First of all, I'm relatively new to biking so please pardon the ignorance.

I've read on some sites that the aero position uses the hamstrings and butt muscles and leaves the quads alone.

Today I rode 20 miles in the aero position (longest ride for me so far ). When I got back my butt ached but my quad ached too.

Does that mean I'm not doing it right?

It does use the hamstrings and butt muscles but it also uses the quads to an extent as well. Aerobars will put you in a position that more evenly fatigues the muscles rather than just killing the quads.

I'm guessing from your name that you do triathlons. Do a brick drill using the drops/hoods only and then do one where u stay in the aerobars(assuming you are using a road bike with clip ons). You'll immediately see the difference getting off the bike when using the aerobars. There's much less(if any) of that jello feeling you get in your legs at the beginning of the run.

Thanks I try the drill. My username does presume a great deal. I'm only training for my very first tri.

Edit: Let me stop pretending that I understood what you just said. It just went right by my left ear and left me with a whole lot of other questions.

1. What is a brick drill?

2. I don't actually have a clip-on aero bar yet . I've moved the saddle up and forward. When I ride I put my forearm on the handle bars so my palms are grabbing an imaginary aerobar. It kinda mimics the aero position. I'm still using the drops when I go over manholes and other bumpy stuff. From a video I watched it seemed like the position had a lot more to do with saddle position than the bars themselves. That's probably not a true assessment, is it?

brick is a Bike / Run work out.

https://www.beginnertriathlete.com/En..._to_bricks.htm

It'll feel a lot different when your hands are wrapped around a pole...

Wait......


That didn't sound right, did it?

LOL.

No way around buying an aerobar then. Sounds like a lot of fun too!

You can find aerobars pretty cheap on ebay or craigslist, like $20-$50. I would recommend picking up a set and try to get some training in on them before your tri. Definitely going to be a bit nicer than the imaginary aerobars. I'd only stick to that if you are in a road race or crit and not allowed to use aerobars, or training for something with no aerobars.

Got it.

Thanks, I'll look.

I just got these, and LOVE them! $100 at the LBS.

Easy to install. Adjusted them a little after each ride for the first couple rides. now they're perfect.

https://www.profile-design.com/profil...obars/t1-.html

definitely go buy some aero bars. Resting your forearms on the regular bars seems quite unsafe (i tried before I bought some)

I bought some Tec9 aero bars new from ebay for $45 w/ free shipping.

They aren't as nice as the ones above, but they get the job done, and are surprisingly decent for the price. You may even be able to find some better ones used on the cheap at ebay or a bike swap.

STOP STOP STOP!!!!!

MOVE THAT SEAT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS!!!!

Get shorty bars like the Jammer GT's by Profile Design(that's what I ride) or the Oval Concept Slam Bars. They not only give u the aero position but also allow you to keep your road position as well. VERY helpful when you're trying to climb a hill to be in the proper position to use the hoods/drops effectively instead of being crunched up if u move the seat all the way up