Aerobars keeps moving

Triathlon Forum
1

Hello everyone,

I am a newbie at this forum, and it is the same for triathlon. Runner and swimmer for years, I recently added the bike to become a triathlete (yay!).

But here’s the catch: I bought a second-hand road bike and, separately, aerobars at Decathlon (https://www.decathlon.ca/...handlebar-extensions).
They fit 26-31.8mm handlebars, my bike has 26mm handlebars.
When I install the aero bar, even if I put the strongest force I have, the aero bar keeps tilting if you try it or put a small pressure at them.

What I see and what I think may be the problem: yes, it fits 26mm handlebars, but just not enough, like there’s still a little little gap when I install the aerobars.

Do you have any solution for that?
Like I don’t know, perhaps a tape or something like to extend the diameter of my handlebars from 26 to 27/28mm?

Thank you :slight_smile:

2

When I had a road bike with clip ons, same problem. I tried some electrical tape and it seemed to help. It isn’t ideal, I know, but if it’s what you have. I also noticed the problem worse if the pad clamps weren’t installed on extension such that I would torque them when hitting a bump in the road.

One possible thing, too late now that you bought some, is they sell road bike handlebars (aliexpress does have some cheap) that have the TT bike style stack spacer mounts as part of the road bike drop handlebars. So that when you mount the clip ons, they would never rotate/torque.

3

Electrical tape is something I need to try.
It is about adding and adding tape until I reach 27/28mm?
But isn’t it too “soft”? I mean, something rough would help it no?
Thanks

4

You can alway just cut up a beer can like the old days.

5

Was there any spacers included included with the aerobars? If they were supposed to work with both 26 and 31.8mm there should be some rubber or metal spacers that should be used within the clamp.

6

Unfortunately no… but good catch: spacers. Perhaps it’ll help.

I’ll go on Amazon or Decathlon this evening to see what they have.

7

If your aero bars were designed to fit 26mm and 31.8mm bars, they would have come with a set of 2.9mm spacers to put inside the clamps.

8

You are right, the previous owner kept it. I contacted him and he’ll try to find it, else I’ll buy something similar. Thanks all!

9

Rather than electrical tape or metal try a rubber inner tube.

.

10

You are right, the previous owner kept it. I contacted him and he’ll try to find it, else I’ll buy something similar. Thanks all!

Before you do ANYthing else (tape, cut up aluminum can, etc.), you must get the proper spacers for your handlebars, since they are 26.0mm, and it appears that your aerobars are 31.8mm. Get the original parts if you can. But, if not, such spacers are available on eBay. Reply if you need more details.

11

Hello everyone,

I bought those spacers on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cuFAApN
Installed them and it works like a charm… it’s like not moving anymore AT ALL.
Thank you for your help and have a great winter season