My girlfriend is fairly new to road bike cycling. Can ride her hybrid bike no problem, can ride on the hoods no problem, but is still pretty terrified by aerobars.
Anyone have some tips for getting used to them? Should I set them up real wide at first maybe?
Put her and bike on a trainer first, then find straight road with no traffic.
My first time was a bit scary as I recall, it feels very unnatural.
Good bike fit so she is less unstable
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NOT TO SIXTY!!!
Make sure they fit. Assuming she’s on a road bike, get shorter length aero bars. They feel weird to everybody at first. Confidence will come with practice.
My girlfriend is fairly new to road bike cycling. Can ride her hybrid bike no problem, can ride on the hoods no problem, but is still pretty terrified by aerobars.
Anyone have some tips for getting used to them? Should I set them up real wide at first maybe?
Progression. One hand on aerobars, place back on hoods. Work until she can get one hand/arm into the aerobars with no problem. Repeat on other arm. Work on both arms.
The hardest thing for me was the weight transition between hoods and aerobars. If I hadn’t had a lot of road time and able to ride no handed stably, I’d have had a hard time with it. Once in, no problem. Hoods, no problem. Middle point…blegh.
John
If she’s new to road cycling how about giving her a season or two to become adept at the bike handling first? Why the rush to aero bars?
Check to make sure her handlebars are straight. It increases stability exponentially.
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If she’s new to road cycling how about giving her a season or two to become adept at the bike handling first? Why the rush to aero bars?
I agree with this sentiment, but if I were just starting out in triathlon and saw everyone else on aerobars, I’d want to be on them as soon as possible, too. So … I tell people I know who are trying to get used to aerobars to go find a large parking lot and practice. We have a mega-church in a nearby town and the parking lot is HUGE. Plenty of room to practice transitioning from the base bar to the aerobars and back, etc. Shopping malls early on Sunday mornings, industrial parks, etc. – good places to get a feel for the bike.
life is two short to wait TWO seasons!
maybe one season though =)
I am currently eating some apple crisp made by my lovely girlfriend. She can also ride in the aerobars. Two for one deal, my friends.
Now I will tell you why.
Chris
Have her practice having her hands on the hoods, but with her forearms resting on the part of the bar behind the hoods (see Levi below). This is a similar position to the aerobars, but with the arms wider, and access to the brakes (which should make her feel more comfortable while getting used to a lower position).
If she’s used to a road bike, set her aerobars up in the “slam position”. She can start by grabbing the ends of the aerobars instead of the hoods (i.e. not using the armrests). Going to aero bars usually means shifting weight quite a bit forward, so the handling is impacted. By starting this way, the weight distribution should stay the same as her road position.
I wonder how many people got that quote?! Beautiful!