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I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos)
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I've long suspected "S" bends are a bad choice for people. This feature on our website summarizes our thoughts on why "S" bends aren't optimal for most triathletes:


See the feature here:

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/sbend.shtml

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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thats pretty much my opinion as well. which was arrived at in kind of a light bulb moment: "damn, this just dont feel good ... looks cool though."

*****
"In case of flood climb to safety"
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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Great article - thanks!


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Another IM in 2016 - hopefully..
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [jcurtis] [ In reply to ]
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I felt the same way. Ive time trialed on some rough courses and have had discomfort in my wrists after racing.
I don't know if I'd get rid of my s bends though since I do short course. I'd never use them for the Ironman distance though.
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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Good article! The first time I saw S bends, I thought they looked like an sure way to develope carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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I couldn't agree more Tom. I tried to ride with some last summer and had to switch them out. After 17 seasons riding the conventional bars they caused a lot of pain in my wrists and forearms..... but they do look cool:)
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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I'm guessing that straight extensions are no better and perhaps even worse in terms of comfort?

Dave in VA
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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Tom,

Thanks for this. I have felt this way since these bars first came out. They have NEVER felt comfortable and I have been surprised at how popular they have become.

I agree with your point in the article, where you say that they may be a good choice for ITT specialists and some triathletes, but for the most part, most triathletes will be better off on more convential aerobars


Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog
Last edited by: Fleck: Feb 26, 07 9:49
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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Nice article and I agree 100%.

I felt this discomfort the first time I used them but thought I was missing something since "everyone" seemed to like them.

After racing on them 2x I took them off and went back to regular ski bend style aerobars.

They surely look very aero but I can see that style having a significant or any impact on aerodynamics at that location. Floyd Landis definitely confirmed that with his wacky aerobar way tilted up position.
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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Tom, as usual a great read. I found myself really wanting s-bends for looks but I simply couldn't imagine being comfortable with them. If I need to pull up against them such as for climbing i simply choke up and get a similar effect to the straight or s bend extensions.

Dan
http://www.aiatriathlon.com

http://www.aiatriathlon.com
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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I think the ski style aerobars are better for the body. It's just in a neutral position and feels comfortable. The S bends are something that I never bought into. Of course I never tried them but they just don't look natural.

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http://trainingoferic.blogspot.com/
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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As you always say though its all about the fit. On the regular bends I was always gripping below the beln on my vision bars and never on the upturned part of the bar. I got a new aerobar setup with the s bends and run them a bit strange whereby the bend turns inwards so that I can run the pads wider to help breathing but and have my hands relatively close together. I have been adjusting it for a while but for my hands and arms the s bends have been the most natural grip so far.
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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I wonder if the recent trend of TT riders angling their bars more upward is a result of obtaining a more relaxed wrist position? It would seem by doing that, they are creating a virtual "in between" angle.

MJ
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [DC Pattie] [ In reply to ]
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The straight ones were tough for me to use also- even more so thatn "S" bends.

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
Last edited by: Tom Demerly: Feb 26, 07 9:54
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [M J Moquin] [ In reply to ]
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I wondered that too. I didn't get to see the Tour of California time trial stages so I missed the postures of the riders we saw there. I can't feature a guess as to why or how those Landis-style positions benefit the rider. It would be interesting to find our more...

Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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I guess I'm about the only dissenting opinion here but I really like the S bends. I think I know why. I'm tall (6'6") with long arms and big hands so I find it really conforatable to ride in the bends with my forearms turned over so that my hands are pretty much parallel to the ground with my thumbs in. Kind of like how most people would put their hands if they were relaxing them on a desk. I find it really relaxed when I need it to be but easy enough to pull up when I want to. I get away with it I think because my hands are big enough to turn in and still grip the bars and I can easily shift with my index finger. It helps that my arms are long wnough that I can turn my arms over easily between the pads and the end of the bar. I agree that I couldn't ride long in the position in the x-ray, that's for sure. I was just never confortable or relaxed in all the years I spend with ski bend bars. I'll agree that they are not for eveyone but they can work for some, even slack AGers like me.
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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Oh, I thought they were so cool and had them put on. Have HATED them since!!! I have a new bike on order and you better believe it does not have s bends!!
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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Your picture here (and I haven't read the article yet) makes the s-bend essentially a straight bar that isn't as low as most straight bars would be. What I've wanted to find is something like a pistol grip -- a deeper s-bend much like the old Scott RCO (and I got a pair of those thinking I might be able to saw off the clamps and put them in some Profile clamps, but alas, the extensions would be WAY too short). The Blackwell extensions look to be a good option, though I've never touched a set.

