This is not 100% true. It may be true with your body, or some other people's body, but not everyone is the same.

I put a set of aero bars on my bike because I wanted a position that took my weight off my hands. Now, when I'm out alone in the middle of nowhere I ride on the aero bars most of the time. I've very comfortable on them. Comfortable enough even to probably take a nap if I didn't have to pedal and look where I was going. And no, I'm not flexible. I can't even touch my toes (never have been able to, even when I was super skinny, rather than mildly overweight).

So, to the OP, I'd find a cheap used set and try them out. Something like a used Profile Design Century should be cheap enough. If you don't like them, put them back out on the used market.

I use Profile CGT on my Allez. Wouldn't be without them. I'm on them more than half the time, even on the trainer.

Gene

I use Profile CGT on my Allez. Wouldn't be without them. I'm on them more than half the time, even on the trainer.

Gene

Read what I said: Unless you're very flexible, you can't be comfortable and aerodynamic.

I'm betting from your statement, and you admitted lack of flexbility that your set up is not very aero.

And the OP said he was looking for another riding position. He said nothing about getting aero.

And I'm more aero on my aero bars than on my drops, and much more comfortable.

Totally untrue...ever done a TTT!!??

Yes and that's not at all comparable to riding in your typical group ride.

A team of people working together in a controlled environment, and train to do so, is completely different than your typical group ride.

I've seen enough crashes caused by people riding aerobars in a group on club rides, centuries, and charity rides to know its a seriously bad idea.

True. My point simply is that if you set them up with the goal of adding another, presumably comfortable position, you're going to defeat their original purpose i.e. to be aero.

What's the drop from your seat to the pads for the aerobars? I think the odds are very high that if your bars are set high enough that you find them to be so comfortable that they are not very aero, certainly not more aero than drop bars set with an appropriate drop from seat to bars.

[Edit] Found your bike. And sure you put clipon aerobars on that setup and you might well find it comfortable. The pads are going to be above the height of the seat, potentially substantially above them , depending on the rise in the pads.

This is essentially my point. People that find aerobars so comfrotable are typically running very upright setups, where they are pretty much a brick to the air:




If people want to ride aerobars for comfort that's their choice. Just realize though that it means that the bars are likely set way above where an aero position would dictate, that you give up a hand position, that you're riding in a position without ready access to brakes, that is less manueavable, harder to see traffic, and adds close to 2lbs to the weight of the bike, and will get you yelled at in groups.


All that said, I'm not anti aero bars; I have a TT bike with aerobars, and our tandem has clipons on it right while we're preparing for the State TT championship. I just think aerobars should be used for their intended purpose, and using them for "touring" has serious limitations.