Commuting with Aeros
 

Does anyone commute with aerobars? What would you say the advantages disadvanteages are? Do you notice a time difference?

Elvish

I have areos on my daily commuter. I like the ability to to switch up my hand positions whenever the mood suits me.
Stacey

I enjoy a good laugh when I see folks cruising at a bruising 12mph on aero bars. I don't use 'em (plus they wouldn't fold very well, I imagine (see sig :))).

If you're fast enough you'll notice a time difference, I would imagine. Then there's the control issue -- you'd be nuts to use aero bars in high traffic areas.

Aeros truly help with the extra position and the tuck is surprisingly effective in a headwind. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, and of course not in high traffic areas.

Yep, just ask Dave Zabriske...

I've tried aero bars on a road bike, and yes, they do help when you go fast or, as you aptly pointed out, into a headwind. I've even considered getting a set for long-distance events. It's still funny to see very uncomfortable people chugging along. :)

It definitely took come getting used to :) For the first couple weeks I felt like my ass was up in the air, which is never a good thing :eek: After a few adjustments it amazed me how much speed was gained. A properly adjusted aero bar actually makes me shift UP two gears as one is forced to pedal a little harder without exerting that much more energy. Since I track my times in each direction, I noticed after the first week that I had shaved roughly 5 minutes from each leg of my commute.

Well the reason I ask is I find my self in that position A LOT, not so much on my commute, but just when riding, it feels more natural to me. So I figured well why not get a bike with aeros? Searching led me to the specialized transition multisport. Like a roadie with aeros

Elvish

I see those people too. What's the deal? I am baffled, and still haven't figured out that mystery. Sacrificing handling for speed.... without the speed. Sounds like a lose lose proposition. So what's the other advantage to aero bars?

I really miss the aeros that were on my old bike. I got some soon after they came out and used them for both commuting and triathlons.

For the money, it was one of the best upgrades I made.

I don't want to sound like I'm stuck up, but I won't be giving up handling for speed with no speed, on my old sirrus, I was able to get an avg of 19/20 and what was a flat bar bike. So I would be willing to be I could at least do the same in a more comfortable position for me

Elvish

I do not understand where one loses handling. Aside from not using them in traffic, I use aeros in almost every situation. The less time my hands spend on the bars, the better. My arms never tire of leaning. They're not for everyone, but they are most certainly for me :D

Wow, if I cut 5 minutes off, I would be as fast as going in a car. Has anyone saw the ones that the pads fold up?

GEEK

I don't use them, but lots of folks like to use them for comfort, not for speed.

If you raise your handlebars up to about saddle level, and put on wide clip-on aero bars, you may be surprised how comfy it is. I've seen long-distance touring bikes with this setup.

The specialized transistion multisport has em :D thats one of the thigns that caught my eye, aeros + drops + fold up pads = nice

Elvish

my friend (who just got into biking) doesn't want to put a bike computer on his bike for fear of the extra weight, yet for some reason wants to get some areo-bars. Hah. For commuting, man, I just couldn't see it.

I have Profile Airstryke bars w/ fold up armrests. The different position takes some getting used to and there are some control issues as your weight is farther forward and you ar streering from farther out, but you get used to that. Being farther forward you use different leg muscles as well.

For commuting? :lol: :lol:
Has he been reading bicycling magazine or something?

Weight of a bike computer? He'd better not carry a patch kit then. Tell him he could offset the weight by upgrading his bottle cages or something. Hahaha.

Used to strap my rucksack to the underside of mine. Which were on a s/h cheapo mtb

Aero bars are comfortable. Aero bars make you go faser for the same effort. Not much point if you're always commuting in heav traffic, thp'

You can use aerobars to get a deep time-trial position, but a lot of tourists use them for comfort rather than aerodynamics, esp on flat-bar MTB touring bikes.

I comute on a flat bar road bike. I put the aero bars on for additional hand positions and to defeat a windy day. I now spend 80% of my time in the aero bars because it is more comfortable and it typically lets me upshift 2 gears. I don't have traffic to deal with on my commute so that isn't an issue. I'm getting more comfortable going into corners in the aero position too.

I think they look dorky... but I wouldn't readily give them up!

Ha, I gain then times the weight of a bike computer in a single meal. Tell your friend he's being dumb.

For commuting get the non flip ones, trust me.

i learned to ride in the drops by commuting there as much as possible. Cutting off the bar tape on the uprights, dropping the bars then flipping my stem. It's not easy to get your back into that position and keep it but the daily ride did tons.

if i go aero i might consider using some of my commute time to stretch out just to get used to it. (Not in traffic though.)

Kind of like the folks who get a MTB to commute in the city 'because they're built tough',and then slag around on rough knobbies.