I've been gradually looking in to getting some aero bars. First of all, I'm not doing any TT's or massive races. I just ride for fun. I'm looking at the aero bars simply for a different riding position.

Should I hold off on getting them or is it just kind of a 'whatever' thing. Any suggestions on a first set?

Most of them will take away a hand position on the tops, so I don't think that's much of a benefit if all you are looking for is a new position. Not sure if that would be a determining factor for your, but something to think about.

Based on what you have said, I would not bother.

It's a "whatever" thing. I just put a pair of 'em back on my Interloc because I'm riding with someone learning to ride on a tri bike and I thought I could instruct better from the same position. I originally bought 'em a couple years back for some century rides. I like 'em but am not tied to them. They provide another position and can be quite comfortable on long straight rides. I have...uhhhh...now I forget the name...but they're the "big name" brand, with the flip up pads (which can rattle a lot when you're not on them and the road is rough).

Profile?
They sound like Profile Airstrykes.

Aerobars are an instrument of the devil. Unless you have sold your soul to the devil, and have been condemned to eternal suffering (i.e. time trials) run away.

My suggestion? Don't.

Aero bars are not comfortable on a road bike. You'll be reaching too far and it was cause pressure pain on your "cash & prizes." You'll put them on, like them at first, (look like an idiot), take them off and never use them again.

Well you don't lose the top grip entirely, if your handle bars are wide enough it will cause your top grip to basically become wider (maybe even a lot wider) an alternative is to basically hold on to the elbow pads while sitting in an upwards position. But it isn't exactly a good idea since you probably wont have a good grip on it, therefore you won't have good control. This is all based on personal experience. If you are looking for a a decent first set, i think eBay would be a good place to look, you can probably find some good deals on a used set, but just remember to make sure that it will fit on your bike.

What NickDavid said is also quite true.

It won't really be that useful if you don't race. It might be nice if you want a position where you can rest your upper body, but that's up to you.

They don't take a position away. There is still room for your hands on top.

Everyone is different, so it might be comfortable. My aero bars are a comfortable resting position when I have them on. Aero bars do not necessarily mean discomfort.

Unless you have incredible flexibility however, you really can't set up Aerobars where they are both comfortable (perhaps tolerable, but not comfortable) and Aerodynamic.

This is not comfortable:

This is not aero

My bet is that most everyone that says they use aerobars to have another, or more comfortable position, has the bars set to a point they are not very aerodynamic, probably less aerodynamic than simply in the drops.


Moreover, aerobars on a road bike have a number of problems:

1. Loss of hand position on the tops. (or you get really ugly clunky popup style pads)

2. Your postion is thrown too far forward, alrtering balance.

3. You need to adjust your seat position, which isn't very effective if the plan is to just be in the aerobars as an occassional break.

4. They put you in a position where it is much more difficult to see what's going on around you traffic wise.

5. They're heavy.

6. They're not safe in a group.


If you feel that you must have aerobars on your road bike, look for the "Slam" style bars from Oval Concepts, or Profile, that are shorter, and can be adjusted back further, to address the road bike fit issues.

About 5 months ago I put my old AirStrykes on my bike and it felt like Oprah Winfrey was sitting on my handlebars rubbing her foot on the front wheel. I took them off and almost threw them in the trash until I realized I could hook it up to my keyboard and type twice as fast. Pass on them and you'll get stronger shoulders, back, etc.

Lots of century rider use clip ons. Do you know that you will need new brake levers, shifters, cables and housing to switch over to aero bars? Quite and investment if you decide you don't like them. Clip ons mount right on your standard bars and you use your regular brifters. If you don't like them just take them off.

While the OP didn't explicitly mention he wanted to get clip-ons, it was fairly clear from his desire to get an additional position that he wasn't replacing his regular bars.

If you want to be more aerodynamic just for fun buy a lowracer instead.

fixed.

My admittedly unscientific anecdotal observation is that a decent number of people riding centuries have aerobars. (typically with a bento box, an oversized seat bag, front and back lights, road morph pump lashed to the frame, but I digress).

Yet I do't see these people riding in the aerobars very often, which tells me something.

Yes...you are correct. For me, they have their place.

Thanks for the advice. I just got back from my ride and realized I probably don't need Aero bars, I do however need a new seat! =P

Oh, and merlinextraligh... that literally made me laugh out loud.

This place is slipping. We can't even get a good pissing match going on an aerobar thread.

I DON"T WANT TO HIJACK THIS THREAD, but I'm looking for my first pair of aero bars, and I DO want to do TT's with them...

Ok, here you go then. Clip ons can be worthwhile on long solo rides into the wind. Even if they aren't set up to be very 'aero', its just another place to put your hands / arms. I used to use them all the time but I'm way to much of a poseur now to ever put them on my new bike.

I threw a pair of Profile Design T2+ bars on my bike for a TT a few weeks ago, they seem to work pretty well, they adjust everywhere too, which is great for fitting them to my road bike.

I have some PD Carbon Strykes. Very nice. They get you very aero. The flip-up-elbow pad accessory gives you more top-bar riding space. I'm not actually using them at this time. Riding the drops is working well enough.

Shameless Plug: See my post in the for trade thread if you want to trade something for a pair of used ones.

I think aerobars get a worse rep than they should. Just to argue though, here is my rebuttal to a few common problems
In that case they are not properly set up, just raise the pads a little and you have your position back.
Not necessarily, with a good road bike fit, I find balance is not really a problem. Also you do not necessarily have to hold on the ends of the aerobars, before i got a TT bike, i would sometimes hold halfway down, the bars, keeping my weight back
No you don't, although the TT position is much farther forward, one can still have some aerodynamic gain (although less than a full TT position) from leaving the seat where it is
you can still look around a fair amount, and with a good fit unless there are flying cars, you should not have any more trouble seeing them.
500g or less for a normal pair, is not that much of a difference compared to your body, and the aerodynamics generally trump the weight.
if you are stupid enough to actually use them during a group ride.

besides that +1 for Profile T2+ clip-ons it's your choice whether to use them or not, but i say it is worth a try.

He doesn't race. He wants comfort more than aero.
He doesn't race, he can afford to have clunky pads if he wants another position.
It's not like he is just going to fall over. If he is on a long straight flat road, that would be a perfect time for aerobars. It's not like he is looking for a new position for canyon descents.
Not always, depends how his current setup is. That's also assuming that a saddle moving forward wouldn't help him, anyway.
Yes, I agree, but that just means he needs to use them when it is appropriate.
He doesn't race. I bet he would rather have another position then get to the top of a climb slightly quicker.
So he won't use them in a group.