Relax.

My advice from starting this year, as above +

• 5:30 starts - nice roads.
• Don't get death grip.
• Ride roads you know so you are not surprised by grids, potholes etc.
• Practice getting on and off them quickley so when you really need to get off them quick, it comes naturally and without a panic and / or swerve.

WD :-)

What exactly about it bothers you? Being away from the brakes? Or do you feel unstable?

Keep in mind that a bike is much more stable at speed, so don't get so "cautious" that you slow to a track stand. Relax your upper body, steer with your hips, and enjoy.

I'd start in areas that are "easy" wide open flats, especially false flat down hills. Just glide for a bit, add some pedaling, add some shifting, then before you know it you'll feel at home in the aero.

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I still lapped everyone on the couch!

Just ride, and it will work itself out. I got my first TT bike this year, after riding about 1,000 miles on a trainer this year and a few outdoor miles on a road bike. My first time on the aero bars scared the crap out of me. I was weaving all over the road. Just do a few long rides (as in >50 miles) on a clear road, and it will be OK. I am very fortunately that I have a good rails to trails road to use. And, I will not pass anyone on the road in the aero drops-- I come up out of aero for any other biker or pedestrian traffic.

I would not try to get my aero chops on a public road with traffic. That would have totally freaked me out forever.

If you ride a rollertrainer in the aerobars using them outside feels like a cakewalk in comparison.
Otherwise - empty and straight road in good condition with no traffic, and it will feel safe in no time.

I'm not worried about being away from the brakes, at least not at this time. The biggest issue is feeling unstable. I have discovered the importance of looking where you want the bike to go, though!

I do try to keep it in the 14-16mph range for practicing because of the faster-is-safer thing! I'm practicing on the longest, flattest, straightest, least-used stretch of road I have available to me.

I think also that have trouble keeping my pedal stroke smooth enough that I'm not wobbly through my upper body; I wonder if I have a dead spot at the top of my stroke and could use shorter crankarms, but that's a different discussion and not a quick or inexpensive fix.

Would widening the bars a little help; broaden the base, as it were?

I can't compare, but it would seem logical that wider is a little more stable.

I am reasonably wide at the elbows (a shade wider than my torpedo between my forearms) but with touching knuckles.

That's seems both comfy and stable for me (a beginner), but like I said, I don't really have a comparison ...

WD :-)

This is one of the areas where a skilled fitter can do magic. The biggest changes are going to come from practice, confidence and the more relaxed posture you gain as a result of the first two..however, I've seen really skilled bike fitters do some amazing things. Unfortunately, trying to diagnose specifics like you are talking on the web is most likely just going to get you in trouble.. truth is, could be any of those things or about 30 others.

We hosted 51SpeedShop in our office for the first year that they were in business, and truly, the stuff that those guys can see and then tweak is really amazing and sometimes the diagnosis for various pains, stability, hip rocking, shoulder rocking, etc would be solved by seemingly unrelated things.

I'd spend a few weeks getting saddle time and if you are still experiencing the other issues, find somebody qualified to look at your fit.

Josh

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That was my logic too, WD, but I haven't gotten around to trying it yet. I have boobs, which may be part of the problem (in conjunction with the narrow set of the aero bars), and I am also a couple of shades above midget (5'3") so the adjustability of my aero bars to compensate is limited by the narrowness of the base bar. I have very short arms even in relation to my body, so to get my elbows in the right place I have essentially canted most of my body weight right above the stem. It doesn't feel bad or uncomfortable on the trainer, but it feels... wobbly on the road.

Have you got friends or riding mates that use aero bars ?

Being with them and taking a few confidence inspiring comments and tips, even having extra eyes around you so you have a few less things to worry about should boost confidence.

WD :-)

Try doing some riding with your hands "choked up" on the aerobars. This puts a lot less weight on the front end, and is much more stable while still getting you used to the narrow elbow stance. Use this to get used to the narrower position and then evolve to the more stretched-out tri position.

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