Steering control was the primary issue for me. The smallest movement with the aero bars translated into a larger movement of the bike. I found it necessary to go back to the handlebars when being passed by a car or truck as the push of air affected steering more than usual. I bought the aero bars primarily to enhance endurance riding and found the aero position fairly comfortable and better for maintaining cadence thus allowing me to ride faster and further. I am sure the control issue will solve itself with time and experience.
I crashed 😂 I got cocky and rode my TT bike on an uneven surface. Lost control and hit the deck hard. I’ve lost a bit of my confidence after tbh, and any tips for regaining it would be appreciated!
My first experience of aero bars was bamby-ing around the local industrial estate and then after finally getting confident reaching back for the water bottle and nearly ending my existence there and then :)
Another tip is to have the pads wide in the beginning to get the aero feel. Narrow elbows like Mark in the video are a bit more twitchy and take more time to become confident using. Great video!
Bought a TT bike and tried the aero bars right away. Be careful in areas with casual cyclists and kids around, better stay on your brakes. Looking forward to doing a ride during the week without the Sunday crowd around. Speed and feel is just amazing once you get used to it. I also noticed that I can shift 2 gears up with the same effort when in aero position, so switching between positions also requires frequent shifting, electronic shifters with additional buttons are just great for that.
Use the bars for trails and bridges and highways. Use the handles for sharp turns and intersections. Don't go fast downhills unless it's for sure a bike trail, and even then there might be someone walking on that bike trail
Hi guys! Cheers from Brazil! Thanks for the tips! Recently I bought an aerobars to my road bike! I thought it would be easy...but with your tips I hope I can do it naturally as soon as possible!
Thanks so much for this video. When I first tried aerobars on the open road I was very unstable on them and I knew I needed to find some videos to see how to work with them. This was the first video that came up and I watched it several times until I was sure I had the technique solidly in my head. Then I went to my local mall parking lot early in the morning and practiced for almost 40 minutes and got comfortable with getting into and out of the bars.
Thanks for the video! Tried my TT bars for the first time today in a half mile loop around the neighborhood with some shallow climbs, descents, and flats. This video gave me the confidence to actually try it, and I made it around the loop a few times with no incidents 😎. Handling will take getting used to, but I can't wait to try it on a real ride.
@Mark - You do not need to get completely off the aerobars to get your water bottle and take a drink. All you need to do is lift one arm off the aerobars, retrieve your water bottle and take a drink while leaning on the opposite arm, still resting on an aerobar. I've been doing this for many thousands of miles.
I know, I do the same. But most people that will have clicked on this video don't know how to ride on aero bars, so we're starting with the first steps. No need to overload with more info ;)
Thanks for the video. I just purchased my first set of aero bars (so this came at a great time). I like the suggestion of adding stack height for beginning. I initially thought I might have to drop that to accommodate for the extra height of the bars.
First time on aero bars..borrowed someone else's bike and winged it on the race. Won my age group but was scared as hell Haha, turbo would have been smarter!
Another tip. Use those risers! Angle your bars higher as long as it doesn't cause pain. As your hands get closer to your helmet, the more aero you become.
I tried clip on aerobars for a week on my road bike and it wasn't too bad, I even snagged a KOM with it. However I took them off after a while because I didn't enjoy the back pain. I am not the most flexible bloke out there.
The more you do it, the more your body adapts, you get a sore arse from cycling but after a week you don't, same thing but takes a little longer. I am 60 and have no problems, even with my decrepid old body.
Did you mention that when in the aero position it puts a strain on different parts of the legs? For me, the strain goes higher up on the backside of my leg, almost up to my bum.
Are people really that afraid of theses handlebars? I ride my roadbike with elbows on my normal handlebars and hands dangling in the air all the time. Now I bought those aerobars so I can get into that position more comfortably.
I see a lot of people referring to the drag equation what talking about when to get out of an aero position and move into a more powerful but less aero position (about 20km/h) am I correct in thinking that the 20km/h people refer to is net velocity rather than rider velocity so for example if you are riding into a 30km/h head wind you would always be better off staying aero and if you have a 30km/h tail wind you should almost always stay in a more powerful position (unless you are going over 50km/h)
The problem with aero bars is that in that position my stomach/chest feels squished and I feel like I'm not getting in enough air. Yet, I'm not in that low of a position. Also, it can help to have a shorter/stubbier saddle. Mine is longer racing bike style saddle and I may need to chop off the front or buy a newer/shorter one because it can be quite uncomfortable when trying to stay in the tucked position.
1st time a went on them, I was in a praying mantis postion, going 27mph down a desent, then crashed, I'm scared to go on them again, I've moved the postion so it's alot more steady to handle
A great video guys (apologies if I've offended the PC out there) - please keep the content going. I know your aim is to cater for all levels but I particular enjoy what I call the 'progression' videos (raising the skill level from newbie to increasingly competent). Thank you again.
