Clip-On Aero/TT Bars

Home:Ballyhoura

Hey guys, this summer I'll be doing an organised time trial most weeks...nothing too serious. I have a 2008 Trek 1.5 and I don't plan on buying a specific TT bike. I was just wondering what you think of those clip on TT/Aero bars? They seem to be available for around €100 and do you think they are worth it...like would it make a difference over 30miles? Another question...do you have to add on the specific shifters/brakes to these bars or do you use the currenct setup? Also, would I need a shorter stem or something to help with the geometry?

I had bee looking at the following, what would you reccomend? (I've no idea what size I'd need...does it make much of a difference?)

On CRC:
Oval A710 (395g €70), Easton Aeroforce-Carbon(410g €105) (Alloy Version 500g €60), Easton Aeroforce Mod (590g €70)

On Wiggle:
Profile T2 (540g €90), Vision TT (450g €115), Easton Modular Aeroforce (590g €75), Oval A710 (395g €80)

On PBK:
Deda Aerobar-Carbon (310g €115), Deda Elementi (407g €45), Vision TT Alloy (542g €90), Vision Carbon (475g €130), Vision Mini TT (380g €90)

Maybe I would be better off getting them in LBS to try them out? Let me know what you think. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance! Cheers

As you already know...the cheaper the better eh?!?!

Highway_To_Hell

I have the profile AirStryke fitted on my bike for triathlons and find they work well as the arm rests are on springs so when not is use they flip up giving me more hand positions.

blorg

I read something recently that compared road bike with drops, road bike with clip-on aero bars and full TT bike. It was quite comprehensive, they did wind tunnel testing as well as on a track. I'll try to dig it out but the conclusion was that aero bars are very beneficial indeed and result in a signficant improvement for very little money (presuming you can get the position right, they are an "enabler" in this respect.)

interested

blorg wrote: »

I read something recently that compared road bike with drops, road bike with clip-on aero bars and full TT bike. It was quite comprehensive, they did wind tunnel testing as well as on a track. I'll try to dig it out but the conclusion was that aero bars are very beneficial indeed and result in a signficant improvement for very little money (presuming you can get the position right, they are an "enabler" in this respect.)

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/how-aero-is-aero-19273

+++++1 on "presuming you can get the position right"
set forward seat posts are also necessary for some folk.

digitalage

I went to wheelworx in clondalkin and the bloke in the shop put the aero bars on for me, he put the bike on a turbo trainer and had me in position, was 'nt much adjustment in the end, he just pushed the saddle a few cms forward, I found the position very comfortable after a few rides, I did notice my overall pace was quicker over 50mile run, which I usually do, up and down to Navan. These are the bars I got below.

http://www.wheelworxbikes.com/product_info.php?cPath=40_39&products_id=93

OuterBombie

Howdy,

If you have some time take a look at:

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/General_Fit_Articles/Tri_road_or_tweener__647.html

and

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Are_we_ready_to_Get_Shorty__435.html

Tons of info on that site but easy to get lost in the numbers as well. Generally, short stubby bars are the way to go for a road bike. You'll be resting somewhere between your wrists and elbows which is slightly uncomfortable but it also means you shouldn't need to change anything else with the bike fit bar maybe moving the saddle a coupld of cm's forward.

I have the profile TT carbon Jammers (i think), as I find the pads comfy. I also have them setup under my road bars as in the article above.

Tri-bars on a road bike take a bit of getting used to but there are definite benefits.

Ray.

blorg

That was the article interested, interestingly the biggest incremental improvement was from sticking aerobars onto the road bike, there was less of a further improvement going on to the full-on TT bike. The TT helmet made more difference than the TT bike as well.

tunney

blorg wrote: »

That was the article interested, interestingly the biggest incremental improvement was from sticking aerobars onto the road bike, there was less of a further improvement going on to the full-on TT bike. The TT helmet made more difference than the TT bike as well.

Misleading..............

Most people can't get a proper TT style position from their road bike. In this case the jump to a TT bike makes a bigger difference.

blorg

Fair to say that it is well worth a go for a junior rider and provides the best bang for the buck though? I did say "presuming you can get the position right"!

Home:Ballyhoura

Ok, whats more important to me...weight or shape & design?
Could any of ye reccomend some from the list in the beginning?

I was looking at the Oval A710 395g for €70 or the Easton Modular Aeroforce 590g for €70 also. (These Profile T2 look quite similar to these two..540g for €90)

These Vision ones look good ...how do they attatch to the bars?

