engaging" them into the proper position when needed.

And I guess ... since the guy (and all his buddies) who rec. the C2s also use the C2s, I opted for the C2s.

I love areo bars but not on my road bike... they just are not low enough. I know you are talking about comfort but with the stem way down the pads are almost level with the seat and that is too low IMO. They are more comfortable on long rides though...

They are quicker than the drops though!

[QUOTE=CycleFreakLS]> I was cautioned about aero bars with spring loaded arm rests.
QUOTE]
? in what way? why?
Just curious ... these always looked like a good idea to me.

The reviews of profile airstrykes and people on the forum lead me to believe there is a problem with rattling with the bars on bumpy roads. Safety issues I haven't heard of.

I have the profile spring-loaded ones, and I install them and take them off whimsically--sometimes I love them for the windy flats (few of those around here...) and sometimes I hate them for the way they make the bike feel on climbs. Great for the outdoor track in asheville though--they go on and come off pretty quickly as well.

I love aero bars, used them on the MS bike tour a couple years back, really great for headwinds, lets you just duck down, and mash away, i find it helps get my abs into the peddaling too. Usualy the most important thing is to set them fairly high, and the arm rests fairly wide to be comfy, but still narrow enough to be aero. One thing i don't like about long aero bar rides is that i find it makes my neck soar always having it wrenched up to see the road, but that may just be my posture.

oh and i just picked up a 30$ set of generic ones at my LBS.. not the lightest but this was back when i had a 60mm frame (i'm now on a proper 56mm... don't ask lol)

hey, found the set that i have, really nice padding on these, but not the lightest i imagine..
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27951&item=7146759150&rd=1