Thank you for your tips. However, I have been practicing on my new tt bicycle and I am stuck in one area. I had not had any problems in engaging the aerobars with my right hand/arm but I do not seem to be able to do it with my left. I even had an accident a week ago by trying to leave my left hand off. What would you recommend?. Otherwise, i appreciate the time taken in making the video and imparting a little of your experience in cycling.
Honestly time trials are so scarce here it's a pity. There's a reason why there hasn't been a French Tour de France winner for a long time. Since the era of aero bikes cyclists that spend more time on a TT bike get better at it. But here outside of a few gentlemen at the back of the season time trials are rare. Logistics might be an issue but you can't really say these events are crowded either. My first experience with aerobars was quite frightening to be honest, I was swinging left and right because every slight movement has a much bigger impact on your steering. As I took more time riding on them it got better, but I still need good visibility of what's coming ahead to get into them, I'm not really comfortable cornering blindly with them cause I might overreact. But I like riding on them, you feel fast even if you only get 2/3km/h.
Oh yeah and I forgot to add: any ride longer than 75 km is painful for my lower back, getting a bike fit soon, hoping to get a better position. Just like I need to get out of the saddle on a normal bike, I often need to get off the aerobars to relax my back, a flat course doesn't really suit me
xGshikamaru that’s annoying, sorry to hear that. Practice a little indoors first, if you can. Just build things up over time. Bike fits can help hugely, as well as spending a bit of time stretching your hips, legs and back
I just got my first tri bike, and I'm finding my forearms and lower biceps are hurting (getting tired) do I just need more time on the bars to strengthen my arm muscles?
Shawn, as for the forearms I'd pay attention on how hard you are holding on to the aerobars and perhaps notice you are holding way too tight? they key is relaxing but that only comes with practice so try not squeezing them any harder than necessary. lower biceps also working too much might be part of that. maybe your are trying too aggressive of a position to start with? and by that I mean the aerobars are too low for now and you need to lift them up an inch or two? You'd be surprised how even 1/2 an inch makes a considerable difference. I started mine on the higher setting and every several weeks lowered it bit by bit. my 2 cents. good luck!
Agree with what Rod said, as well as: Do you feel like you're almost pulling up? Like, your pads are acting as a pivot and then you're pulling up on the bar ends? That's happened to me and I solved it with reducing the reach and/or moving the pads further back. The should be right below or juuust in front of your elbow, not nearer to the middle.
Do you know of any company out there that makes 'clip-on' aero bars for flat handlebars? It seems there are a million and one options for round handlebars, but not so much for flat handlebars a la Pinarello F10. Cheers!
I don't but your best bet might be getting an integrated set up such as this from visionshop.visiontechusa.com/en/type/aerobars/trimax-carbon-si-j-bend
s bend will kill your wrists and isnt as aero overall to what people used to think. Get a high L bend and watch the bike fit video on GTN to set them up. I love mine from profile design
How was your first experience riding on aerobars? Let us know in the comments below 👇
Is it better to use a shorter stem?
Crashing. Don't buy a TT bike if you're only experience with bikes are MTBs.
Steering control was the primary issue for me. The smallest movement with the aero bars translated into a larger movement of the bike. I found it necessary to go back to the handlebars when being passed by a car or truck as the push of air affected steering more than usual. I bought the aero bars primarily to enhance endurance riding and found the aero position fairly comfortable and better for maintaining cadence thus allowing me to ride faster and further. I am sure the control issue will solve itself with time and experience.
It was much much better than I feared.... Got so much used to it nowadays....
I crashed 😂 I got cocky and rode my TT bike on an uneven surface. Lost control and hit the deck hard. I’ve lost a bit of my confidence after tbh, and any tips for regaining it would be appreciated!
My first experience of aero bars was bamby-ing around the local industrial estate and then after finally getting confident reaching back for the water bottle and nearly ending my existence there and then :)
My first experience was scary! Gradually they felt more normal and became the chosen way to ride.
Another tip is to have the pads wide in the beginning to get the aero feel. Narrow elbows like Mark in the video are a bit more twitchy and take more time to become confident using.
Great video!
I've just put Aero Bars onto my road bike! These tips are great. Hopefully it will all feel natural as quickly as possible!
You need a tri bike for that. Roadbikes are different geometry so not comfortable for as long.
I wonder how much of an aero benefit there really is when you are constantly riding around in slow motion.
Matt Dion it’s quite a skill Matt ;)
😂😁
Well it still saves energy because you're doing so efficiently.
It helps me a lot when encountering headwinds.