I might strech to these Carbon Deda ones...very light at 310g for €110.

I saw mini TT bars like these...what do you think? I'm a junior rider! Maybe I should start off with a cheap pair like these for €40

OuterBombie

Hmmm,

I'd go the cheap Deda pair for 40 bucks (a good deal). I had a set of them about 4 years ago and they were grand. The bar was pretty long but I just hacked off a couple of inches to shorten it. The pads wouldn't be the most supportive or comfortable but for the price they are worth it (i presume as a junior rider, long TT's wouldn't be on the cards?).

Weight concerns are pretty minor for all these, unless your a weight weenie, a half full water bottle would be the difference between the bars you selected.

The deda's will do the job and you'll save yourself at least 30 bucks (which you can put towards an aero helmet or skinsuit!).

Ray.

Home:Ballyhoura

OuterBombie wrote: »

The bar was pretty long but I just hacked off a couple of inches to shorten it

Hey man...thanks for that! Hopefully they'll be back in stock soon!

When you say that they were long, maybe too long for me as I'm only a 5'6 Junior rider! Is it difficult to adjust the length...maybe I should go with something like these mini TT bars?

Home:Ballyhoura

If I was to go for the Easton ones, i am right in between Small and Medium. Would you go for the smaller or bigger size in aero bars? Thanks

Home:Ballyhoura

Came across these...what do you think for €45...they weigh only 180g (whats the story with the elbow rests, no cushion pads, do they come with them or can you add some on later?)

They look well here!

OuterBombie

Hmmm, seeing as those deda are out of stock, the visiontech mini TT bars would be a good call.

These are pretty good as well:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Profile_Jammer_GT_Aero_Bars/5360008177/

My missus has them and she's 5'6". I got the carbon version of them also. The pads are very comfortable and you can set up the bars under your base bar with the pads on top (meaning you can drop your front a bit more which can be difficult on a road bike thats set up for you).

Ray.

blorg

Any special considerations choosing aerobars for carbon handlebars? Mine are apparently compatible (Ritchey WCS Evoluton) which was a pleasant surprise.

Home:Ballyhoura

blorg wrote: »

Any special considerations choosing aerobars for carbon handlebars? Mine are apparently compatible (Ritchey WCS Evoluton) which was a pleasant surprise.

Hey man...not sure what I understand what your saying here!?!? I'm not using carbon bars if thats what you asking! What clip-on bars do you have?

blorg

New bike came with Ritchey carbon handlebars- thinking of getting aero bars myself. Don't currently have them. Not all carbon handlebars can take clamp-on aero bars.

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

New bike came with Ritchey carbon handlebars- thinking of getting aero bars myself. Don't currently have them. Not all carbon handlebars can take clamp-on aero bars.

You really are the man for all seasons. What with the new mountain bike and now getting yourself aerobars, I'm half expecting you to announce you're trying out BMX next.

IM0

yeah the clip on ones work fine especially for your purposes and requirements.
the whole point is getting you down in an aero position w/ some 'comfort'
and any TT bar fixed or not will do that. 500 or 90 quid that is. I found the clip-ons a bit flexy when going down false flats about 55km/hr+ which was a tad un nerving, obviously a propper integrated one would be much stiffer in that situation.

Home:Ballyhoura

Right so, both the deda ones are back in stock now so its decision time!

• Deda Elementi Clip-One - 407g @ €45 (Description here & here, also Pictures here & here)

• Deda Parabolica Uno - 360g @ €52 (Description here & Picture here)

Pease note that I can get £5 discount off both using a secret trick!...so they are really around €40 & €47 respectively

I need to make a descision pretty quickly...should I check out the ones in my LBS first? Also, is it difficult to adjust the length if it is too long for me? Last question, will they come with arm-rest pads as they are not on either in the pictures! Thanks in advance, I really appreciate your help....cheers

Home:Ballyhoura

I recently purchased the Parabolica Due clip on TT bars. They came supplied with the elbow/arm rest pads, but I have no idea how to attach the pads to the supports! (like here) Is there a special method of doing this or do you just have to stick them on using double sided adhesive? Any help would be great, thanks in advance!

Highway_To_Hell

I don't have the same bars but my pads are kept in place with velco strips, (supplied with the clip ons) which allows for easy removal of the pads. think I have seen heavy duty velco in woodies DIY.