So, milady wants to try a set of clip-on aero bars on her 1985 Vitus 979, but not at the expense of overly violating it's period-correctness.

Is this a sin? (and I know there will be those who say "It's your bike, do what you want, yada yada") but we both like to maintain authenticity. Pretty much.

Assuming it's not an egregious violation, anodized silver bars would be the thing, with matching or complementary bar tape. Any brands/models to look out for?

I used a set in 1987 on my '84 Guerciotti. Not out of place IMO.

Mavic made clip-on aero bars (loops) that were meant to be used with their bull horn bars. The bull horns come up regularly for sale at eBay, the clip on loops, not as much. I think they were made in the early 90's and would still be considered by C&Vers as quite appropriate on 979's. Heck, what would be best for a French bike but French aero bars!
They can be quite pricey, especially if you want them in like-new condition or NOS. But that's the price of the authenticity most of us strive for on our C&V bikes.

16victor, No harm in trying a set. I like the Profile Airstrykes for when they're not in use the tops are available.

Brad

Historically speaking, aero bars weren't much of a "thing" until Lemond beat out Fignon in the 1989 Tour.

The first original Scott aero bars were widely used by triathletes in 1987 by 1988 all competitive triathletes used them. In 1989, everyone and their mother had scott clip on version thanks to Greg Lemond.
They original look like this.

I have a set of early Profile Design bars that need a new home.

Fair warning, they are a little dangerous WRT bike handling. I remember a lot of people crashing during the peak of the tri bar trend.

My personal opinion is that they are out of place on anything but a time trial bike.

For sure they're not for everyone. But since they were initially invited with a road bike in mind they look at home there. The original ones had all of the normal hand positions available plus the aero position. The original clip on didn't allow the tops position. WRT to bike handling, the only time you'll be affected is when you're actually in the aero position. Of course deciding when to be in the aero position is a personal one that is only as safe as your bike handling skills. I wouldn't be in an aero position in a pack.

It's only a sin if there's a rule against it.

Either your recollection is off, or Scott's is. They claim to have introduced them in 1989.

https://www.scott-sports.com/global/en/page/history

I'm rarely right (as my wife constantly reminds me). Check out the date.

Scott clip - ons -- probably be able to find a pair pretty cheap on flea bay (30-40 bucks or so) --- I used a pair deep into the late 90's -- they cut down on your positions on the tops, but I still found them manageable ---

I have wide shoulders so had them set apart as wide as I could --- I recall literally resting my hands on the forearm rests at times when I had to sit up for whatever reason

I agree, and only when doing time trials.

I have a pair of clamp-on aero bars I've been meaning to try on my 60's English 3-speed, just because.

For a 1985? Tell her to go for it. Profile Design made a relatively unobtrusive one (came in silver, too) that had a 9" width and I think came out maybe a foot. (It may be a crime, but its no sin). If it was a 1965, I would not have commented for lack of ability to say anything nice about that, but the 80's was a different ball of wax. If the Period-Correct Police try to flag her down, she can just tuck her elbows in and head down and out-pace and out-distance them. "Please, lady! Stop! You're killing us!"

The Scott company site has their information wrong. Have seen other info corroborating your timeline.

Since I swim like a stone, and don't participate in time trials, have never been part of the tri scene. My first exposure was in the video clips of the 1989 Tour, and the accounts I have seen of the final stage formed my understanding (incorrect - who'd have thought John Tesch was ever wrong about anything ) about the timeline.

That said, I still haven't come to terms with disc wheels, recumbents, aluminum frames, soft ride geometry, Hellenic stays, electronic shifting, monoforks or aerobars.

I have a couple sets of aero bars that could use a new home. PM if interested.

Technically, the Vitus is 4 years too early for clip-on aero bars and 3 years too early for one piece aero bars. But your statement, "...we both like to maintain authenticity. Pretty much.", implies there is some wiggle room. How much, is between you and your significant other.

I used Scott clip-on aero bars for time trials on my 979 from when they were introduced and for years after without consulting the Cyclo-Fashion or Period Correct Police for approval.

Having said that although comfortable with the Vitus' "idiosyncratic" handling on high speed descents in road race config I never rode it in TT config on anything other than flat courses.

-Bandera

I don't really like the way clip on's look on classic road bikes ......unless they use bull horns with them or use the integrated aero bars like I have. Heres my take from another thread:


"I have two Centurion Ironman set up as road bikes and two set up as tri bikes both tr bikes use the original scott dh aero bars. When they first came out even the triathlon pros didn't want to use them. But a couple of second tier pros did and went on a one or two month unbeaten streak. So naturally the other pros soon followed and then finally us age groupers. We saw the pros using them and bam, we had to have them. I grew up on them so to speak so they're totally comfortable for me. They look funny at first,then they look beautiful in their ingenuity. The most successful triathlete to use them was Mike Pigg. He would sit at the nose tip of the saddle and hammer like no one else on the planet. He used regular italian geometry bikes, but in a way invented his own tri geometry. I'll explain the best I can. If you're riding your regular road bike. If you were to put your elbows on the top bar of you handlebars, you body will be way too far forward. Well that's exactly what the aero bars would do, so you move your butt forward to compensate. So triathletes started moving their saddles forward, when that wasn't enough they reversed their seatpost. That's when they invented forward seatpost. They discovered a few added benefits to the forward position along the way : 1. It simulated running more so therefore when they got off the bike they were able to transition to the running motion quicker. 2. It made you use your quads more, and thereby create much more power.
Everyone knows the benefits to being more aero but some things that triathletes discovered that made these better than riding the drops or using bull horn handlebars : 1. Putting your elbows closer together, created a wedge that really helped you slice thru the wind. 2. Being stretched out in the prone position (basically lying down) allowed you to rest somewhat and work at a lower heartrate. Which in turn kept you fresher for the run.3. Your arms being stretched out allowed your lungs to expand more easily than being in the drops.
Although I moved my saddle forward, Personally I never used a forward seatpost. I like the different positions I can use by not being too far forward. I can ride the tops,I can ride the drops,and I can ride the hoods, and when I really want to go, I scoot a little more forward in the saddle. They're my favorite and the original. This is what I'm talking about.
Sidenote : Back in the day I only had one bike and it had these bars. But I wouldn't ride in the aero position when I rode with the bike club. Not because it was dangerous or I wasn't stable but because I felt like I was cheating."

Carry on.

No police involvement, just people with personal opinions.

Thanks for the great replies.

Her first goal is comfort, and I'll address that when I can find an ~70mm Cinelli or equivalent stem since she's a bit stretched now. She's not and won't be a racer, so if Aero bars aren't comfy the entire point is moot.

She rarely rides the drops so I'd been suggesting bullhorns, which she's used to from the tandem. The Scott DH (I think) bars shown above look like an excellent solution but I'd be looking at new levers and shifters also. I'll show them to her and get her thoughts.

Aero bars can be extremely comfortable. Sometimes they just install and instant comfort. Other times you adjust and modify and search and can't find it.

Falling is real uncomfortable. The basic problem is center of gravity is moved way forward. If you already had a conservative position with the saddle well behind the bracket the change in CG may not matter much. If the back wheel feels light when the front brake is applied you have a dangerous situation. Do not use full extended position downhill before you feel real secure. No matter what the bike is going to handle differently. Take some time to get used to it. Group riding with aerobars is just foolhardy.

The Profile bars discussed above were among the most common of the era. IMO the simplest to work with.

Do not emulate triathletes. Triathletes fall off the bike constantly.