My mechanic / fitter has set my new Cobra T2 aerobars, in my opinion, very wide. My shoulders are very wide, +/- 21" and my aero bars are 6.5 inches apart (center to center). They seem comfortable but I see all the “cool” guys with their bars extremely narrow for more aero. I know most of these guys’ shoulders are pretty narrow also but I am wondering if I can narrow my bars without hurting my breathing. I know my fitter used a formula but is there any other logic vs. textbook formula and other than “feel”. Thanks.
My mechanic / fitter has set my bars, in my opinion, very wide. My shoulders are very wide, +/- 21" and my aero bars are 6.5 inches apart (center to center). They seem comfortable but I see all the “cool” guys with their bars extremely narrow for more aero. I know most of these guys’ shoulders are pretty narrow also but I am wondering if I can narrow my bars without hurting my breathing. Is there any formula other than “feel”. Thanks.
Narrower bars may be more aerodynamic. But, they might impede your breathing as you mentioned. They can also cause fatigue on your deltoids and/or make it difficult to “turtle” your head. If you’re comfortable enough to hold the aero position for the length of your race, then you might consider moving them in. But, if you get uncomfortable and have to sit up on your base bar late in the race, then any aero advantage of the narrower bars is destroyed.
My mechanic / fitter has set my bars, in my opinion, very wide. My shoulders are very wide, +/- 21" and my aero bars are 6.5 inches apart (center to center). They seem comfortable but I see all the “cool” guys with their bars extremely narrow for more aero. I know most of these guys’ shoulders are pretty narrow also but I am wondering if I can narrow my bars without hurting my breathing. Is there any formula other than “feel”. Thanks.
Narrower bars may be more aerodynamic. But, they might impede your breathing as you mentioned. They can also cause fatigue on your deltoids. If you’re comfortable enough to hold the aero position for the length of your race, then you might consider moving them in. But, if you get uncomfortable and have to sit up on your base bar late in the race, then any aero advantage of the narrower bars is destroyed.
Dead-on. My fitter (a FIST certified guy!) did this with me. I could hold the super-narrow position (my fingers would actually touch, when I was wearing thick-ish gloves) during training, but when I did swim-bike days, where my arms were tired, it would be so much harder to stay in this position. Two inches wider was all I needed, and now I’ve done 100-mile days on the bars with a minimum of fatigue.
As my coach says, “Your position may be the most aero ever, but it don’t mean sh** if you can’t stay in it.”
Is there a benchmark formula for aerobar width vs. shoulder width or some other factor(s)?
formula for what? how tired your will be? how aero? no
its pretty easy to work this out though.
put em as narrow as they can go, go ride. if you can hold it without pain leave it alone.
if not, make it wider.
Is there a benchmark formula for aerobar width vs. shoulder width or some other factor(s)?
6.5 inches is that ctr of the pad to ctr of the pad? That is how it’s usually measured not the width of the extensions. If it is pad to pad that is not wide. You will find many fit pros with the pads wider then that.
Pad width is a function of flexibility and adaptation. I find no impact on my breathing by going narrow just some fatigue as I adjust to the new width.
Is there some documentation on this?
I’ve heard that it doesn’t matter too much and to consider lining up with knees/hips rather than making them really close together.
“The spacing of aero bar armrest width should be set for comfort in proportion to shoulder width. The benefits of a very narrow arm position are minimal as it might reduce steering control, and perhaps in extreme narrow settings, lung expansion.”
http://www.bikesplit.com/bsa3.htm
“On the other hand, if your arms are narrower than your hips and thighs, the wind will go around your arms and run directly into your midsection causing turbulence, which will also slow you down.”
6.5 inches is that ctr of the pad to ctr of the pad? That is how it’s usually measured not the width of the extensions. If it is pad to pad that is not wide. You will find many fit pros with the pads wider then that.
Pad width is a function of flexibility and adaptation. I find no impact on my breathing by going narrow just some fatigue as I adjust to the new width.
6.5 is center to center of extensions. Center to center of pads is 11. I’ve never seen a set of aerobars wider than mine. Again, they seem comfortable, just wondering if in the millisecond world of Slowtwitch I may be giving up some aero. I need all the help I can get since my shoulders are so wide.