Bought a TT bike and tried the aero bars right away. Be careful in areas with casual cyclists and kids around, better stay on your brakes. Looking forward to doing a ride during the week without the Sunday crowd around. Speed and feel is just amazing once you get used to it. I also noticed that I can shift 2 gears up with the same effort when in aero position, so switching between positions also requires frequent shifting, electronic shifters with additional buttons are just great for that.
Use the bars for trails and bridges and highways. Use the handles for sharp turns and intersections. Don't go fast downhills unless it's for sure a bike trail, and even then there might be someone walking on that bike trail
Hi guys! Cheers from Brazil! Thanks for the tips!
Recently I bought an aerobars to my road bike! I thought it would be easy...but with your tips I hope I can do it naturally as soon as possible!
I’ve just bought aero bars and I like them so far. Will have a look at raising the handles a bit.
For people who find it difficult to get into more extreme positions try to do some stretches for your hamstrings
No. Stretching = Bad
Thanks so much for this video. When I first tried aerobars on the open road I was very unstable on them and I knew I needed to find some videos to see how to work with them. This was the first video that came up and I watched it several times until I was sure I had the technique solidly in my head. Then I went to my local mall parking lot early in the morning and practiced for almost 40 minutes and got comfortable with getting into and out of the bars.
I just love you Heather. Fraser and Mark are amazing but You’re my hero. 🤷🏽♂️
Thanks for the video! Tried my TT bars for the first time today in a half mile loop around the neighborhood with some shallow climbs, descents, and flats. This video gave me the confidence to actually try it, and I made it around the loop a few times with no incidents 😎. Handling will take getting used to, but I can't wait to try it on a real ride.
@Mark - You do not need to get completely off the aerobars to get your water bottle and take a drink. All you need to do is lift one arm off the aerobars, retrieve your water bottle and take a drink while leaning on the opposite arm, still resting on an aerobar. I've been doing this for many thousands of miles.
I know, I do the same. But most people that will have clicked on this video don't know how to ride on aero bars, so we're starting with the first steps. No need to overload with more info ;)
Thanks for the video. I just purchased my first set of aero bars (so this came at a great time). I like the suggestion of adding stack height for beginning. I initially thought I might have to drop that to accommodate for the extra height of the bars.
Nice video! Just a sugestion, but do a video on how to switch gears with the aero bars
Lot of time trial bikes have bar ends on the front of the aero bars.
First time on aero bars..borrowed someone else's bike and winged it on the race. Won my age group but was scared as hell Haha, turbo would have been smarter!
Literally What I Need to learn to imorove my Aero Cycling Position and Travel!!!
Thanks Gtn!!!😊🌄😇💖💯
Good info. Definitely didn’t take into account going slightly faster the stable I’d be on the bars. Definitely feels like learning to ride again.
Another tip. Use those risers! Angle your bars higher as long as it doesn't cause pain. As your hands get closer to your helmet, the more aero you become.
I tried clip on aerobars for a week on my road bike and it wasn't too bad, I even snagged a KOM with it. However I took them off after a while because I didn't enjoy the back pain. I am not the most flexible bloke out there.
The more you do it, the more your body adapts, you get a sore arse from cycling but after a week you don't, same thing but takes a little longer. I am 60 and have no problems, even with my decrepid old body.
Excellent video on Aerobars. Thanks for sharing
You forgot the neck. At least for me one hour on the bars makes my upper back/shoulder/neck area hurt quite nicely.
My neck dies every time Im on my aero bars
Very important point
Did you mention that when in the aero position it puts a strain on different parts of the legs? For me, the strain goes higher up on the backside of my leg, almost up to my bum.
The main thing is: how low can you go? Can you do the aero?
Are people really that afraid of theses handlebars?
I ride my roadbike with elbows on my normal handlebars and hands dangling in the air all the time.
Now I bought those aerobars so I can get into that position more comfortably.
I see a lot of people referring to the drag equation what talking about when to get out of an aero position and move into a more powerful but less aero position (about 20km/h) am I correct in thinking that the 20km/h people refer to is net velocity rather than rider velocity so for example if you are riding into a 30km/h head wind you would always be better off staying aero and if you have a 30km/h tail wind you should almost always stay in a more powerful position (unless you are going over 50km/h)
Nice info
The problem with aero bars is that in that position my stomach/chest feels squished and I feel like I'm not getting in enough air. Yet, I'm not in that low of a position. Also, it can help to have a shorter/stubbier saddle. Mine is longer racing bike style saddle and I may need to chop off the front or buy a newer/shorter one because it can be quite uncomfortable when trying to stay in the tucked position.
Maybe you need to put your pads further apart. I had the same issue and resetting the pad position fixed it for me
1st time a went on them, I was in a praying mantis postion, going 27mph down a desent, then crashed, I'm scared to go on them again, I've moved the postion so it's alot more steady to handle
Awesome & Thanks :)
A great video guys (apologies if I've offended the PC out there) - please keep the content going. I know your aim is to cater for all levels but I particular enjoy what I call the 'progression' videos (raising the skill level from newbie to increasingly competent). Thank you again.
