I want to put clip-on aerobars on my new Soloist Team. The bars are FSA RD250, and the stem clamp area is 31.8. The bars taper down immediately past the stem. What clip-ons will work? Since the bars taper down, I’m not sure how the clip-ons would attach (and what size I need). I would like to use clip-ons that are adjustable in length (most important), as well as width and rotation, but there aren’t many like that. I’m mostly going to use the bike for road riding (I have a P3 for multisport), but I am planning on using the Soloist for Alcatraz in 2.5 weeks. The Deda 1-piece clip-ons look like an option, but they aren’t width and rotation adjustable.
I had to put some Ritchey drop bars on to replace the FSA bars that came stock with my 05 Team Soloist. Then I was able to use small Syntace C2’s, which IMO work perfectly for the bike. If you are mostly using it for road than you may not want to replace the bars, so in that case I have no idea which clip ons fit a wider bar. Good Luck. What do you think of the Soloist?
I love the Soloist. It was a big upgrade from my previous 7-speed RSX component, 25 lb monster (which, I must admit, served me very well). I would rather not get need to switch out the bars and stem, since I will not race multisport too often with it. Just Alcatraz, and perhaps ITU Short Course Du World Championships in Australia (course profile looks quite hilly).
Do you just attach them right next to the stem? There isn’t a lot of room before it starts to taper down. The FDA website says not to use clip-ons where the bars taper. I’m sure it must be possible, since Cervelo wouldn’t spec it with the FSA RD250 bars if you couldn’t.
Whatever clip ons you decide to go with, call the company that manufactures them and ask about inserts you can place under the clip ons and on top of your existing drop bar. This allows the clip ons to fit. Someone with more tech experience can better lay this out for you.
Thanks. The Deda clip one looks like a possibility, as well as the Vision bars you suggested. I just want to make sure it is secure (and doesn’t break). Steering is fairly important…
I put a note into tech service at FSA to see if they have suggestions.
James just posted a couple of lovely pictures illustrating exactly how to mount them. ~Cervelo doesn’t spec these with the bars but they are compatible with the bars, just follow the placement instructions carefully, or look at James’ pictures for assistance.
Are the vision tech shorties legal for ITU draft legal racing? What are some of the any short bars that you guys would suggest for this type of racing?
Thanks. James’ pictures were great, but he has the Bontrager Race Lite bar, which looks like it has a wider “oversized” area than my FDA RD250’s (hence, more room to mount the clip ons, before they taper down.
The FSA tech support guy said I either have to mount in the oversized area, or “after the taper” (i.e., much wider). He also said that the newer FSA bars have markings on where it is OK to mount clip ons. I will look at them again tonight.
If worse comes to worse, I can just switch out my bars (somehow, without my wife knowing that I spent more money!) or go “old-fashioned” and not use clip-ons (uhh…I don’t think so…I’ll be ostracized from the multisport community!).
I had exactly the same concern. I use the Profile Airstryke clip-ons, which are the continuously linked bar ends. I put tape on the bars before attaching the clip-ons to stop scratching the handlebars (which I did anyway).
When first placing the clip-ons they just fit either side of the stem but upon tightening they slide all the way down the tapered handlebar tubing to the bar tape. This is a little disconcerting at first but because the aerobar ends are connected it doesn’t really affect their usage. The only adjustment I made from my old bike was moving the arm pads to the narrowest setting. It seems to work fine. I did use the inserts as mentioned and have superglued them on to make attaching the clipons less hassle.
I thought it strange to offer a bike sold with the sales pitch of using clip-ons ocassionally for multi-sport to have drop bars with this profile. Maybe there’s another reason that greater minds than mine can comprehend. They seem to be OK bars, just not that well suited to using clip-ons given the tapered profile.
These will be here sometime tomorrow and I can post a review…
I’m using (on my Soloist, btw) an Easton EC90 Equipe (pro bend) bar and I’m not certain of the aerobar’s clamp spread (width). So, I might have to do some customization.
In my case, I don’t really need to rest my arms/body as much as I’m trying to tuck my arms in. Tai helped me track these down after getting some advise for upcoming races…
I looked at those bars, but I think I want elbow pads. I looked at my bars again last night, and there really isn’t much room (5mm?) on either side of the stem before the bars starts to taper down. I would really rather not switch bars, but it looks like I may have to. Some of the other brands of oversize bars (Bontrager Race Lite, Ritchey OS) look like they have a larger “oversized” area that I could clamp on to, before the taper starts.
I’m considering going without. I have a P3 that I have used for all multisport races so far, but I have 2 important races coming up that dictate road bike (Alcatraz and ITU Short Course Du WC’s in Australia). I just don’t think the P3 will be optimal for either. I guess I’m just going to have to pedal harder! Ug.
