Herding Cats wrote:
hokeypokey wrote:
I got myself a tri bike and I can't handle riding on aerobars. I can ride with either hand on the aerobar for a few minutes then I freak out and put both hands back on the hoods but most of the time I'm just too freaked. I've tried almost everything, riding without cleats, riding the tri bike with just hands on the hoods for starters (never progressed beyond that), just can't do it. Any tips or tricks? I know it comes like second nature to some people but unfortunately I'm not one of them. I freak on roads where there are lots of cars (I live in the city so that's just about every other road)....
Lots of good advice here. I used to race road bikes a long time ago and even did the odd mtn bike race in the fall after the road season ended. So I have pretty good bike handling skills. I got my tri bike a couple years ago. I remember the first outdoor bike ride I was really feeling out of my comfort zone with the position. I didn't take my hands off the areo bars for many miles. It took a few more rides before I could easily move my hands from the aero bars to the horns. And it took probably over a week to feel comfortable enough to grab my water bottle. I have a BMC time machine (hand-me down from a previous coach) which is awesome and fast but super twitchy. I still joke around about just moving my eyebrow and the bike will twitch. The moral to my story is it just takes time to get used to it. I still ride the horns in traffic and down long descents.
Perhaps on each ride, try to stay in your aero bars a little longer each time. And I also agree a pro bike fit is worth it. Best wishes!
That cracked me up. I bought a BMC TM02 about a month ago and describe the bike the same way, almost down to the wording. It is a rocket, but I swear it twitches when I blink.
It was the first bike I had with aerobars, so to get ready for it, I put clip-ons on my road bike. First, I just got used to being in the position on the trainer, then I took the road bike on the road with the aerobars before I got my BMC. I think I spent less than 5 miles of that first 25 mile ride on the aerobars. After getting the tri bike, I found a flat, stretch of paved rail trail, just rode back and forth to get used to them. It was in the country so I didn't have to dodge pedestrians (a luxury, I know). After a couple outings, I went out on the flattest low-traffic roads I could find (flat is a real challenge around here). I don't think I stayed aero on any of the descents for that first ride.
I am surprised at how quickly I am getting used to them. I still come out of aero at speeds around 35 mph so I can access the brakes, and I am not brave enough to reach for a water bottle if there are cars even remotely close, but I am getting there. I also go onto the hoods in traffic or for climbing (that standard crankset is a workout). Despite being fitted when I bought the bike, I think I might have to be refit after my HIM next month. As I get more comfortable with the position, I feel like being a bit more aggressive would actually be more comfortable and in control, which really surprised me.