I’m one of the many lurkers that only pops his head in every so often. I’ve just got a quick question for all the bike etiquette gurus around here.
I’ve got an MS charity ride next weekend and while I obviously won’t be using my full tri setup, i was wondering if there was anything wrong with using a shorty aerobar (like the VT mini). I know enough not to be in the bars in a paceline or around lots of other folks, but I’m mostly planning on riding solo as much as possible.
This will be my first 200 mile weekend and I’m using the ride as a big weekend (for me) in preparation for IMWI.
There shouldn’t be a problem. The VT clip-on with the bar connector in between the extensions is ITU Legal. So, i don’t think you’ll run a risk of impailing anyone this weekend. That is unless of course you wanted to!
I have shorties on my road bike 24/7 and ride with a roadie group regularly. It’s not so much of an issue with the roadies as having aero bars on your road bike but having the common sense knowing when and when not to ride on them. It’s amazing how some trigeeks have no common sense about this.
Obviously if you’re in the middle of the pace line you don’t ride on the aero bars but if you’re solo then use them as you please.
I did a century with just my wife one time and spent quite a bit of time on the aero bars. However, when doing a century with a large group we stay off them.
I was back and forth on that for a while. Truth be told, I’ll probably be riding most of day two with the GF, so I won’t really be in the aero position too much. I was debating swaping positions between the two days, but I’d have to move a bunch of stuff around to make it work out.
Because we’ve been riding together for the past few weeks, I’m mostly in a traditional road set up. After the MS ride, I’m going exclusively to my tri setup, especially as most of my riding time is going to be on the trainer during the week since I’m starting the new job with a much longer commute.
On top of all that, I’ve got the shorties lying around and I never get to use them…
