acrafton

So, finished my 4th century this year and had a blast (Hotter - n - Hell 100) with a bunch of friends from the neighborhood. We noticed something on this ride that was amusing and odd - the huge number of fat, out of shape guys on road bikes with aero bars. I am not talking about big guys that can ride (being a small guy I know that just because a guys is big does not mean he can't ride very fast on the flats) but guys who were struggling in perfect weather, on the flats, early on. There seemed to be hundreds of these guys with aero bars down in them grunting and groaning to go 15mph. . .btw, there were around 10,000 riders. . .

So, is this a case of bike shops pushing them on these guys or them wanting every advantage. . .?

Metro

(Grunt, grunt....grunt.)

Excuse me, I have to catch my breath before I can answer. Do you like my aero bars?

ZappCatt

When I ride solo(particularly when I was just starting out at 240 lbs) I found the aero position on my Syntace C2's to be very comfortable, since they are on top of the handlebars, they allow you to clear your gut, and they bring the quads to the party...My quads were/are more powerful than the rest of the cycling muscles.

I have just taken my bars off(down to 200 lbs) and am kinda sad not to have that position to help me power through the pain.

twahl

Hand positions. Big guys hurt, so if they can give their hands and wrists some relief, aerobars are a way to get some.

Chucklehead

some aero bars are designed for comfort and added riding positions as much as they are for aero benefits. could it have been that?

Doggus

...because they can?

I'm just glad when anyone will get out there and battle the cars with me.

garysol1 

I really dislike threads like this that questions what another person should or should not have. So the guy is out of shape and has aero bars. At least he is out there doing the best he can do. Little does he know that his "brothers" are snickering at him behind his back just because he cant ride as fast or as far they can.

SDRider

Good for them!

Edit-For getting on the bike that is...I'm not sure about the aero bars. I don't think it would even occur to me to question that quite honestly.

acrafton

I was trying to understand why and a few of the responses provide some very good insight (big guys and hand position, etc. . .) which I hadn't considered.

BTW, looking at a Dolce for the wife - how does your like hers?

fore0121

Hey, whatever works. I guess they felt it was more comfortable.
f

merlinextraligh

I understand how this thread comes off as sanctimonious, but I have had the same question. Last couple of weeks I've done a group ride with my wife and a slower group thanI usually ride with. 4 or 5 of them have aerobars. The average speed for the ride is 17-18 mph. This just isn't fast enough for the aero bars to make a difference. I rarely see these people using them anyway. So it does seem to be extra weight and expense. I guess there is a position advantage. However for me, it seems aerobars on my TT bike is the least comfortable position, and clips ons on a road bike limit hand positions on the top tube.
I think a lot of people maybe buying these, or being sold these, with no good reason than the mistaken belief that they will go faster.
Perhaps a little bit of reason can be spread without being judegmental. And if you still like your aerobars at 17mph, feel free, but please don't ride on them in a group ride.

galen_52657

I have been on several long club rides (75-100 miles) and there have been several over-weight cyclist riding with aerobars.

I think these riders know they are gonna get hammered on the climbs, so the try to get any advantage they can for the flats and downhills.

At least they are out there trying to get in shape. But, I think they would do better if they rode more shorter rides with some high-intensity intervals instead of doing long rides and barely making in home.

Just my .02.

timwat

Ok, I'm old (43), could be slimmer (5'5, 155#) and don't have aerobars. So I don't have an agenda.

That said, why isn't 18mph fast enough for aero bars to make a difference? If wind resistance is really our greatest enemy, wouldn't the narrower profile (as well as the lower position, similar to being in the drops) still make a significant difference, as well as emphasizing different leg muscles?

Trying to understand...are you saying there is a min. speed when aerobars start to be worth it?

DocRay

I second this. What would you rather these guys do? Drive to Dunkin' Donuts and mow down some skinny cyclists with their SUV?

SteveAZ

They watched the time trials in the tour?

I don't know but I tend to stay away from anybody running aerobars, especially that is clearly out of shape. Not because I don't applaud their efforts but because this is somebody that clearly hasn't spent that much time on a bike, riding in that position makes them even more unstable and me more cautious.

This has also got to make it very difficult for these people to breath.

timwat

+1

jslopez

Outside the legit reasons for having them there will always be people whether they admit it or not, who use things "cause the pros use it". I frankly find that funny but then again there will always be someone better than me who will snicker at how I spend my money so at the end of the day we all get caught for our OCPness.

The Carpenter

Why don't you ask them?! Strike up a conversation with a few and find out exactly why, instead of asking here where you might just get "guess" answers. Or are you so far above them that you can not lower yourself to talk to them? It's guys like you that have earned all of us our lable of snobs, thanks.

Keith99

A big rider does not need any help on the downhills. Weight tells and if you are over 220 you are more apt to have problems scrubbing off speed than enything else.

Back to the original post. Out of shape riders with aerobars scare me. There is a reason why they are not legal in mass started races. At least with very in shape people there is a reasonable chance that the aero bars are used only when riding alone (a psuedo time trial). If people get on the aero bars in a group I'll get out of the group, off the front or off the back.

badcompany9

I don't know, if there's a headwind, aerobars help a bit.

The Carpenter

There is a reason why they are not legal in mass started races.

Yep, you have less controll with them.

chrisvu05

i'm a clydesdale but don't consider myself overly fat. 6' 240 lbs. Not only do the aero bars give another position to relieve the pressure on my hands but they help in stretching out my torso giving me more breathing room. in the normal position the spare tire gets a little in the way of optimum breathing but when stretching out it is no longer in the way of my breathing.

garysol1 

She loves it. One of her girl friends has one also and she loves hers as well. Great bike and on sale from Specialized

skinnyone

I have heard more than one big guy say that it gives their back a break... and it shouldnt matter if they are fat or skinny...

jeff800

You are missing the whole useful purpose of Aerobars. You can hold a big juicy double quarter pounder with both hands in that position. So you can eat and have some control over the bike. The problem is when your belly starts to touch the TT it's time for some serious downsizing (not supersizing).