I am considering attaching aero bars to my carbon fiber handlebars; however, I am trying to avoid cracking the carbon fiber.
My solution, I think, is to tape up the carbon fiber handlebars at the attachment point with handlebar tape or the tape used on my rims to protect the tube and then attach the aero bars over the tape. I do not plan on clamping the bars as tightly to the carbon fiber handlebar as I would with an aluminum handlebar. Just enough that I can rest on the aero bars during long downhills and flat areas. A little movement is OK.
Has anyone had any success attaching aero bars to a carbon handlebar? Any suggestions?
I am considering attaching aero bars to my carbon fiber handlebars; however, I am trying to avoid cracking the carbon fiber.
My solution, I think, is to tape up the carbon fiber handlebars at the attachment point with handlebar tape or the tape used on my rims to protect the tube and then attach the aero bars over the tape. I do not plan on clamping the bars as tightly to the carbon fiber handlebar as I would with an aluminum handlebar. Just enough that I can rest on the aero bars during long downhills and flat areas. A little movement is OK.
Has anyone had any success attaching aero bars to a carbon handlebar? Any suggestions?
I’m not sure what bar claims that you can attach aerobars but there is at least one.
Other than using that bar I’d say don’t put on aerobars on carbon drops.
Most carbon bars say NOT to clamp aero bars on. Not even sure why someone would run carbon drop bars anyway since they are no lighter than a quality alloy bar.
Kestrel does have some Kevlar reinforced carbon bars that specifically say it is OK and there might be a few others. I’ve experienced and seen too many important carbon parts failures to trust it.
Most carbon bars are lighter than their alloy counterparts as shown on most companies websites. I think the statement should be “carbon drop bars that allow clip-ons are about the same weight as their alloy counterparts”.
There are bars out there other than Kestrel that you can use aerobars on. If you do use a carbon drop bar that is compatible with clip-on aerobars, there are a few things that you can to to ensure that it works better and does not cause any issues.
Take some sand paper and rough up the clear coat on the bars where the clamp goes on the drop bars. It will help with holding them in place better. Also take some sand paper and break the edges on the clip-on aerobarbar clamps. This will make sure that you do not have any edges that can cut into the carbon. The biggest one is use a torque wrench when putting the aerobars onto the bar.
I have been using clip-on aerobars on my carbon drop bars for years and take them off regularly to check on them to make sure that everything is alright. Never had a problem ever but I do take a lot of care putting them on and following the manufacturers specs.
Just make sure that the bars are compatible with aerobars. As others have mentioned, just double check the weights if that is an issue and you will see that some carbon (aerobar compatible) drop bars are pretty close in weight to their allow counterparts. I do not buy the safety issue as I have seen both alloy and carbon bars break with and without aerobars on them. When they did break with aerobars on them, almost every single time it was due to the installer over-tightening the clamps on the aerobars.
Just enough that I can rest on the aero bars during long downhills and flat areas. A little movement is OK.
Hit a bump and a “little movement” becomes a crash. Not a good idea.
Chris
Agree with the above plus…
Additionally if it is moving around it will chew up your bar and make it more likely to fail by creating thin points in your bar wall.
get a torque wrench and tighten to the specs.
Also: putting tape etc under your clamp will result in a poor clamp fit and create a pinch point. this will be more likely to cause a failure. Your bar is strongest in a tube shape. Anything that you do that puts the bar out of round, or that attachment of the clamp out of round, will increase the likelyhood of bar failure. If you are worried about slippage the tinyist bit of silicone (there are spray products ~$20/ can) on the bar will help increase your “stiction”.
The sandpaper is a good idea, but also try the FSA carbon assembly paste, which comes in a little red packet the size of a book of matches. Works great. No slipping. I doubt tape would work.
I hate to ask a stupid question, but if you’re worried about your carbon cracking… they make this thing called a torque wrench… tighten carbon to 6nm… just a thought…
Or this set up which I think Dan discussed. If I was going to do my set up all over again I would go this route 100%. I would probably use HED carbon S-Bend extensions as they are a bit higher but I really like the idea of not have to worry about armrests and with such a wide top, I am sure you could rest on there no problem. I have been eyeing this set up for a long time and it is not that heavy.
