Tomm Willians

Just curious how many of you use aero bars for long distance riding? Asking as I’m wondering if it might increase my comfort with long hours in the saddle. Not really looking at it from a speed perspective.

Steve B.

It tends to pull you forward on the saddle. That may be uncomfortable on long rides. I only added them on a road bike when I knew I was going to see a lot of wind. I stopped using them 15-20 years ago as my position on my road bikes had evolved to be comfortable for centuries, so didn't really need an aero bar unless i was doing a team triathlon time trial.

Bearhawker

I do. For me it's as much comfort as speed. I really do benefit from stretching my back out. If my new bike ever arrives aero bars will be one of the 1st add-ons

Carbonfiberboy 

I've used them for 20 years. They're a permanent feature on my good road bike. I use the same normal road fit, no modification necessary. You sure don't want to mess up your road fit just to use aero bars now and then. That said, I use what's probably described as an endurance fit. My bar tops are 3 cm below my saddle. I used to have them 5.5 cm below and that worked fine too, but a fitter said my hip angle was too tight and raised me up a bit. The only difference I notice is that I can be fatter and still pedal hard tucked in the drops. Although the other thing the fitter did was tell me to get a different set of aerobars. They now are attached to the bottoms of my handlebars instead of the tops, I'm probably lower on the aerobars than I was. Whatever. I don't think that was wise, really. I use them much more to rest my hands and arms than to go faster.

All that said, take them off during the run-up to PBP if you're planning on riding it. Rule: never use them within 30' of a bike in front of you. You'd probably be OK being a little closer, but it spooks other riders. Get off them during hard or sharp cornering or descents with driveways..

GhostRider62

I use them.

They take pressure off the hands and redistribute the pressure in the shoulders for me. I have mine on 50mm risers, so, the primary benefit is comfort and not aero. I'm actually more aero down in the hooks.

PBP this year is only asking not to ride on them when in a group. They can extend beyond the levers, unlike in 2019. Many riders are scared on them, probably because they have no experience. I have never seen someone crash due to TT bars unlike the many crashes I have seen randos hitting curbs on turns due to cutoff beams. Boston 600k, Florida 300K, and three times on PBP = many

Tomm Willians

I purchased a set and took them on a 60 mile test run. I stopped a few times to make adjustments but immediately found my speed increased heading into the wind which I guess shouldn’t be too surprising.
It took a bit to get used to how twitchy steering became but it was manageable. Out of the 60 miles I was in the aero position probably 55-57 miles and was surprised how comfortable it was, I expected worse.
I believe them to be a positive addition.