I might be showing up my naivety here but hey ho, I have to learn somehow.
Why do aero bar pads support the forearms and not the elbow. To me it would reduce the stress/strain on the forearms to zero if the elbow were to rest on the pads.
mine support my elbows
.
mine support my elbows
Agreed. I don’t know what he’s talking about either.
improper fit?
I think most triathlete’s placement of their forearms on the pad is because that’s where
it provides the most control and power. Try it for yourself and see.
your elbows are on top of the pads? not your forearms?
I should probably clarify that when I say forearms I mean 4-8" below the elbow (NOT on the elbow itself).
From the Challenge Taiwan thread:
Off elbows
Off elbows
Pretty much on elbows
I ride my TT bike so my forearms rest on the pads just in front of my elbows.
As you get better at triathlon, you’ll get a smaller and smaller frame until you’re holding the front wheel skewer between your thumbs and forefingers. It is the ultimate in aero.
See how Van Lierde looks like a gorilla humping a beach ball? He’s almost there.
From the master himself.
Right. With a lot more hard work and some luck you can get to here.
And then to here.
You mean there is still free speed available for me??
I wonder if having the arm rest on your forearm instead of the elbow allows your elbow to flex and absorb shock.
Well I think it is mostly due to body positioning on the bike. Also, in the case of road racers like Tony Martin, the UCI has a limited length you can have your aerobars, forcing you to ride slightly shorter bars than some people might find optimal. therefore pushing the pads further forward on the arm.
As it stands at the moment my elbows are just behind the steerer, and pads are way forward on the bars. So either my fit is awful and/or I need more flexibility in my setup.
You mean there is still free speed available for me??
Possibly. Seat’s too high, but the handlebar storage is looking solid. If those training wheels are disc like they look, you could go pro. Except at Rev3 and WTC Maryland. They hate pros.
Based on the posted photos, I doubt many folks actually ride with their elbows right on the armrests. I know that if I set mine up that way, two things happen, one of the major nerves that runs to my hands gets compressed and my hands go to sleep and, when I get out of the saddle to climb, i hit my kneecaps on the armrests. But I only go forward enough that I don’t hit them when out of the saddle and that feels about right for staying aero, powerful and “comfortable.” (That’s in quotes because it’s relative, of course.)
If you haven’t tried the CeeGees armrest pads, you should. They are super thick and lots of people get feeling back in their hands after switching to them.
If you haven’t tried the CeeGees armrest pads, you should. They are super thick and lots of people get feeling back in their hands after switching to them.
I heart my CeeGees!
You mean there is still free speed available for me??
Possibly. Seat’s too high, but the handlebar storage is looking solid. If those training wheels are disc like they look, you could go pro. Except at Rev3 and WTC Maryland. They hate pros.
Well played.