(You haven't offended anyone, just made yourself look like a gammon...)
Good !
Quick question: does an aero bar extension block the standard handle bars at all? I like to use these when I'm climbing. thanks
Where are you riding in this video?
Thank you for your tips. However, I have been practicing on my new tt bicycle and I am stuck in one area. I had not had any problems in engaging the aerobars with my right hand/arm but I do not seem to be able to do it with my left. I even had an accident a week ago by trying to leave my left hand off. What would you recommend?. Otherwise, i appreciate the time taken in making the video and imparting a little of your experience in cycling.
Any recommendations for Aero bars?
Honestly time trials are so scarce here it's a pity. There's a reason why there hasn't been a French Tour de France winner for a long time. Since the era of aero bikes cyclists that spend more time on a TT bike get better at it. But here outside of a few gentlemen at the back of the season time trials are rare. Logistics might be an issue but you can't really say these events are crowded either. My first experience with aerobars was quite frightening to be honest, I was swinging left and right because every slight movement has a much bigger impact on your steering. As I took more time riding on them it got better, but I still need good visibility of what's coming ahead to get into them, I'm not really comfortable cornering blindly with them cause I might overreact. But I like riding on them, you feel fast even if you only get 2/3km/h.
Oh yeah and I forgot to add: any ride longer than 75 km is painful for my lower back, getting a bike fit soon, hoping to get a better position. Just like I need to get out of the saddle on a normal bike, I often need to get off the aerobars to relax my back, a flat course doesn't really suit me
xGshikamaru that’s annoying, sorry to hear that. Practice a little indoors first, if you can. Just build things up over time. Bike fits can help hugely, as well as spending a bit of time stretching your hips, legs and back
Also, don't try to stand up while on the aero bars. Almost crashed doing it.
How much speed can you gain in a flat course?
I just got my first tri bike, and I'm finding my forearms and lower biceps are hurting (getting tired) do I just need more time on the bars to strengthen my arm muscles?
Shawn, as for the forearms I'd pay attention on how hard you are holding on to the aerobars and perhaps notice you are holding way too tight? they key is relaxing but that only comes with practice so try not squeezing them any harder than necessary. lower biceps also working too much might be part of that. maybe your are trying too aggressive of a position to start with? and by that I mean the aerobars are too low for now and you need to lift them up an inch or two? You'd be surprised how even 1/2 an inch makes a considerable difference. I started mine on the higher setting and every several weeks lowered it bit by bit. my 2 cents. good luck!
Agree with what Rod said, as well as: Do you feel like you're almost pulling up? Like, your pads are acting as a pivot and then you're pulling up on the bar ends? That's happened to me and I solved it with reducing the reach and/or moving the pads further back. The should be right below or juuust in front of your elbow, not nearer to the middle.
Cervelo P5X looks so out of this world 😨
Nice glasses Heather. A bit pimpish but really cool
Do you know of any company out there that makes 'clip-on' aero bars for flat handlebars? It seems there are a million and one options for round handlebars, but not so much for flat handlebars a la Pinarello F10. Cheers!
I don't but your best bet might be getting an integrated set up such as this from visionshop.visiontechusa.com/en/type/aerobars/trimax-carbon-si-j-bend
Thank you, Heather. I was hoping for something a bit less expensive, but this IS less expensive than a whole new TT bike! :)
Cheers!
I want to buy me one but i don't know which kind of Aero Bars i want to have for my Roadbike..The S-bend or the L-bend? What do you think is better?
s bend will kill your wrists and isnt as aero overall to what people used to think. Get a high L bend and watch the bike fit video on GTN to set them up. I love mine from profile design
Kumar Ok thank you very much!✌
I'll notice that! Yeah profile design will be my opinion too👍
L-bend is better to prevent carpal tunnel injuries. Especially with the vibration of the road if yours aren't really in a good shape
xGshikamaru Ok thank you very much too!💪
I'll notice that👍
I find steering a bit unnerving as it’s so twitchy.
Sometimes i think my arse is getting more and more into shape... the shape and density if slimer from the Ghostbusters *SadfaceCrybabyEmoji
why not a camel back ?
You don't even need aero bars to ride aero.
Just place your arm midway between your wrist and elbow on the bar....
I do this all the time. I find it a lot less tiring and also riding is quicker. Haven't seen anyone else do it though.
Yes so you crash 100% if there's a small hole on the road ;)
20 seconds of slowmo crappy music of a guy on a bike? cmon.
You have to be a complete fanny not to be able get into the aero bars. It's so instinctive.