Getting better and better!
I'm not worried about the force on the forearm pads as those are centered over the flat bar. But high down or up force on the aero bars is another thing. But usually you won't do that.
I wanted a brake on my aero bars in case something jumps out in front of me, easy to do, I just got a mid-cable/interrupter lever and mounted it left front on the aero bars, for the front brake (between the flat bar lever and the v-brake). Those levers are usually short-pull for road bikes, but it works fine on my long-pull v-brakes as the wheels are super true and pads adjusted close, and I like the added mechanical advantage when holding the bike at an uphill or downhill stoplight.
Right front on the aero bar is a small bell.
I haven't shortened my 58cm bars yet as I lack the real estate to do so, interference with flat bar stuff and the aero bar armrests. The aero bar forearm pads are a bit too close together for me, even on the widest setting, but I have a new set with flip-down rests that is wider. But I want it mounted 75mm higher than the flat bar mount. They make risers that would fit, but not approved by Profile, as they are narrow, and my only guess is, the arm rests would then put too much side torque into the risers and base, that's my guess why Profile does not approve for that aero bar. I will probably do some kind of double-stem-clamp (dogbones) to raise the aeros, and with flip up rests, might narrow the flat bar. I might need a different flat bar because the taper is so slow on the OEM Dahon one, can't clamp anything there. But I ran across a bike friday H bar used, didn't buy it because it was too narrow. I used to ride a road bike with 40cm bullhorns, but that's too narrow for me these days for best comfort.
My aero bar is also my drink bottle mount, Profile makes both. That's especially nice as the stock Dahon bottle cage location, the cage would constantly get bent from my foot hitting it getting on or off, plus the bottle leaks when horizontal like that. I really like the bottle on the aero bar.
OP, are those aero bar cam levers backwards? Or just not locked down?
Last edited by Duragrouch; 04-02-26 at 10:06 PM.