What is the most aero TT bar with extensions available?
The NEW 3T Ventus
Zipp Vuka Aerobar
USE Tula
FSA/Vision trimax
Hed aerobar
An aerobar must have a low frontal aero and a good Cd for a good CdA. But I think the width of a bar is also important. My hips are 38cm width so aerobars of 38 cm width and lower only disturb the air that has to pass my body. When aerobars are wider than 38cm they will disturb clean air and increase CdA. Is that right?
The USE Tula is the only aerobar which I know is 38 cm wide (and also has 40,42,44cm options). Why aren’t there more 40cm or 38cm wide aerobars. For the small people there are 38cm and 40cm handlebars… but on my timetrial bike I don’t need a wider bar than on my road bike…
I have not seen any comparative test results, but I really like my Hed base bar with carbon fiber extensions. I also know that Zipp devotes a lot of time and money developing their products in the wind tunnel before bringing them to the market and that sounds like a good thing. Tim
I asked zipp if they are going to produce smaller Vuka aerobars (for the smaller riders). But their answer was “Sorry - we do not have plans to make alternative length aero bars right now”. I will try to ask (email) Josh if there is any advantage in smaller aerobars.
Have you looked at the Easton Attack TT? Not much flexibility as far as moving bars around, but it looks pretty aero, definitely one of the lightest setups, and very narrow.
I have the easton Delta Force carbon bars with the aeroforce carbon clip-ons, they appear to be pretty aero, especially for a basebar/clipon setup. They are also very lightweight 210g for the basebar/410g for the clip-ons.
All of these are very nice bars, and I’ve used all of them except for the new 3T. I would think that your primary selection criteria is how well the bars fit you and your current bike. I ride a 51cm Cervelo P3C, which is the smallest frame in this line that takes 700c wheels. The 3T bars would put the arm rests too high for me, which means that I can’t use this really interesting aero bar. The Tula’s are very nice, but don’t forget that they have "pods* at the ends of the basebars that might or might not be aero. My biggest issue with the Tulas was flex during starts, standing climbs, and turn arounds. The Heds (and Ovals) are a good baseline, have a long track record, and are very adjustable. Their pad heights are low, too. My personal preference always have been for Vision’s integrated bars, though I have issues with pad height, as the stem is fixed. My ideal bars would have their 22 degree drop on the base bar.
My compromise has been Oval’s A700 bar, which is the stiffest aerobar out there, has a good frontal profile, and is extremely adjustable. All of the bars that you list are excellent–it’s just a matter of getting the right fit for you. Differences in CdA within this specific group of bars shouldn’t be significant.
X2
find what fits you. remember there are multiple factors and positions. What is good for me in aero puts my pads in the way of my knees when I am out of saddle (which is inefficient anyway) and is mildly annoying. I could perhaps nose down my bars a bit to help but that is not the topic of the thread.
Re width, I thought that bar width was dictated by shoulders, not hips (which are narrower unless you are a pear). though again not so much an issue when you are in aero.
from tunnel testin, 3T Ventus bar won hands down by a good amount… very well done and very thing bar and brake, A pure TT handlebar with some very nice details. It wont fit everyone but if it fit yu
ou, it s the fastest choice available so far from the testing i have seen…
Holy Splitting Wedge, Batman. I recall a mishap on my Schwinn Tiger where I hit a curb and ended up hitting my groin on the stem. With a setup like that, I would not have ben able to have children.
Holy Splitting Wedge, Batman. I recall a mishap on my Schwinn Tiger where I hit a curb and ended up hitting my groin on the stem. With a setup like that, I would not have ben able to have children.
where do you get the middle piece of carbon fiber to hold the PT? i would rather not mount my pt on the stem but if it is directly on the aerobar i hit it with my wrist
