I plan to put aerobars on my road bike later this season, and i’m curious what adjustments are absolutely necessary with the aerobar add-ons? I’m mainly doing it for tri’s, but I expect i’ll use the aero position frequently on regular rides as well.
I talked with the LBS today, and he says he has installed many of them without having to do any adjustments? It seems to me that at a minimum, the stem would need to be shortened, and maybe seat moved forward??? The brand/model they stock is the Profile Design Air Stryke which has spring loaded armrests, so their up and out of the way when not riding in the aero position … any opinions on this style?
Not that I’ve ridden them on the road, but those spring loaded arm rests look like the most annoying thing ever.
You don’t have to make any changes to install the bars, but if you want to be comfortable then you certainly do. If your putting on aero bars for the purpose of competing in triathlons, them moving your seat forward will keep your legs fresher for the run it will be easier to climb in the saddle and and you’ll tend to spin a higher cadence, all important. Yes you should probably get a shorter stem, but that depends on what size stem you’ve got on your bike, it may be too short already. Getting someone who knows what they’re talking about to look at you on your bike is the only way to really know.
Vision tech shorties do NOT have spring loaded arm-rests. There are ITU style bars. Extend to the brake hoods. Give you a decent aero position. No real changes to your road position needed. They’re just there if it’s real windy or if you want to settle down into a tuck on the flats. They’re a little hard on the wrists as they are straight (mostly – they have a slight up-bend) and your wrists sit on the pads, not your forearms. I think they are a great choice for a road bike.
Getting someone who knows what they’re talking about to look at you on your bike is the only way to really know.
Up to this point I haven’t had much luck finding any real good fitters in my area, which is why I try to get as much info as possible from forums like this.
I have seen good reviews on Profile Jammer GT’s which are shorter than full aero bars … any opinions or experience on this style?
Jammers are another ITU bar, just like the Vision shorties. Different hand position, though. Vision shorters are straight with your wrist ahead like on your aerobars. Jammers are like MTB style extensions.
Both will be harder on your wrists than regular aerobars, as this is where your weight goes, as opposed to your fore-arms…
Get a digital camera and post some pics of yourself then. Just be sure that your house is clean, your saddle isn’t too high, your chain is lubed and that your color scheme matches.
“Up to this point I haven’t had much luck finding any real good fitters in my area, which is why I try to get as much info as possible from forums like this.”
I have been fitted properly to my bike as a road set-up, I just don’t think any of the LBS are specifically geared towards tri fittings … more road. I’ll try to get a pic of me on the bike posted asap. I’m assuming a side shot would be most beneficial.
Actually, I bought the Syntace XXS specifically because of the poor feedback on this board on the VisionTech shorties. Having tried them since then, I’m glad I didn’t purchase them.
I might consider the VisionTech’s for a roadie needing an occasional 30 second aero pull, but there’s no way that a triathlete can last on them for a full 20-40K tt, unless, of course, you’re drafting most of it and on the hoods/drops for the majority of the race. Way too uncomfortable.
check out the vision tech shortie clip-ons. try a search on this forum. good reviews.
You can last. Longer than that even. I’ve done it. It hurt. But I’ve done it… That being said, if you like the Syntace XXS, I might give them a whirl. I’ve only ever tried my Vision shorties, so I’ve nothing to compare them to except “full” aerobars (Profile Carbon Strykes and my HED full-aerobar), and I expected that they would be more uncomfortable. I do like that the Visions are pretty unobtrusive.
You’re on the right track. Shoving the seat forward has good performance benefits as already described by someone else on this post. Getting the right reach will make you more comfortable and more efficient (oxygen intake) = more powerful. In most road bike cases, this means shortening the stem (though not as much as you might think once you’ve shoved the seat forward). The other way to “shorten” your stem is to get a set of clip on that mount the elbow pad behind the h-bar. The Profile jammers hardware will allow you to do this.
See threads “Frankenstein Aerobars” or “Aerobars for roadies” or somehting like that.
The other way to “shorten” your stem is to get a set of clip on that mount the elbow pad behind the h-bar. The Profile jammers hardware will allow you to do this.
Looks like yours are full-length aerobars, what style is that your running?
That seems like an ideal way to mount them on a road bike. Will most of the Profile full length bars mount that way? Profile Jammers are a shortened bar, so from what I understand the downside of them is rather than your elbows resting on the pads, it’s your forearms???
Got some C2 Syntace clipons from ssn759co(Hey Marty!) and put them on The Giant. Going to shoot for my first 100mile bike ride tomorrow, w00p!
Got a chain cleaner kit, got a bike repair kit, and was instructed on how to change a tire. I’m feeling much more prepared. I’ve rigged up a profile-design Aero drink bottle someone sent me with two plastic lock ties, and I bet it weighs less than if I had used the actual aerobar mounting bracket!
I also got a Thomson Setback post(Local Tri RD hooked me up) that seems to push me further forward in the “cockpit”. Got one of those bentoo box thingies for my gels… I’m stoked.
Did 85 last Sunday, 70 the week before, and 60 the week before it. I recovered really well each time, so I’m thinking going for 100 this weekend won’t be too big of a leap.
I’ll report back on how the clip-ons work with the road bike, and the SB(seat back) post as well.
When I go on vacation to the beach I put a pair of Syntace C2s on my road bike. A few saddle adjustments result in a much improved aero/strength position. I move the saddle forward and raise it as well. It takes a bit to find the sweet spot, but for flat coastal riding, the adjustments really are necessary. If I was using them for normal road riding that included hills I do not believe the same changes would be as beneficial, and probably would not change anything at all.
