I'm a husband and dad of 5 with a full-time job. Also, I gave a possible speed improvement in the second sentence of my answer. If you do try them then take some time to practice riding with them and stay safe! My ride is 10 miles (16 km) each way and I used to get numb hands on my flat bar road bike after about 6-7 miles. Checked my speed after 32 km (I don't use a display) and found my average speed was 2.5% higher than my previous best for that route, which was done with buddy and a tailwind. Anyone considering using aero bars in these events should exercise caution and use some common sense. They’re considered better suited for the majority of commuters, however. For example, on my last ride I felt flat and was trying to take it easy. Now these things are individual, so YMMV, and what sort of speed gain is possible for anyone depends a lot on the aero characteristics of the starting position, the ending position and what if any power change is experienced when riding with the TT bars (often riders experience a loss of power when riding in a more aggressively tucked or stretched out position). The red quick release clip makes it easy for … If you want to make your flat handlebar more comfortable check out the Ergon GP5 handlebar extensions ($70 on REI). These results are highly dependent on the rider and bike. But this winter while bike shopping I’ve become increasingly convinced by the data that aero bars may be the key to unlocking the greatest aero improvements we’re seeing. Knowing that body position is more critical to achieving aerodynamic benefits than having an aero bike frame, what kind of time penalty should I expect to see in my upcoming races as a result of my non-aero “converted” tri-bike w/ drop bars?” A: Jake, thanks for the question. I've been a drops fanatics before recorded history, but for a street fixed, bullhorns or "base bars" make a lot of sense IMO. my group catches another group in front, or just after starting the race when most riders are together). The only feature I do not not as much as the Easton's is the drops. It is ok to slow down and stop occasionally, but it becomes quite uncomfortable if there is a lot of maneuvering involved in your commute. In any case, versus the standard upright position on the hoods and the drops, aero bars are a significant reduction in drag. You need to fit them, test them, tweak the position a bit, test again. More room on the handle bar means that more accessories can be mounted on them. 1 Like. A decent... My name's Sam. Currently I'm on the alu Zipp SL80 bars with compact bend, but am intrigued by the aero bars. They're a nice improvement but there is still a significant learning curve to them, both in terms of how to handle the bike while using them and getting used to the body position. Standard road drop bars, with clip-on aero bars, have significantly more adjustments, with stem lengths and rises, different bar types, and other considerations. Drop-in . If you ride on the hoods and the drops and are almost never on the tops, then going to an aero bar with bare tops could be a great way to make real gains. A commuter bike with drop bars doesn’t necessarily have to be a road bike. For each position or upgrade, Specialized prefer to present the number of seconds saved per 40 kilometers in a constant solo effort. However, a ride leader might exercise their discretion to ask you to leave. Cyclpus A2 Portable Electric Pump - Ready! Nice answer. I did some analysis of my own TT performance over a course I raced twice in 2009. Dean frequently writes tech articles for BeginnerTriathlete.com and is humble enough that he would likely never tell you (so we'll tell you for him) just how fast he is on a bike.Dean holds multiple TT course records in New England, having broken records previously held by some of America's best pro cyclists, and he set these … One of the most important pieces of equipment on your bicycle is your tires. Probability after n … The question can't be definitively answered as such things are so individually variable. It's not a big deal if the road is of a very consistent gradient, but will become a bit of a pain if the road is a little more variable. How to diagnose a lightswitch that appears to do nothing. My CdA reduced from 0.334m^2 on the road bike to 0.286m^2 on the borrowed TT bike, a 14% reduction. 16° The angle the drops flare out from a vertical line down from the hood zone. I did a road bike tt in March and rode the whole way with my hands on the hoods with my forearms directly behind on the bars. Utilizes composite materials in an … Remember that at 32kmh, two-thirds of the total power is used to overcome air resistance. Even a flat bar isn’t ideal for this kind of commute, but it’s a little better. The Zipp's unlike most other aero bars is there is no area to mount any stuff. I run a Selcof aero road drop bar with an aero stem that matches. Note that you cannot just clip on aero bars and go faster, because your bike position will be little different from riding on the hoods. Max width was 30 if my memory serves correctly, I believe that's why the London gb squad track drops flared out so much on the tops, then narrowed at the drops. Even primitive time trial bikes with cowhorn-style bars from the 1990s allow a significant 7% drop in oxygen consumption at 25mph(1). Just when you need that inch or two between the rearview mirrors of two cars, you will be thankful. Even changing your bars from standard bars to the wing … In a group situation, remember that your actions affect the people riding close to you. It goes on a (hopefully acceptable) tangent by discussing an alternative hand position for road cyclists, some of whom may not be able (due to racing regulations) or willing (due to vanity) to install aero bars. Data from wind-tunnel trials show that dropping a rider’s shoulder and head height, nearer to a horizontal torso angle, results in less power … An important default filter being set - should a "Clear" button clear this important filter? Besides the aero bar out front, these bars also have a hefty 25 degree flare, which makes fitting a larger handlebar bag that bit easier. Aero Bars Vs Drops: What Is Faster? Thanks for contributing an answer to Bicycles Stack Exchange! A narrower bar also means less room to mount accessories, such as bike computer, lights, bell, phone mount etc. A bigger drop leaves you flatter-backed for aero performance, but it’s hard on the body. Even when used only as a camera holder. Aero Bars versus Road Bike Drop Bars . Keep in mind though that you will lose some mounting space and having a narrower grip means that you will sacrifice control. Because of the geometry and the position, a TT bike is more difficult to handle than a road bike. Even though this is a question of personal preference only, a bike with drop handlebars just looks good. In this case it meant an improvement of 3% in speed or a little over 1km/h. The lead groups often are riding fast and in close proximity, and obviously they are mostly on loose terrain. Why don't flights fly towards their landing approach path sooner? 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