Faster #1 - Aero bars

Published 14 January 08 06:41 PM | ericgu

I've wanted to write more, but I've kept getting involved in big articles, and running out of steam partway through them.

Instead of that, I'm going to write a series of short articles about whether something will make you faster or not.

First up: Aero bars

Drag reduction is important in going faster, and aero bars definitely do it. So, put the bars on your bike, and you'll go faster...

Well, not so fast (ha ha!). You have to get used to the aero bar position, which requires flexibility that many cyclists lack, and you'll need to learn to ride on them smoothly. And you have to put up with the derision of many road cyclists.

The reason is simple. Road cyclists are jerks. No, wait, that's not it. Road cyclists often ride around either in packs or in peletons, and in either case aero bars are dangerous because neither brakes nor direction are as well controlled. Not to mention that you don't get much benefit from them in a pack, because you don't spend that much time in the wind.

So, road cyclists may look down on you. Exceptions to this are as follows:

  1. You ride in time trials.
  2. You are a triathlete (all triathletes are considered a bit strange by road cyclists)

Ratings:

Speed improvement: high
Coolness factor: low (most cyclists) high (time trailists)

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Comments

# Mark W said on January 15, 2008 05:15 PM:

Ha ha, you must have read my mind...

I actually bought an aero-bar (is this a pair of or does it count as one?) over Christmas with the intention of time trialling this coming year.  I am getting the impression that time trials as a discipline is not as emphasized in this part of the world (as say in GB).  I also do not have the budget to get a separate TT bike so I am in the phase of establishing my TT position on a trainer.

I read somewhere that the saddle should move up-and-in so your back is flatter.

So hopefully I will get my position ready by springtime, do some mock trials and participate some real races in the summer.

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