All I can say is that I ride that same way. Hands below the elbows. Its about 200% more comfortable, more leverage and I never need to move around in the aero position whether I'm climbing or running flat out or downhill. I figure if I use the hands level or up, I'd be less comfortable and not be able to pull up, move around alot more and thus be slower overall.

I've tried the s-bends (hands level or above). Hated them. Went back to the up turned ends (vision clip-ons) but sloped way down. I've always wanted to try the straight extensions with the high rise pads (as in the pic above) so the hands were below the elbows, but I love my current setup, so the heck with it!

I beleive alot of this has to do with each persons physical makeup. We are not all created out of the same mold.

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Paul