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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [spirogeek] [ In reply to ]
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You're not the only one. I'm "only" 6'2, but I have very long limbs and ride exactly like you describe. I mainly grip with just my middle, ring & pinkie finger on each hand. The index & thumb are used for shifting and my hands mostly just lay on top of the extensions with my thumbs touching in between.

I have my T2+ extensions a little past the max insertion line and they're just fine. I always felt "jammed up" with the ski bends that I've tried - like they didn't allow me to stretch out.

I've found that having my shifters "flipped" helps alot with the difficult shifting issue mentioned in the article.

Steve


Steve

"If you ain't first, you're last." Reese Bobby Talladega Nights
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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The depth of the bend matters considerably. The r bend from Visiontech is virtually unusable, but the T2's are better. The older deep s bend from Hed was very nice. I like and use the t2's.
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [M J Moquin] [ In reply to ]
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Bah, why didn't you post that article last week before I bought a pair of Sbends to replace my ski tip Heds....Grrrr..... :D


Mad
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [The_Mickstar] [ In reply to ]
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I have to join the ranks of the dissenters. I have been using T2+ Cobras for the last year and absolutely love them. I never could find the right "fit" with the "wind punchers," so I tried the s-bends. I started with the Hed s-bends, but, found the Profile Design to be much more comfortable. However, my wrists look absolutely nothing like your picture. My s-bends fit more like a pistol grip, like another poster mentioned. They are in a natural position and do not bend down at all. I used this position all last season and for IMMoo.

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. - Will Rogers

Emery's Third Coast Triathlon | Tri Wisconsin Triathlon Team | Push Endurance | GLWR
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [Tom Demerly] [ In reply to ]
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The pic shows more of an "R" bend than a normal "S" bend. I find the S-bend gives me more options on where to place my hands than the traditional bars. I can lay my hands flat (like the first pic) if I am hammering or I can hold the curved part of the bar and put the shifters between my fingers to give myself a wrist postion very similar to the second photo. Just my $.02

R - Bend: S-Bend
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [bpq] [ In reply to ]
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We shot a lot of films on the X-ray machine, holding several different brands and bends of aerobars. I have a folder full of X-rays on my desk from this. The bottom line was that there is substantially greater stresses exerted when bending or adducting the wrist forward than there is to maintain a more relaxed position.



Tom Demerly
The Tri Shop.com
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Re: I don't like "S" bends and these are the reasons why (link/photos) [english muffin] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
As you always say though its all about the fit. On the regular bends I was always gripping below the beln on my vision bars and never on the upturned part of the bar. I got a new aerobar setup with the s bends and run them a bit strange whereby the bend turns inwards so that I can run the pads wider to help breathing but and have my hands relatively close together. I have been adjusting it for a while but for my hands and arms the s bends have been the most natural grip so far.

Same here ..... I was always moving my hands down the bent portion until they were just about gripping the horizontal portion, even when I had the bars adjusted backwards to get my best fit.

I'm also relatively tall (6'-1") so maybe that has something to do with it?? Seems it's the taller riders that are saying they like the fit with them here.

I just got the Vision Tech Trimax R-bends for X-mas and have only put about 300 trainer miles on them though and haven't ridden them in anger in a race yet, so we'll see how they actually hold up in that situation later.

_____________________________________________
Rick, "Retired" hobbyist athlete
Trying to come back slowly from acute A-Fib
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