Aero bars for conventional lever layout

lohsnest said:

I am currently riding a bike that is configured as a road bike, but with aero levers. However, I am more comfortable riding in an aero position and was wondering if there as any way to integrate my fairly new Campy levers/shifters into an existing aerobar config.... I have seen some Bianchis with a bar that is more curved, allowing one to incorporate standard levers. My alternative is to get new bar-end shifters and brake levers, and I have seen very few Campy-compatible. Anybody have any ideas??

All of the standard Aero Brake Levers will work with your Campy calipers. As far as shifters, the Campy Record 10-Speed bar end shifters are standard equipment on half of the time trial bikes in the ProTour peloton.

they are readily available from http:www.competitivecyclist.com or repartocorse.comrepartocorse.comOpen ↗

there is also a set available for less money on ebay right now.

If you sell your ErgoPower Brake/Shift levers, you'll have the bar-ends nearly paid for.

happy hunting.

lohsnest said:

I am currently riding a bike that is configured as a road bike, but with aero levers. However, I am more comfortable riding in an aero position and was wondering if there as any way to integrate my fairly new Campy levers/shifters into an existing aerobar config.... I have seen some Bianchis with a bar that is more curved, allowing one to incorporate standard levers. My alternative is to get new bar-end shifters and brake levers, and I have seen very few Campy-compatible. Anybody have any ideas??

Strummer is correct, but I would add two caveats.

1. Most brands of brake calipers other than Campy have the brake release on the caliper, in contrast to Campagnolo who puts it on the brake (or Ergo) lever. If you switch to a non-campy aero brake lever and use campy calipers you will not have a functional quick release. If you run narrow tires or run your brakes wide open, removing the wheel without opening the brake pads wider is probably not as issue, however, if you now need to open the quick release on the lever to remove your wheels, this could pose a problem. Campy does make a non-integrated aero brake lever but it is a bit pricey and the quick release issue is still present.

2. Profile airstryke aerobars are not compatible with standard bar-end shifters. To use aero shifting with these bars, you need to use the Profile swiftshift adapter with down-tube shifters, which is not a great set-up (I know as I used this set-up for a few years). Additionally, Campy does not make a downtube shifter for their 9s or 10s groups, (although the bar-end can be modified to work with braze-on bosses). To use bar-ends as they are intended, you would need a new split-type aero bar.

http://www.profile-design.com/2006_product_pages/accesories/acc_swiftshift.html

John M said:

Strummer is correct, but I would add two caveats.

1. Most brands of brake calipers other than Campy have the brake release on the caliper, in contrast to Campagnolo who puts it on the brake (or Ergo) lever. If you switch to a non-campy aero brake lever and use campy calipers you will not have a functional quick release. If you run narrow tires or run your brakes wide open, removing the wheel without opening the brake pads wider is probably not as issue, however, if you now need to open the quick release on the lever to remove your wheels, this could pose a problem. Campy does make a non-integrated aero brake lever but it is a bit pricey and the quick release issue is still present.

2. Profile airstryke aerobars are not compatible with standard bar-end shifters. To use aero shifting with these bars, you need to use the Profile swiftshift adapter with down-tube shifters, which is not a great set-up (I know as I used this set-up for a few years). Additionally, Campy does not make a downtube shifter for their 9s or 10s groups, (although the bar-end can be modified to work with braze-on bosses). To use bar-ends as they are intended, you would need a new split-type aero bar.

profile-design.comacc swiftshift.htmlOpen ↗

Campagnolo does make a record TT brake lever that includes the quick release, but it is somewhat expensive, and it seems to be basically the same lever body as the Record Ergo Lever, minus the thumb shift, and the smaller shift lever.

Thanks for all of your feeback. It sounds like I will be spending more money than I had anticipated. I think I'll have to stick with my current profile.