TomMc1

I've been thinking about getting clip-on bars for my Giant OCR C2. I rode with a friend who has a Tri/TT bike and he is really comfy riding in the aero position. I have another friend who has clip-ons as well for his Giant TCR.

Any thoughts on which bars you've clipped on and like as well as ones that don't work well work be helpful.

Also, how pratical are they with a regular bike... Regular in that the geometry isn't set up quite the same way as a TT bike. Can you be comfortable for a long ride (long for me is 3-5 hrs, 50-75 miles) with clips-ons?

waterrockets 

Profile AirStrykes are reasonably priced, really adjustable, and the pads flip up when not in use, which gives you access to hold the bar tops when climbing. They're pretty easy to install and remove. I use them about 1 week every month (club's montly TT and associated training). I've had mine for 5 years, and love them.

When you put them on, you might need to move your saddle forward significantly, but make sure you mark where it was. I also found that I like the aerobars to be adjusted quite short to keep me from reaching too far with them. I'm 6'4" and my AirStrykes are three inches shorter than the marked maximum. This is personal fit stuff, but it's what worked for me.

TomMc1

Thanks. I checked out their website and they look great. I'll to find them at a local LBS to see them before buying them. I like the price as well. Not knowing how well they will work, I don't want to spend a bunch of money.

TomMc1

I bought some aero bars today. They are the Split Second model from Profile Design. Here is the link: https://www.profile-design.com/2006_p...litsecond.html

I installed them tonight and rode around the neighborhood a bit. I was suprised at how readily I took to them. I was and still am no where near as stable as I am on the regular bars. I still have to tape them up and mount my cycle computer and Polar HRM.

They are very adjustable. Just after 10 minutes riding in the neighborhood, I already want to do some tweaking. Overall, I'm very excited about them. They still leave me in a road cycling position, a la, Time Trial as opposed to a more running position, a la, Triathlon.

I'm doing my first century in a couple of weeks and am looking forward to having another riding position to rest my hands.

krazyderek

I use the syntace streamliner bars just because they're so simple to install. They're not very adjustable but they happen to work for me. I had a set of CGT Jammers from profile design which i absolutely hated, not only are they TOO adjustable, but after 2 hours of messing with them i could never get them to be remotely comfortable. If i had gone with profile design again, Carbon strike would be my first choice, seems like a good light, affordable, adjustable bar. If the bank isn't looking to full i'd probably go with the aerolite's simply cause they're almost a clone of the syntace streamliner's only with adjustable reach, which is probably my only complaint about the streamliner's.

TomMc1

I looked at the Carbon Strykes. Nice but I don't think they automatically flip up the pads like the Air Stryke and the Split Seconds. I like that feature a lot so I can hold the top of the bar when climbing.

I see you have Road ID from your tag line... I just ordered a set two nights ago. Looking forward to getting them. Which do you have? I ordered the dog tags.

krazyderek

I have the ankle model as i hate things on my wrist, and i'm always losing necklaces...

The flip up bars weren't really a factor for me, i don't like things moving on my bike without me controlling it. I thought it would be especially annoying if you were reaching over to quickly shift a gear on your sti and then have to try and flip the darn thing back down with your elbow to get that arm back in. I compermised by clamping my bars as close together as possible so the only thing blocking the tops was the padding which isn't to bad, i still have more then enough room to hold on to the tops right by the bends. Having a stem mounted computer really helped in getting the clip on's mounted directly next to the stem on either side.

The Octopus 

I ride Airstrykes on my TCR. I love them! Almost all of my riding is long-distance riding (26 centuries on the year and counting, plus 5 rides over 200 miles). I keep them on the bike unless I'm entering a USCF race (where they're illegal). Super comfortable!

ManBearPig

I hate to sound negative, but...

My suggestion is to steer typical riders away from using clip-on aero bars. I hate to generalize, but it seems they are overused and overpurchased by less experienced riders. Watching pro cycling on tv, the image of a rider on aero bars stands out and leaves an impression, but what people don't observe is that they are typically only used in special purpose situations -- like time trials.

Here's the problem -- for a modicum of increased aerodynamics you sacrifice alot of control. That is particularly bad in group rides. Most people in my group ride do not use aero bars, except when they are on their TT bikes training specifically for TTs.

The folks who most often get passed are, ironically, people cruising along in their aero bars. That's because inexperience leads one to believe a road bike "needs" them, while experience teaches that most situations don't require them.

bassplayinbiker

I have the airstrykes too. I like them alot, and they are really comfortable on the longer rides. I use zippy ties to keep the pads down because in time trials it feels like it takes just that much longer to get into the bars when the pads are up, and for some unknown reason it makes the bars feel more stable.

