What are some of the best road bikes that because of their geometry work well with aerobars. Cervelo Solist is one, Kestrel Talon, Are there any others? Felt f35? Anymore? I basically want one bike that I can use all of the time, training/races/group rides/etc. Stay under 2500 if possible!
Thanks,
TriOwensboro
Not a good question or at least not worded correctly.
The Soloist is designed to run in a “multisport” position with the seat post turned around to give about a 75/76 degree effective seat angle position. I raced this way on a Giant TCR with a neutral seat post with the seat as forward as possible to give the same. Both bikes are similiar geometry compact frames and lend themselves well for this.
Another option is the “big slam” position. This essentially means lowering the seat a bit and sliding the seat right back to a 72 degree or so effective seat angle with shorty aero bars. This works great for some people. My wife is just as fast on her road bike this way as steep on her P2K and we’ve timed/tested this over a hundred times on our local training route. But it doesn’t work for me. I’m better off multisport or steep.
So you have different options with a road bike. Here is an article about the “big slam”
Just be sure to use a shortie bar (Like Profile’s Jammer GT) with whatever road frame you choose. Even with an extended seatpost, the regular clip-on aerobars are simply NOT designed for road bike geometry.
I used a “full” aerobar on my road bike and ended up getting ITBS. Click on “search posts” above and try “shortie bar road frame” or “Jammer aerobar” and you will find plenty of previous posts on this subject.
Needless to say, I’m going with Jammers now. 
I liked the Profile Jammer GT’s on my steel classic raod bike but found them a bit short in the multisport position on my Giant TCR. For this I found the small size Syntace C2’s to work better ( I ride a medium TCR frame).
Another good choice initially might be the Profile Aero Lite because they allow quite a bit of adjustment.
why do u want a short aerobar system?
I’ve got a Specialized S-Works SL from 2001. I slapped on a pair of Carbon Strykes and it seems to be working very well. Of course, because my frame is so small, the bike has a steeper seat tube angle (75 degrees). I slide the saddle all the way forward and I get about 77 degrees based on my measurements. It better approximates a tri-geometry, but handles a bit squirrely in the aero-position. It’s a much better road bike, but I’d use it in some hillier (to me) races if I get the chance. (Maybe IMUSA if I ever do that race again.)
"why do u want a short aerobar system? "
Tri and road bikes have different geometries. The seat tube angle on a tri bike is steeper than a road bike (78 vs 73 degrees or so). This puts you “more forward” on the tri bike nd allows for longer aero bars. If you use these bars on a road bike you tend to be more stretched out. This is not effecient and can result in neck/shoulder discomfort. For a road bike use shorter bars such as road specific ones like Profile Jammer GT or a smaller size tri aero bar than you would normally use on a tri bike. The differences between tri/road bikes is explained nicely in Tom D’s article:
Giant came out with a highly praised one. don’t know the model though.
Agreed that if you are going to use clip-on bars on a road bike that they need to be the short variety.
I have always liked the old Profile Air Strykes that have the flip-up arm pads. I cut down a set of these to make them quite short and they work very well for me. However, I raced triathlons and time-trials for years on road bikes with this set up, so for me it was a good fit. For some/many this may not work and a full tri-bike set up is the way to go.
Here’s another read regarding aero bar fit
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/bikefit.html#Anchor-44867
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I used a “full” aerobar on my road bike and ended up getting ITBS.
Glacier - I am curious how this contributes to ITBS.
Also, I have a set of Profile Design Areolights with base bars that I am not using if anyone is interested. I used them for about 6mos and recently switched to a different set up.
As far as the bars check out the Oval Concept bars designed by John Cobb. They allow full adjustment of armrest location and bar length. Most of the other clip-ons pur your arm rest pads directly above the handle bars.
… re ITBS…
I noticed that I started having problems with tightness in my lower quad/outer knee around the time I started practicing TT with my clip-on (full-sized) aerobars… otherwise, no major volume or intensity increases… I did some searching (slowtwitch forums and some running injury Internet sites) and found several sites that suggested the “over-extension” caused by using full-length clip-ons on a standard road site might contribute (among other factors – I also tended to run on crowned roads) to ITBS… I also had my saddle up a bit too high, I think.
All conjecture, of course, but I think the clip-ons were a factor.
Yaqui DL - either Ocotillo or Mariola. Ves knows how to make a road type geometry work with the added front end weight of aero bars.
I ride a Felt F50 with full aerobars (profile Split Second Al). I am 6’ 0.5" and I’m riding a size 56 frame. When I got fit for my tri positioning at Trisports.com, Seton told me as a road bike the frame in just on the verge of being small but for a tri setup it is almost perfect. So I guess what I’m saying is that you need to get a proper fitting to find what will work for you or not. Good luck.
Tucker
I raced conventional road bikes (Canondale and Specialized) with aerobars and conventional seatposts for years… always went fast, never had back problems and could run well after the 40km. Although I now race on a tri-specific bike, I am deeply skeptical about the ‘need’ for one other than as a marketing approach for manufaturors.