Woods

Is that something you like or ?

thxalot

CliftonGK1

Not. But that's just my opinion. I only had aeros on my tri-bike, way back when I still raced. Even on my distance bike now, I just have regular old drops.

clintbike

Ha ha ha, I can't tell if you are joking or if that's something you are actually contemplating!

Aero bars on hybrids are for Freds.

sonatageek

Maybe a trekking (butterfly) bar instead? Are you looking for more hand positions, because if so, that type of bar will give them to you. They are also cheap -- under $25.00 even then not on sale at REI or Nashbar.

kf5nd

This is a Commuting thread... don't use aerobars while commuting in a heavily trafficked rush-hour setting, not unless you're a suicide monkey.

Mr. Underbridge

I saw an old guy commuting on a hardtail MTB with aerobars. That was awesome. That dude was prepared for absolutely anything life could throw his way.

slowjoe66

I have them on all my flat bar bikes. They rock. Steer with your elbows babY!!!

Dzrtrat

I'd like to see a pic of this setup, if someone has one.

MichaelW

It is quite a common setup amongst tourers in Europe, where drop bars are less common and MTBs are widely used. They are generally setup for comfort and alt hand positions rather than for a deep time trialling aerodynamic position.You can fit bar-end brake levers if you like

twoflats

I'm seriously considering it because there's about two miles of my commute that has almost no trees and I seem to be riding into a headwind both ways every freaking day. :-\ When it's really bad, I'll put my elbows on my bar ends and try to hide from that g-damned wind. Aero bars seem like they'd be extremely useful to me, and a lot safer than my current method of trying to cheating the wind.

AndrewP

Can you fit cross brakes to the aero bars?

caloso

I saw this set up on the bike trail the other day. The rider was sitting up nearly straight and leaning on his elbows. It reminded me of one of my professors when he'd lean both elbows on the lectern and look over the top of it to emphasize a point.

But the rider looked comfy and if it works for him, why not?

Brimy311

After riding into a head wind for the last three days I have been considering adding these to my Flat bars. I have about a 3 mile straight patch on my commute.

MMACH 5

I've been using aeros on my commuter for several years.

I started out with them on my modified BMX bars:
Old setup

Then I used them on regular drops for a while.

This last winter, I set up my bike with aeros on my trekking bars.
Recent setup

Now that it is summer again, I've switched back aeros & drops.

You can probably get a set of them from ebay for ~$20. If you like them, you're set. Otherwise, you can just put them back up on ebay and recoup your money.

BA Commuter

I'm not related to Style Man, but he would say: No and I would agree

I just laugh at the wind and grit my teeth a little harder...

madhouse

I have them on my flat bar road bike. I typically don't use them... but when the wind is strong I upshift two ticks, drop down into the aero position, and hammer away. It works great for me!

MMACH 5

I tend to disagree with your assessment of what Style Man might say about this. Hold on, while I channel SM...

Not everyone can pull off aeros on a hybrid. With enough panache, aeros could be put on a beach cruiser, ridden in full kit, accented with Converse All*Stars. Those possessing said panache can and will stay hunched over those bars, sipping green tea from an aero-mounted bottle, scoliosis be damned. However, the fact that you felt the need to post this question tells me you might be lacking in the chutzpa needed to bear the brunt of ceaseless chiding that comes along with such a non-traditional setup.

/Style man

TexasEdit

I actually ran a an inexpensive set of aero bars on my Giant Cyprus ... not for getting in an aero position so much (although I could do that on occassion), but to give me added hand positions like an antler bar ... I even hung a bag in the space between the aero bars for small things like my keys and billfold ... I've never used a trekking bar before but they look like they would work as well.

Nerdanel 

I got some sort of aero bars for my Giant Cypress after riding a lot for several years. The upright position is usually fine for the way I ride but on long distances my hands and arms get very cramped, while in a stiff wind or on a steep downhill I really want to be able to hunker down. The elbow pads and padded extension were just the ticket.

However, it turns out I don't use them and they are now sitting on the floor of my office. Apart from looking Fredly, which doesn't really bother me since I look like your grandma anyway, the bars made it harder to maneuver the bike on and off the subway, which is part of my commute. The bars are also useless for most of my commute because I need more control than I have when I lean on the bars. But I would put them back on for country or distance riding.

CommuterRun

It might be worth a try. I sometimes ride my Townie while leaning forward and resting my forearms on the handlebar.

bipedfred

Absolutely, aero bars for commuting, especially with a 20mph headwind blowing off the plains of Wyoming. Yes, I'm a fred.

scoatw

I've been using aero-bars since they came out in 89'. I now have a set of Syntace's on my Gary Fisher with the straight bars. I also have bar ends. I like the different hand positions that they afford me. And they're awful handy riding into a headwind. Comfortable too. The trekking set-up in the above post looks pretty sensible to me. Who cares what others think.

meanwhile

I'd say that's a job for On One Midge bars instead - wide flared drops that fit MTB stems. The diameter is right for MTB shifters, but you'll need drop handle brake levers - Dia Compe 287v's are built to work with cantis and v-brakes. These have a reputation for great control, which is what you won't get from aeros - people use these for cyclocross in preference to flats or regular drops. Plenty of reviews online, all very pro-Midge.

meanwhile

PS This online calculator should predict what sort of speed up you'll get. I'd approximate your hybrid with an MTB with racing tyres -

https://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

If you currently cruise at 17, you might manage 20 with aeros and 19 with midges, if the calc is correct.

twoflats

Thanks for the recommendation! I might just have to order a set of those. Even if I don't keep them on my current bike, I think they'd be worth trying on my next bike (still in dreaming/planning phase ATM), which sill most likely be based on a Soma Double Cross.

cheers!