The Octopus 

Many of these points are valid -- in a nutshell, if you're buying aerobars to pretend like you're a tour rider, they're probably not for you and the wreck, when it comes, will hurt a lot. They do require a bit of time to get used to, and even once you're used to them, you won't be as stable as you are in other riding positions. And you pay a significant reaction time penalty on your bars -- getting from the bars to the brakes is enough time to make truly "emergency" braking difficult if not impossible. Steering to avoid that pothole that just pops up in front of you isn't in the cards either.

That said, I disagree with the vibe of the message and with some of the information. Aerobars aren't just for gaining an aerodynamic advantage. They're for comfort, and I think that's the primary use for the majority of folks who are buying them. On a long ride (which the OP asked about), they open up another hand position, which is invaluable. They also put you onto the nose of the saddle more than other riding positions, which is a blessing and a curse. On a long ride, having more parts of your ass to take the stress is nice. On the other hand, pinching off the nerves down there can suck. Lesson: Don't stay in any one position too long on a long ride. Move around.

As for their use by the pros, aerobars are banned in all situations save individual time trials. They're banned in USCF races. There's no question that, were they allowed, they'd be used extensively. (The carnage, of course, would be considerable.)

By all means use them -- even as a novice -- but with all tools, learn to use them properly.
And please don't ride them in a group, no matter how great you think your skills are.

edtrek

I have the Profile AirStrykes on my trail/touring bike, a Trek 830. I'm very pleased with them, especially the way they flip up so I can still use the top of the handlebars.

I am not a TT rider, this is not a road bike, I'm not searching for the n-th degree aero position. What I am getting out of the bars is an alternative hand position (priceless!) On long rides, every 15-20 minutes I go on the aero bars for 05 minutes, and my hands are much better for it.

The caveats are real. The bike is twitchier and less controlled when on the aerobars.
They're not for when you're drafting or riding close to others.
They're not for when you're manuevering around kids or dogs on the trail.
They're not for when you're flirting with the door zone (probably not smart anyway but..)

operator

Elitist post of the day right here.

Riding at a slower speed on aerobars does not automatically make them less of a rider nor does it mean they are undeserving of aerobars. They are used by both tourers and time trialists.

You sound like you are one of those people that look down on others for riding slower than you. Congratulations.

+5 informative

TomMc1

Lot's of good discussion and information.

I'm definately not in the aerobars for improved aerodynamics. I still have a good sized spare tire around my waist to consider before I worry about bike weight and aerodynamics. I got them for comfort. Now I just need to get them in the right place. My bike is very comfy and I recently double wrapped my bars and that made it even more comfy. I'm coming up on my first centruy and I just want another position to put in the mix.

I totally agree that my stability is much lower than when on the hoods or in the drops. Not just for stability but also for braking, I will always be on the hoods or in the drops when drafting. 95% of the time, I ride alone and on quiet, smooth state park roads so the bars will get good use.

Anyone have any advice for getting the in the right position? Most sites that I have found focus on Tri positioning which seems more like a running position than a biking position. This is why I didn't go for one of the angled seat posts. Comfort, not converting my road bike into a Tri bike is what I am after.

cheers!

operator

Getting them into position is easy. Just put them on your handlebars in a neutral position and adjust pad width and fore/aft positioning until it feels very comfortable.

Same goes with the actual bar angles.

Fox Farm

I've been using aero clip ons for 15 years now. First, the Scott Lemond things and for 7 years the Syntace C2. The Syntace are exceptional qualty bars, very light and I like how the arm rests are positioned behind the mounting clip on clamps.

I use them not for time trials but for riding comfort. No numb hands! I also see up the road better when in the aero position because my shoulders are now rotated up a little bit, or forward, what ever. They allow me to ride for longer distances and greater amounts of time with less pain or discomfort. Are they really best for time trialing when clipped onto my regular road bike? Maybe but a real tri bike positions you on the bike in a very different position than on a regular road bike with clip ons. So in that sense, I am not in a proper or most efficient position with them on.

Again, what I like about using them is that my body - hands and shoulders - are much more relaxed.

TomMc1

How close to your elbows should the pads be (very close or mid forearm)? How about angle of the upper arm and lower arms with respect to the ground? Any rules-of-thumb to go on for initial positioning?

operator

The fore aft positiong depends on your bike setup at the moment (how agressive it is already), I can only tell you that mine are about 1-2inches up from my elbow joint. I have my aerobars perfectly flat but that's because I haven't done any super long rides yet.

This will not be as comfortable as the bars angled up slightly, so you do not feel like you are going to fall off the bars. This may be bad for keeping alert though.