Has anyone ever tried using just washers as spacers between Vision armrests and the aero bars? My goal is to get the armrests as close to the aero bars as possible. I ground the 12.5 mm spacers down to about 2 or 3 mm, and it worked o.k., but if I could just as safely and effectively use some washers to accomplish the same thing, that is, get the armrests so that they are practically touching the aero bar, then I’d like to try that route.
What base bar? I have a stock all Vision setup (bullhorns, extensions, pads, bolts etc) with the pad cups touching the base bar…there was a spacer a few mm thick that came standard with the extension kit.
My set up is all Vision as well. I am not trying to get the armrest to touch the base bar. Instead, what I am trying to get the armrest to basically mount flush against the aerobar. I run my armrests as narrow as they will go. As a result, unless I go with a modified spacer set up I wind up increasing armrest stack.
I’m always going the other way. Using washers to raise the pads off the bars.
I had a friend with a machine shop make a set of pad risers from aluminum that fit Profile Design aerobars. They are 1" high and anodized in any color I wish.
I can see if he can make you a set of Vision risers at 2-3mm tall and anodized as you like? We can cost them at about $30. Let me know.
Here’s pic of the ones for Profile bars. The gold ones are anodized and replace the black riser shown in the picture.
I think they have bolts where you don’t have to have any spacer between the cups and the extension, not sure though. On a side note, I love the vision armrests and was able to put them on my t2+ hardware to produce a nice franken-aero bar (t2+ mounting hardware, 3t straight extensions, vision armrests). The zipties are there just for extra security that the cups don’t rotate since only one bolt is holding each one in although I don’t think I need them.
I took my spacers out, bought some shorter screws from boltdepot.com and that was it (no washers). I also trimmed up the supports so that I could put them on the narrowest holes and still fit my bottle. No problems here.
Has anyone ever tried using just washers as spacers between Vision armrests and the aero bars? My goal is to get the armrests as close to the aero bars as possible. I ground the 12.5 mm spacers down to about 2 or 3 mm, and it worked o.k., but if I could just as safely and effectively use some washers to accomplish the same thing, that is, get the armrests so that they are practically touching the aero bar, then I’d like to try that route.
I took the spacers out and used shorter screws… I might have stuck washers in but can’t recall… worked fine
didn’t but from bolt depot just went to the hardware store and used robertson screws
Has anyone ever tried using just washers as spacers between Vision armrests and the aero bars? My goal is to get the armrests as close to the aero bars as possible. I ground the 12.5 mm spacers down to about 2 or 3 mm, and it worked o.k., but if I could just as safely and effectively use some washers to accomplish the same thing, that is, get the armrests so that they are practically touching the aero bar, then I’d like to try that route.
Part 1: When I wanted to do the same thing I got a 3mm thick (I think it was about 50cm long and maybe 10mm wide) length of some sort of aluminium/alloy from local hardware store. Cut it down to basically the same size as the groove that the spacers fit in and drill (and paint it black if you’re serious about it!!). Just for overkill also made a pile of these so could decide between 3, 6, 9 mm rise as well (may also need to get a selection of screws as well to allow for different lengths). Works great.
Part 2: Subsequently bought 2 more pairs of vision bars. Turns out they came with 1 proper set of these spacers (assume vision/FSA realised people wanted this?). Perhaps before checking out hardware stores, see if you can get these from your local bike store?
I want to go the other way too. I like the bullhorns to be super steep, and the extensions more conventionally placed. Vision seem to stress that you are not to stack their own spacers on top of each other. Is this a serious concern?
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Thanks Paul. That looks like a very elegant solution. But . . . I am looking for a $2 solution! 
Thanks again though.
Thanks for the tips. I did the same thing with the thin strip of metal from the hardware store (I got it in the plumbing section). I fabricated one and it works, but I thought I’d try the washers before making the other one.
Vision does make micro armrests that come with a thin spacer that would work, but my lbs does not have any spare spacers around, so I’d need to order the whole armrest set just to get the spacers.
i bet if you ask around local triathletes somebody will have some in their bike parts bin.
I know I do. I would ship you some but its probably not worth the wait.
my concern with using two washers is that you will be depending on the bolts for torsional strength and that is probably an engineering nono.
Thanks for the tips. I did the same thing with the thin strip of metal from the hardware store (I got it in the plumbing section). I fabricated one and it works, but I thought I’d try the washers before making the other one.
Vision does make micro armrests that come with a thin spacer that would work, but my lbs does not have any spare spacers around, so I’d need to order the whole armrest set just to get the spacers.
i bet if you ask around local triathletes somebody will have some in their bike parts bin.
I know I do. I would ship you some but its probably not worth the wait.
my concern with using two washers is that you will be depending on the bolts for torsional strength and that is probably an engineering nono.
Thanks for the tips. I did the same thing with the thin strip of metal from the hardware store (I got it in the plumbing section). I fabricated one and it works, but I thought I’d try the washers before making the other one.
Vision does make micro armrests that come with a thin spacer that would work, but my lbs does not have any spare spacers around, so I’d need to order the whole armrest set just to get the spacers.
You’ve raised the unspoken issue I was contemplating, that is, the reduced surface area at the contact points and putting nearly all my faith in the torsional strength of the bolts.
play it safe! handlebar bits keep you upright