Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Aero Bars

  • 08-12-2009 9:19am
    #1
    Raam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,318 ✭✭✭✭


    so I picked up a set of these and I have attached them to one of the bikes. Riding in them is fine, but I've a couple of questions for those who have more experience with them...

    1) What part of my arm should I be resting on the pads? Middle of fore-arm or closer to the elbow?
    2) how close together should the pads be?
    3) is it all just a case of me figuring out what is the best trade off between comfort and speed for my own body?

    thanks

    P

    profile-century-zb-med.jpg


Comments

  • #2
    tunney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,584 ✭✭✭✭tunney


    1) My preference is for closer to the elbow but not the elbow if you know what I mean
    2) Most assume that narrower is faster as it is more aero, however some benefit from slightly wider as it opens the chest, makes breathing easier and is faster due to more power output. My preference is to go as narrow as comfortable and then make it a little wider.
    3) Yes, if you have access to a PM head down the track in sundrive on a still day and do repeated tests, using the metrics speed, power, HR and rpe you can determine which setup is actually fastest for you.


  • #3
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,216 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    As you know I'm no expert, but AFAIK closer to the elbow is better provided that you're not compromising your arm/torso angle, and wider tends to be more comfy and is OK provided that your arms are within the profile of your hips.

    Forearms should be level or running down slightly to your wrists.

    On a related note, I was speaking to someone the other night who'd been in a wind tunnel to optimise position, and he had ended up raising his bars to get more aero. Apparently there are also loads of watts to be saved by getting your pointy hat flush to your shoulders.


  • #4
    victorcarrera
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,059 ✭✭✭victorcarrera


    I like to pull slightly on the bars (sometimes) on the downstroke as I think I get more power that way and I found that moving the pads aprox 2cm wider felt better and more stable. My riding style was very zig zag with narrower pad setting.


  • #5
    biker_joe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 485 ✭✭biker_joe


    hey Raam,

    These bars are typically for a Road Bike setup .... so you may not be able to get your ideal TT position from these .... but from experience of using both clip-on and full TT setup ...
    you will need to try a couple of set-ups .. and go for a couple of spins with allen keys in your pocket to adjust on the road ...
    you may also need to higher you saddle slightly and move it forwards a bit...
    the position on the pads relates to you're saddle position ... but most will have forearm lying on this nearest the elbow for stability ....

    the goal is to try and get your back as flat as possible ( comfortably ) and reduce your front profile as much as possible !

    Hope this helps .....

    Biker Joe


Advertisement