Aerobars for touring?

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Hello all,

Does anyone have experience or opinions about using aerobars while on a tour? Are they worthwhile
for the comfort and the additional places to put your hands while riding long days? I could care
less about speed, I'm just out for more comfort.

Definitely worthwhile in my experience. I've never used them for racing, but for touring
they're very comfortable on a long day's ride, and they do help when you get stuck riding all
day into a headwind.

--
[email hidden] is Joshua Putnam <http://www.phred.org/~josh/> Updated Bicycle Touring Books List:
<phred.orgtourbooks.htmlOpen ↗

S. Segal said:

Hello all,

Does anyone have experience or opinions about using aerobars while on a tour? Are they worthwhile
for the comfort and the additional places to put your hands while riding long days? I could care
less about speed, I'm just out for more comfort.

I use them on my touring bike, and like them a lot.

At the height I've got them, they generally don't feel quite as comfortable as my usual on-the-hoods
position, but I find them very valuable when facing a harsh headwind, or when I feel like going a
little faster. (They seem to be good for maybe 1.5 mph).

One comfort advantage is that the elbow pads give me yet another place to put my hands. I like
that variety.

A miscellaneous advantage is that they're a good place to hang a headlight from. I use a handlebar
bag, so the usual headlight positions are a little problematic.

(Of course, the aero bar and the h'bar bag don't get along perfectly, but we've negotiated a kind
of truce.)

--
Frank Krygowski [email hidden]

S. Segal said:

Does anyone have experience or opinions about using aerobars while on a tour? Are they worthwhile
for the comfort and the additional places to put your hands while riding long days? I could care
less about speed, I'm just out for more comfort.

I once sold an ultra-long distance rider a bike to do the PBP (Paris - Brest - Paris). He showed up
with his "road bike" equipped with aerobars and with the saddle pushed all the way forward on a
no-setback post. He had migrated to that position as the most comfortable over many years of
mega-miles.

I looked over the measurements, smiled, went inside and wheeled out my personal TT/Tri bike (with a
78cm seat tube and aerobars). Didn't even have to adjust it - he rode it a few minutes and returned
saying it fit better than his own bike.

Not everyone will necessarily find the forward seatpost and aerobar more comfortable - but I
know I have.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

They are OK. However I would never use them on a road with driveways or cross traffic. Reaction time
is severely disabled by the reach and angle back to the hoods. I tried S.T.O.P.S. and found that
control while braking was also poor. I would recommend against them on the road--especially if your
wheels have a large side profile.

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

S. Segal said:

Does anyone have experience or opinions about using aerobars while on a tour? Are they worthwhile
for the comfort and the additional places to

put

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your hands while riding long days? I could care less about speed, I'm

just

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out for more comfort.

I once sold an ultra-long distance rider a bike to do the PBP (Paris - Brest - Paris). He showed
up with his "road bike" equipped with aerobars and with the saddle pushed all the way forward on a
no-setback post. He had migrated to that position as the most comfortable over many years of
mega-miles.

I looked over the measurements, smiled, went inside and wheeled out my personal TT/Tri bike (with
a 78cm seat tube and aerobars). Didn't even have to adjust it - he rode it a few minutes and
returned saying it fit better than his own bike.

Not everyone will necessarily find the forward seatpost and aerobar more comfortable - but I
know I have.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

waxxer said:

They are OK. However I would never use them on a road with driveways or cross traffic. Reaction
time is severely disabled by the reach and angle back to the hoods. I tried S.T.O.P.S. and found
that control while braking was also poor. I would recommend against them on the road--especially
if your wheels have a large side profile.

That's ironic...

habcycles.combikecrash.htmlOpen ↗

I was indeed on my TT/Tri bike, but I also believe I was on the drops. It wouldn't have mattered
much because I simply didn't see the truck squirt through stopped traffic until he was entering the
bike lane, and doing so far too close to even slow down much.

I couldn't swear I was on the drops, because I don't remember every detail - it's just that I am
ALWAYS on the drops any time there's a chance someone will do something dumb. But yes, I would agree
that you should use care riding aerobars in any urban settings - when in doubt, get on the drops.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

Quoted message said:

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

S. Segal said:

Does anyone have experience or opinions about using aerobars while on a tour? Are they
worthwhile for the comfort and the additional places to

put

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your hands while riding long days? I could care less about speed, I'm

just

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out for more comfort.

