I have just started riding in the aero position and I have the hed s-bend clip-ons. I can not get my wrist comfortable with these aero bars. I have cut about 1.5in from the bar mounting end of these bars. Is there an optimal hand placement on these bars? Do I need more time in the bars and get my wrist more flexible? Help me out here, please.
Matt
Do you have carpal tunnel syndrome?
Are you using a “death-grip” when riding? It might also be an issue of not having your wrist’s relaxed.
Its hard to determine without seeing your positioning.
I’ve been riding aerobars for 15 years. over the past 1.5 years I’ve used the VisionTech clip-ons. They are mounted at a slightly downward position, for a more horizonal front end at the shifters. Last week I broke the VT clip-on so I bought a HED S-bend. Its pretty darn extreme to ride with the S -bends even after so many years riding in aerobars. It’ll take some getting use to, I can imagine it’ll take you even longer. Give it more time and use a “wait and see what happens” attitude before you make a decision.
S-bends are pretty aggressive and are meant to place pressure on the wrists. Sounds strange but you’ll find that when on regular aerobars without the s-bend, when you wand to go fast and really apply some major power to the pedals you’ll probably choke up on the bars and end up in a position similar to the S-bends. During normal riding I doubt most people will use the S-bend position because of the excessive strain and non-relaxed position. I’m sure you’re body will adapt to a point after riding the s-bends for a while but if you are having problems you might want to go for some regular extensions.
I have HED bars, both the 1-piece on my tri bike and the clip-lites sometimes on my road bike. I like the standard extensions better than the s-bends. Granted the S-bends would be useful on really hilly courses where you’re really grinding those gears but for the most part I’d go with the normal extensions. The regular extensions are just more versatile. Ride relaxed most of the time and when you are ready to crank just choke up a bit on the bars. I also can’t imagine fast technical descents on the s-bends, if I’m not relaxed on my bars descending things get pretty twitchy.
On that note, if you end up taking my advice, I have a pair of barely used normal carbon extensions that I’d be willing to trade for those s-bends, assuming that the cut lengths are similar. I’m not offering this trying to get a better or worse set of extensions from you, it’s just that I have two sets of the normal extensions and I’ve been thinking it would be cool to have one set of each for different courses.
“I have just started riding in the aero position and I have the hed s-bend clip-ons.”
Try the more conventional bars. The S bend doesn’t seem to be the ticket for everybody.
Thank you everyone for the advice. I have only been on these bars for a couple weeks. I will just keep using them and see what happens. I just wanted to make sure that I was not doing something wrong.
Tai, If I cant get comfortable on these after a few more weeks of use, I will keep your offer in mind.
Matt
I think it also depends on how high or low you have your elbow pads mounted. I have my pads elevated quite a bit (I am old and stiff) and I know I could not use the s bends.
Aloha,
Larry
Larry had a good point too. If you are using the arm pad risers that’ll make the s-bends a little more extreme as well. Keep the arm rests as low as possible and use a spacer on the stem to raise the bars a bit if this is the case.
It also depends on what you want the bars to do for you. If you are using the bike primarily for going short and fast than s-bends are perfect. If it’s meant to be a long distance relaxed aero machine than a little less aggressive bar is probably a better bet.
I do this also. I have 2 TT bikes, one setup with the VT clip-ons for long distance and one setup with the S-bends for short distance. I think it’ll workout really well after I get some more miles on the s-bends. They are a tad scarey to ride at first.
I had the same problem when I first installed the s-bends on my HED bar last Nov., but I was using the spacer under the pads with the shallow (carbon) s-bend bar. I had some wrist pain that when I removed the spacer the pain went away. I would either try removing the spacer or using a deep s-bend. (I think the metal/alloy bends are the deeper ones, but I’m not sure). Or maybe try doing both, but I now ride about 115 miles per week and have no pain at all. I love em.
Are you left or right handed? Which wrist? 
I use staraights with a slight height difference between the arm pad and the wrist location. This reduces the strain but still gives you the option of power when you need it (which going by my running is all the time).