Ive only followed a few people on aerobars and they usually are all over the place. I dont think they're safe in a group ride.. other than that, whatever floats your boat.

well you're sort of the exception to the rule, you have alot of pack experience and skill and know what to do (and what not to do) and most triathletes do not. while they may be fast/strong many are terrible bike riders. on the other hand most of the pro tri guys are pretty good with bike handling skills as they eventually end up riding with road racers as some point and learn some pack riding skills

^ Most roadies I know are terrible bike riders with worthless pack riding skills so dogging on TT/Tri athletes is irrelevant in my opinion.

the only place for aero bars is at a time trial.



incidentally, ive found at a TT....

the goofier you look (pointy helmet,booties, body suite, shaved arms, etc)

the faster you better be.

On aerobars:
First off, steering with your elbows and levers off the front of handlebars decreases responsiveness of handing. Riding on aerobars increases reaction time and decreases maneuverability.

Secondly, most aerobars are set up as skeletal support and thus moving from the aero position is a whole body movement. Since brakes are not in hands in this position there is going to be a delay and some sketchiness in rider stability when moving to the brakes.

Third, many aerobars are set up on Tri bikes. Tri bikes have different head tube angles that are less responsive than the angles used on road bikes.

Forth, aerobars indicate specific kinds of riders but their are exceptions. They are popular amongst triathletes and solo cyclists- both types are often a danger to the safety of groups. Most people don't want to ride around dangerous people and so use the indication of aerobars to judge safety.

When someone new to me rides with aerobars I give them room until I can tell if they're going to be safe. There are other tells of an possibly unsafe rider but aerobars are a major one.

I've owned tri specific bikes such as Quintano Roo Kilo and Cervelo P2K. I've also raced triathlons with aerobars on my road bikes.

But I'm also a roadie and for group riding, there is no place for aero bars.

Bikes were not made to have antlers attached to them. And it really bothers me when the slow, "spinning at 55 rpm and going about 16 MPH" plodders insist on being on the antlers in the paceline and swerving all over the road.

For every mile I ride, they ride a mile and half because they are not going in anything near a straight line.

Sure there is a place for aerobars in group riding , its just that they are so far off the front you can't see them.

No need to paceline when you have aerobars because, You Have Aerobars. If you find yourself in a group on your TT rig sit up and put your hands on the bull horns. Training on a TT bike and drafting is pointless.
The hardest thing to handle with your elbows in the cups besides a sharp turn is rough pavement. Going straight just requires a balanced spin. Random and unrelated rants and knee jerk reactions

I agree that a lot of triathletes are poor bike handlers. In a lot of cases they seem to go into triathlon from a running or swimming background with very little cycling experience. Then they make the jump from the $200. Walmart mountain bike right to a triathlon bike without any roadie experience. Sure they can be fast, but I've seen people in triathlons swerving all over the road just reaching for a water bottle.

A lot of triathletes do however realize their limitations and also get a road bike and join a roadie group to improve their cycling skills. Hey, I was one of them.

same reason why we hate broken collar bones.

I dig my aerobars, but then again, I ride alone at all times. I use them 5% maximum. I spend all my time in the hoods, but I still think I need some seat and handlebar adjustments before I give up on the aerobars. I have noticed about 0.5 to 1.0 MPH gain using the aerobars.

The people who hate aerobars

1) Probably don't ride TTs
2) Most definitely don't do tris
3) Maybe never pull
4) Maybe never break

or they just don't care much about speed and are envious of those that do care.

There's also a pack mentality/fashion element to it. A bike with tri bars for some people identifies the rider as outside of the roadie culture, and a vocal few riders care more about this than speed or safety.

I have these clip-on Deda Elementi's and like em for those long, solo rides.

ok. that clarifies much. thank you.

I like that. I may have to put that in the sig line.

As a triathlete I rarely use my tri bike in a group ride. And if I do, I'm never on the aerobars unless I'm pulling and even then its unusual. I have too much respect for the others safety to be that far from my controls.

I like that too, I was starting to feel like a complete outcast.
I dont ride in groups, the few partners I have know that I wont drop in the bars.
Even when alone I choose carefully when to use them, It is very important to realise that you cant get to your breaks as quickly as you might need to.

I too have a set of clip on aerobars. I normaly ride alone although do on occasion ride in groups and like DG don't always use them. There is a time and a place for their use. No not in the middle of a pack. The times I do use them is while riding alongside the onion fields on the flats where here is always a headwind... in both directions! Also while in long centuries it is nice to drop into the aerobars for a while for just another riding position. Its all in what you make of em.