Does anyone commute with Aero-Bars?

72hundred

Had an idea today (bear with me:rolleyes:)!

I commute via the Park and then the Grand Canal road, that route has a lot of very straight cycle lanes with very few cars breaking the line (none usually in fact). So this had me thinking why not slap a pair of aerobars onto the bike and take advantage of this? Apparently you can save 10% of the watts at 40kph. The bike in question is a 2007 Briza 1.0.

Also I could take the aerobars off the Briza and onto the weekend bike for the summer TT's.

tunney

72hundred wrote: »

Had an idea today (bear with me:rolleyes:)!

I commute via the Park and then the Grand Canal road, that route has a lot of very straight cycle lanes with very few cars breaking the line (none usually in fact). So this had me thinking why not slap a pair of aerobars onto the bike and take advantage of this? Apparently you can save 10% of the watts at 40kph. The bike in question is a 2007 Briza 1.0.

Also I could take the aerobars off the Briza and onto the weekend bike for the summer TT's.

Do you wear a bag on your back?

Do you like crashing?

Ron DMC

Sometimes, but I usually bring a Mars or Snickers instead.

DirkVoodoo

On a commute, not practicing for a TT or triathlon = pointless and as mentioned before, potentially dangerous.

I expect the euro police will show up soon and tell you how totally lame it would be to have aero bars while commuting to work with a bag in tow. :pac:

72hundred

tunney wrote: »

Do you wear a bag on your back?

Do you like crashing?

No

and

No, although black ice had the better of me today and sliding along was a little cool.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

On a commute, not practicing for a TT or triathlon = pointless and as mentioned before, potentially dangerous.

I expect the euro police will show up soon and tell you how totally lame it would be to have aero bars while commuting to work with a bag in tow. :pac:

I'm sure they will! I await the handcuffs.

Chips Lovell

I can't imagine any commute where you'd be getting up to a speed where aerobars are much of an advantage. Sure, you might hit 40kph at times, but you're not going all out at that speed consistently. However, the main thing would be braking. If you're riding in a built up area on busy roads there's always the potential for someone stepping out in front of you or a car suddenly pulling out.

Raam

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I expect the euro police will show up soon and tell you how totally lame it would be to have aero bars while commuting to work with a bag in tow. :pac:

BEE-BAW-BEE-BAW-BEE-BAW

kenmc

Raam wrote: »

BEE-BAW-BEE-BAW-BEE-BAW

Bloody Euro police and their foreign sirens... what ever was wrong with the good ould NEE NAW NEE NAW NEE NAW we used have when we grew up? :P

cipo

oh jesus !!

where do i start??

actually, bugger it.

yeah put them on. you ll look real cool to all other cyclists. triathletes will love you !!! you ll be their king.

you ll save that 10 watts per 1000000000000 whatever / whatever and thats real important.

you ll crash lots.....

blorg

Jesus all a bit harsh there guys. I know for a fact people commute with aero bars on their bikes. I have even seen people commuting with aero bars on flat bar hybrids. Not Euro. :eek: If you only use them when appropriate I don't see the harm; the exact same would after all go when training (last time I checked we all train on public roads.)

snack_ie

Haha... some of the posts crack me up...

Lumen

Surely the objective is to get to work as knackered as possible? Speed is the means to this goal, not the end.

If your objective is to spend money to save effort, I can recommend a taxi company.

TinyExplosions

Ronny Mitchell wrote: »

Sometimes, but I usually bring a Mars or Snickers instead.

I've only just got that one.... what an idiot I am!

niceonetom

Lumen wrote: »

Surely the objective is to get to work as knackered as possible? ...

so some sort of drogue parachute perhaps? mmm, anti-aero.

Quigs Snr

I'd feel safer on a full TT rig with bars, disk the lot than I would on a fixie which would put me very much in the minority on this board (bleedin sandal wearing fixie riding hippies !). I guess the point is, it's up to you. Forget about saving power etc.. you just think it will look cool coming in on the TT bars don't you ? Well if thats your poison, go for it ! Hell, get yourself a disk wheel, skinsuit and Aero Helmet too if thats what it takes to make you love riding that bike.

72hundred

Many thanks all for the replies (well, er....some of 'em anyway.)

Anyway, the only reason I was thinking about 'em was to quick'n up a bit going thru the park & canal - in the evenings the prevailing wind is always against me, so any less drag = a bit faster.... or so my thinking.:rolleyes:

The look, be it Euro or other wise,wasn't a consideration.

steinone

I actually use my drops quite a bit on my daily commute, the lower position is very handy in winds. I do ride fixed but its the same concept. No matter if your wearing a bag or not it doesnt matter, you will have the resistance of the bag with flat bars so why not reduce it with drops?

DirkVoodoo

72hundred wrote: »

The look, be it Euro or other wise,wasn't a consideration.

Tut tut, it should always be the first consideration .

EDIT: @Steinone: His Briza has drops already.

Hermy

Lumen wrote: »

I can recommend a taxi company.

I think this is an excellent suggestion.:pac:

E@gle.

Quigs Snr wrote: »

I'd feel safer on a full TT rig with bars, disk the lot than I would on a fixie which would put me very much in the minority on this board (bleedin sandal wearing fixie riding hippies !). I guess the point is, it's up to you. Forget about saving power etc.. you just think it will look cool coming in on the TT bars don't you ? Well if thats your poison, go for it ! Hell, get yourself a disk wheel, skinsuit and Aero Helmet too if thats what it takes to make you love riding that bike.

1 problem with this setup im afraid

Disc wheel+ Crosswind+ large Truck= Dead rider

ROK ON

To answer the original question (does anyone commute on aero bars).
Yes - I saw a guy cycle thru Castleknock this morning on a red cervelo with aerobars.
Had rucksack on back, so I presume a commuter.

Chips Lovell

Funnily enough, this morning I saw a guy riding a full TT rig down O'Connell Street in jeans and a green high-viz jacket.

TinyExplosions

el tonto wrote: »

Funnily enough, this morning I saw a guy riding a full TT rig down O'Connell Street in jeans and a green high-viz jacket.

Where you in your pinstripe suit and Sidi's on your Bianchi?

steinone

Ah sorry im a fool, did a quick search of aerobars before my first post and I saw drops. damn the various names for just about everything.