Aerobars

"Christopher Harrison" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I digress... What I wanted to ask: How do you use aerobars for
any prolonged length of time without killing your neck? I've done
Alexander technique, which was hugely beneficial for my general
cycling posture; but even taking this into consideration, I can't see
how you can look up for more than a moment.

I too am fairly new to aerobars and I found that a turbo trainer is
invaluable to get the most comfortable position as well as getting aero.

http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/MVI_1476_0001.jpg

You will never get truly comfy, but you can get an idea of your best
position. I have found that riding right on the tip of the saddle is the
best position for me and as for the head up the road position, well yes, you
have to learn to "look through your eyebrows" at the hazards ahead somewhat.
It's tough but then TTing is tough!
Good luck.

--
Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

Christopher Harrison wrote:

[snipped...]

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I digress... What I wanted to ask: How do you use aerobars for
any prolonged length of time without killing your neck?

You get your bike fitted by a professional. I used to get a really sore
neck after about half an hour of the aerobars. I went to see a chap in
Bedford and he sorted out my position, I've not had a sore neck since.

Quoted message said:

... I can't see how you can look up for more than a moment. I've read
that it's not uncommon for triathletes to use them all the time and
even audax'ers using them for reasonable lengths, for comfort...

Once you've had your bike fitted, then there is no issue with looking
forward. It can take a few rides to get used to the position, but once
you're "dialed in", off you go.

Cheers,

--
bob [at] bobarnott [dot] com http://www.bobarnott.com/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Crash programs fail because they are based on theory that,
with nine women pregnant, you can get a baby in a month."
-- Wernher von Braun

Cool -- Thanks guys 🙂 I'll have a go on my stationary trainer and see
if I can find someone to sort out the position locally: I must admit,
I installed it a little "half-arsedly"!

Christopher

In article <[email hidden]>,
Christopher Harrison <[email hidden]> writes:
|>
|> ...; but even taking this into consideration, I can't see
|> how you can look up for more than a moment. I've read that it's not
|> uncommon for triathletes to use them all the time and even audax'ers
|> using them for reasonable lengths, for comfort... Surely you need to
|> know where you're going (and checking the traffic), more often than
|> not?

A lot of such cyclists don't. And then there is the problem of
reaching the brakes, for those that don't have levers at the end of
the bars. A lot of pedestrians (and some other cyclists) absolutely
loathe that sort of cyclist, as they are a serious danger where both
classes of road user are common (e.g. on many country roads). I
have had to yell at them to stop them running into me at 20+ MPH.

If you can't see ahead ALL of the time, then you should use them only
on cleared roads. It isn't just aerobars, but also applies to drop
handlebars (when used in a comparable way).

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

in message <[email hidden]>,

Christopher Harrison (') said:

Got my first set of aerobars yesterday -- and tried them out proper,
this afternoon; down the hill. It was absolutely terrifying! (In a
good way 😉 Not only the increased speed, but it felt so vulnerable
and unstable: the slightest crosswind and I'm a dead man...

Be very careful. I'm just getting back to using my aerobars now - two years
ago I was using them downhill (on a road which, admittedly, I didn't know)
and crashed at high speed, breaking my back. You do go a good bit faster -
for me they're worth about 15%, which is a huge chunk; but there's a
significant cost in control and in vision.

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I digress... What I wanted to ask: How do you use aerobars for
any prolonged length of time without killing your neck? I've done
Alexander technique, which was hugely beneficial for my general
cycling posture; but even taking this into consideration, I can't see
how you can look up for more than a moment.

You can, but as you say it hurts your neck (and you're also increasing your
frontal area). Try to sort of glance under the brim of your helmet... I
find tribars (or rather, the posture one adopts on them) also hurt my
legs. They're definitely not for relaxed, comfortable cycling - but they
also definitely do work.

Quoted message said:

I've read that it's not
uncommon for triathletes to use them all the time and even audax'ers
using them for reasonable lengths, for comfort... Surely you need to
know where you're going (and checking the traffic), more often than
not?

M'hmmm... I was debating today whether I would leave them on for a 24 hour
event I'll be doing next month. I think the answer is probably not. It's a
speed vs safety equation...

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
Iraq war: it's time for regime change...
... go now, Tony, while you can still go with dignity.
[update 18 months after this .sig was written: it's still relevant]

Christopher Harrison wrote on 02/05/2007 16:04 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Hello 🙂

Got my first set of aerobars yesterday

Did you prefer the original or mint chocolate ones?

--
Tony

"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there
is no good evidence either way."
- Bertrand Russell

Christopher Harrison said:

Cool -- Thanks guys 🙂 I'll have a go on my stationary trainer and see
if I can find someone to sort out the position locally: I must admit,
I installed it a little "half-arsedly"!

Christopher

I've been tt'ing for 15 years. Last weekend I fitted a new set of tri
bars and when I tried to use them at the club 10 on Tuesday I couldnt
ride them. I was too far forward on my elbows, was unstable and couldnt
breath. I moved the bars up a spacer and they are much, much better. A
small change in postition can make all the difference.

Stan Cox

Christopher Harrison said:

Hello 🙂

Got my first set of aerobars yesterday -- and tried them out proper,
this afternoon; down the hill. It was absolutely terrifying! (In a
good way 😉 Not only the increased speed, but it felt so vulnerable
and unstable: the slightest crosswind and I'm a dead man...

Anyway, I digress... What I wanted to ask: How do you use aerobars for
any prolonged length of time without killing your neck? I've done
Alexander technique, which was hugely beneficial for my general
cycling posture; but even taking this into consideration, I can't see
how you can look up for more than a moment. I've read that it's not
uncommon for triathletes to use them all the time and even audax'ers
using them for reasonable lengths, for comfort... Surely you need to
know where you're going (and checking the traffic), more often than
not?

Thanks 🙂
Christopher

If you want more 'aero' try lying on your back, feet first.

Oh, what's that, the UCI won't let you? Shame 😉

squeaker wrote on 03/05/2007 08:20 +0100:

Quoted message said:

If you want more 'aero' try lying on your back, feet first.

Oh, what's that, the UCI won't let you? Shame 😉

What, they've banned falling off now? ;-)

--
Tony

"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there
is no good evidence either way."
- Bertrand Russell