I am pretty happy with my Scott Plasma and I’ve hit most of the big items to improve aerodynamics
with a TT helmet, Zipp 808s and a professional fit by Retul. The one area I look at for possible improvement
is the cockpit which is stock with round Profile base bars and Carbon Stryke ski tips.
I am not going away from the ski-tip bars, I’ve tried to straighten my wrists out on some S-bend and
straight bars on friend’s bikes and it is not happening.
Does anybody have any data on how much a wing base bar, or integrated setup would be worth on
time or aero efficiency? My thinking is that there is not much to be gained compared to wheels & helmet
assuming my position remains the same…but if anybody can convince me otherwise I may
go ‘stimulate’ a local bike shop for a new set of bars.
How would this compare to taking that last spacer out from under my bars?
How would this compare to taking that last spacer out from under my bars?
depends on how big the spacer is. is it 3mm or 1.5cm?
anyway, if you feel comfortable in your position but you feel uncomfortable without the spacers (lower back and/or hamstrings get tight), don’t do it. work on your flexibility first, then remove it.
flexibility is something that costs money if you’re taking some yoga classes or something. i’ve never taken yoga, but i numerous cyclist & triathlete friends who swear by it and claim it’s really helped them with their flexibility.
me, i stretch 6-8 minutes a day, every day. it’s worked for me.
as to your original question - if you can replicate your fit with integrated bars from, say, use, hed, 3t (brezza or ventus, doesn’t matter), or oval, then go for it. it won’t save you loads of time (i don’t know the actual number, but i’d guess 20 seconds over 40km), but if you have extra cash and you want to sex up your ride even further, nothing looks more pimp than a set of use bars hanging off the front of your bike.
(for all these bars, you can swap out the extensions so that you can use the extensions of your choice… given your preference for ski bends, you could use similar extensions from zipp or hed, or the single or double bend extensions from oval).
