for expert long-distance . For amateur level, it is important aero bars in half ironman?, I say this because we are starting at the bottom and I do not take 3 minutes more or less on the bike is really that useful?
It will give you closer to 15mins and it much more comfortable
.
if you can stay in the aero bars comfortably they will be faster than normal handlebars.
if you can’t, then it is kind of a waste of money =)
OscarJet - here’s my answer for you…
Let’s say you’re doing a half IM and you’re fairly comfy on a stock road bike and you ride ~90% of that 56 miles with your hands positioned on the breakhoods. Then let’s say you do everything else correctly: pace well, eat well, etc. After the race you’ll have your bike split and your run split and your overall time. Now, let’s compare that to you riding that half - not just with aerobars slapped onto your road bike - but in a well fitted aeroposition, one where you could be comfy and powerful in aero for 90% of that 56 miles. The difference might be as much as 18+ minutes on the bike AND…wait for it…another several minutes on the run.
Take the time to find a realy good bike fitter in your area - do the research, speak with them prior to the fit and give them all the info about your current bike and your goals- even ask as to speak to some folks they’ve fit in the past who are in a similar situation as you. Then invest the dollars into the cost of the fit and the aerobars and the one or two other things you might need to get the bike to fit you properly in aeroposition (at most it would probably be seat post and stem). It might cost a bit but far less than a whole new bike and the return on that investment will not just be about this one half that’s out there in front of you - you’ll benefit during all the training up to that event, all the other races you’ll do for several years; sprint, olympic, other halfs the IM you’ll do in the future - all of it.
Ian
“it will give you closer to 15 mins and it much more comfortable”
“It will give you 18 mins plus 7 min on the run”
Where do you come up with this stuff? I’ve played at analytical cycling from time to time and 18 mins plus 7 min on the run seems really high for a 1/2 IM.
I’ve raced probably over 40 1/2 IMs, some on my road bike with clip-ons and some on my tri bike. Comparing the same course, I don’t think I’ve ever varied by more than 5 min on the bike. An my run seems to be about the same no matter which bike I’m on. 18 mins is a big difference. To say I’m going from a 2:40 to a 2:22 seems like a stretch and then I’m going to run 30 seconds faster per mile. I want some of that!
Perhaps you are looking at this the wrong way, For a Half Iron distance event, Aerobars are the correct tool for the job. Dont focus on whether or not a hammer may not be the right tool to pound nails because you don’t currently know how to swing it. Instead, think about getting a hammer that fits your hand, and then practice swinging it properly.
and then you go drive some nails.
Thank you very much to ALL !!!
now i got a new question,
When you say 7 min run…why do you get 7 extra minutes running?? i cant understand it…
sorry for my english …
Well the idea is if you spend 10 to 15 minutes less time biking, you won’t be as tired on the run and can perhaps go a little bit quicker. Who knows how much though!
Thank you very much to ALL !!!
now i got a new question,
When you say 7 min run…why do you get 7 extra minutes running?? i cant understand it…
sorry for my english …
I agree. Now, I know I’m a bit faster on my tri bike at any distance, but not by much. I’ve done over 50 tris from sprints to several IM on both road (w/ clip ons) and tri (3 different bikes now) and there is now way I’d have an 18 min difference unless my road bike was completely fit wrong and my tri bike was a P4 with dual discs 
OK ! Thank you for explanation…! increible so minutes with aerobars…i going to think about it more next days…
very interesting.
thanks again dudes !!!
I’m a LOT faster on my tri bike then my road. But the question I have is, what is the course like? If it is a really hilly course, then 18 minutes is a stretch, but on a flatter course, I’d agree and say 15 to 18 range.
For me the reason is: I am a bigger guy and being on the hoods makes me like a sail and going to the lower is a position that I can not hold for more than 10 miles without fatigue setting into my upper body. Much quicker than 10 miles if after a swim.
ON my tri bike, I can stay in the aero as long as the course allows me and only getting out for nutrition if needed and/or steep climbs. I suck at running so either way I’m still slow. 
Larry,
I have two answers…
For a guy like you - an experienced athlete with a decent engine - my numbers don’t jive, it doesn’t work for you. I get a few noobs through the studio and when I drill down into their first ever splits and then they report back with their post-fit splits those are the kinds of numbers I see and it’s a beautiful, beautiful thing.
Here the second answer - many triathletes have strong type A personalities. They will run with a buddy and later at coffee someone will ask: “how far did you run” and the relaxed buddy will say “5 miles” and the type A dude won’t be able to hold back…“um, actually it was 4.86 miles, I know 'cuase I mapped last night on this web program that is NASA certified and my protable GPS unit, which has a plus or minus error of .47 percent, told me that…blah…blah…blah” you get the idea. When I responded to the OP I got the vibe from him that he wasn’t quite at the level of needing to know his percentage of CdA, he was somewhere beneath that. I hope I reached him.
Ian
If you plan on getting a new road bike with the intention to put on some clip ons, should you go with the bigger or smaller sized bike (top tube length). Any other considerations to fitting a road bike with clip ons. Do you need to change the fit on race day? I plan to ride primarily in the road position but to do tris with clip ons.
…not that there is anything wrong with a type A answer. correct, or do i need counseling?