I am looking at putting new aerobars on my bike. Currently I have a standard aluminum fork, drop bars and Scott RCO’s. My new setup will have a Carbonaero fork and either a 1-piece or pursuit bars and clip-on’s. I had been really interested in the Oval A700 1-peice, however after reading Slowman’s article on Bicycle Sports, I don’t think I want to do business with Oval.
I have about $250 to spend, so the HED and Easton are out. I was thinking about the Vision Tech clip-on and base bar, but I don’t like the non-adjustablity. I would like to hear from people that have used these and get the pros/cons.
The great thing about the HED and Oval is the massive amounts of adjustability.
For $250, you can get an FSA base bar and a Hed clip-on, but you will still come up short on the brake levers and shifters. You may need to use a coupon code to get the price right (thinking TriSports.com), but I am pretty sure you can do it.
I think that adjustability is important and allow to keep tweaking your position. It seems to me that for this price you might be better off with a separate base bar. This will allow you to adjust it as much as a HED. You can change the stem as required as well.
The HED is light (935g) in comparison with other one-piece systems; for example, the Vision Tech Tri Max Plus is 1,225g. Interestingly, the weight of the Oval A900 is also 935…
The ITM CX2AH (1210g) is all one piece and some people like it (but not many). You can adjust it easily by cutting it down. But the reason I am writing about it that is it extremely cheap (in relative terms – some people buy a whole bike for their price).
I currently have Syntace pursuit and C2 clip on bars.
I did a bit of research on upgrading to a more aerdynamic aerbar set-up. Initially, my goal was to get as aero as possible. However, when reviewing the typical races I compete in, or want to compete in, I find that I’m not in a static aero position throughout any given race.
I very much like the different positions I can use with the C2 bars and will get on the drops of the pursuit bars from time to time. Plus, if its a very hilly (mountainous) course, I can rotate the pursuit bars up so that I can get into yet another climbing position.
Thus, I am going to keep my current set-up. I suspect that the aerodynmic gain I would have realized would be marginal at best. I’m better keeping what I have and spending money on a disc, or some such thing (maybe some gift for my wife?).
My plan is to do IM-Moo next year, and I have fond memories of back spasms at mile 80 in IM Florida due to being stuck in the same position the entire way. If I were to race only 40k maximum distance on the bike I wouldn’t feel this way, but, I believe having varyious position options will get me through the IM bike in good shape.
The $250 is for bars only, I have already budgeted for new levers and shifters.
Any one have experience with the HED clip-ons?
edit: I just went to the HED website and saw the clip lite with s-bend bars. I think these may be the ones for me. Any info on when they will be available?
There is also an Oval A700 on ebay now at a pretty good price, so I May just go that way. I can always remove the Oval stickers and put HED stickers on.
Here is my suggestion… the Oval A700. You should be able to get a set on eBay for around $225. If fact here is the link to a set that is ending tonight:
Since this is presumably going on a road bike, you want the base bar to emulate your hoods, so zero drop is probably what you are looking for - which would rule out the Aerus for me.
Actually, these are going on a Tri-frame. However, as I am used to using the brake hoods on my current set-up, a base bar with a big drop may not be the way to go.
the HED clip ons are really nice. By that I mean they are amazingly, scary, super llight like they are filled with helium or something. Other than that they are pretty adjustable, well made and very easy to set up and maintain. The pads aren’t as plush as something like a syntace C-2 or the nice new profile pads but they aren’t bad.
I use the one piece HED bars all the time on my tri bike but have a pair of the clip ons I used for some hilly/twisty tris I did on my road bike.
Sounds like we have multiple layers of issues to talk about. If your bike upgrade budget is $250, perhaps you can share your entire set-up and we can chime on where the funds are best spent…
If you’re convinced aerobars are all you need right now, here’s my 2 cents.
The Hed/Ovals are certainly a great set-up. I wouldn’t call them ADJUSTABLE…but I would call them CUSTOMIZABLE. (I’m from the software biz) So…customizable basically means you can fit them however you want, but you run the risk of changing the set-up at a later time. (i.e. cut the Hed extensions too short)
With that in mind, I’d suggest Profile Alum X. Very ADJUSTABLE. Or, hop on ebay and get the Carbon X for around the same price as the retail Alums (I use Carbon X, but would change for the new CBX in a second if anybody wants as I’d rather run a shorter stem) With the Alums…(or the CBX) you’ll be able to swap out stem length, the arm length (plus rotation), and height.
If you are SURE of your size/set-up…get the HEDS for bling-bling or the Suntace set-up for budget reasons…
Yup, Sandbagger, when it comes to adjustability, Profiles are king - which is why my LTS does all of their fittings with Profile bars, then may set you up on vision’s, profiles or Syntace, depending on what fits and what you can spend.
Current setup: Aquila Tri frame, standard aluminum fork, 3T drop bars, Scott RCO, DA front and rear der, Ultegra cranks, Cane Creek BRS SL brakes, DA brake levers, XT rapidfire shifter mounted on aerobar, downtube chainring shifter, 1 set Campy Montreal rims on Ult hubs, 1 set Velocity rims on White Ind. rear hub and AC micro front, 1 set Mavic Gel330 mounted DA 9s hubs, 1 Falcon Trialist rear disc, 1 HED Jet front.
edit: Oh yeah, I have a Triathzoto seat and Easton aluminum seatpost.
I already have an uncut QR Carbonaero, Cancreek Ahead headset, and 3T forgie stem. When I replace the fork, I want to put on either a 1-piece or a pusuit bar/clip-on combo.
For some reason I’ve never been a big fan of “adjustability”. Maybe it’s because I equate adjutability with Profile Designs and I think Profile Designs products are crap. (Though they seem to be getting better.) It’s funny to me that Syntace has been relegated to “budget” status even though they make very high quality stuff. (Granted it seems to take decades for new products to be released by them.) In my mind Syntace makes hands down the biggest bang for the buck aerobars. Though the new separates from VisionTech look great and are relatively cheap too.
If you’re concerned about adjustability, anything with an integrated stem is out. I don’t understand why anyone makes integrated stems. Hed integrated are overpriced. The Easton attack are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced. Find your right size and get a set of C2, Vision, or Hed extensions and get the Syntace or Vision Base bar. You’ll be good to go.
If you must get something from Profile Design, I’d go with their bar tape.