I once sold an ultra-long distance rider a bike to do the PBP (Paris - Brest - Paris). He showed
up with his "road bike" equipped with aerobars and with the saddle pushed all the way forward on
a no-setback post. He had migrated to that position as the most comfortable over many years of
mega-miles.

I looked over the measurements, smiled, went inside and wheeled out my personal TT/Tri bike (with
a 78cm seat tube and aerobars). Didn't even have to adjust it - he rode it a few minutes and
returned saying it fit better than his own bike.

Not everyone will necessarily find the forward seatpost and aerobar more comfortable - but I know
I have.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

Hi Mark!

I was not drawing my feelings on the basis of your accident, just my personal experience. When some
shuts down on you as in your case, all you can do is go with it. Almost the same thing happened to
me Feb. 15th. Brakes, positioning or even an ejection seat would not have helped. I augured in the
car and woke up face down on the road. I also have racked up 15,000 dollars in medical bills--but I
am riding again.

Heal fast and well!!

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

waxxer said:

They are OK. However I would never use them on a road with driveways or cross traffic. Reaction
time is severely disabled by the reach and angle back to the hoods. I tried S.T.O.P.S. and found
that control while

braking

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was also poor. I would recommend against them on the road--especially if your wheels have a large
side profile.

That's ironic...

habcycles.combikecrash.htmlOpen ↗

I was indeed on my TT/Tri bike, but I also believe I was on the drops. It wouldn't have mattered
much because I simply didn't see the truck squirt through stopped traffic until he was entering
the bike lane, and doing so far too close to even slow down much.

I couldn't swear I was on the drops, because I don't remember every detail - it's just that I
am ALWAYS on the drops any time there's a chance someone will do something dumb. But yes, I
would agree that you should use care riding aerobars in any urban settings - when in doubt, get
on the drops.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

Quoted message said:

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"S. Segal" <[email hidden]> wrote:

>Does anyone have experience or opinions about using aerobars while on

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>tour? Are they worthwhile for the comfort and the additional places to

put

Quoted message said:

>your hands while riding long days? I could care less about speed, I'm

just

Quoted message said:

>out for more comfort.

I once sold an ultra-long distance rider a bike to do the PBP (Paris - Brest - Paris). He
showed up with his "road bike" equipped with aerobars and with the saddle pushed all the way
forward on a no-setback post. He had migrated to that position as the most comfortable over
many years of mega-miles.

I looked over the measurements, smiled, went inside and wheeled out my personal TT/Tri bike
(with a 78cm seat tube and aerobars). Didn't even have to adjust it - he rode it a few minutes
and returned saying it fit better than his own bike.

Not everyone will necessarily find the forward seatpost and aerobar more comfortable - but I
know I have.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

Frank Krygowski <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

S. Segal said:

Hello all,

Does anyone have experience or opinions about using aerobars while on a tour? Are they
worthwhile for the comfort and the additional places to

put

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your hands while riding long days? I could care less about speed, I'm

just

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out for more comfort.

I use them on my touring bike, and like them a lot.

At the height I've got them, they generally don't feel quite as comfortable as my usual
on-the-hoods position, but I find them very valuable when facing a harsh headwind, or when I feel
like going a little faster. (They seem to be good for maybe 1.5 mph).

One comfort advantage is that the elbow pads give me yet another place to put my hands. I like
that variety.

A miscellaneous advantage is that they're a good place to hang a headlight from. I use a handlebar
bag, so the usual headlight positions are a little problematic.

(Of course, the aero bar and the h'bar bag don't get along perfectly, but we've negotiated a kind
of truce.)

--
Frank Krygowski [email hidden]

Also a good place for your computer; much closer to your line-of-sight, and also a little further
from the eyes (for you old guys).

Bernie (remove numerals to Reply)

waxxer said:

I was not drawing my feelings on the basis of your accident, just my personal experience. When some
shuts down on you as in your case, all you can do is go with it. Almost the same thing happened to
me Feb. 15th. Brakes, positioning or even an ejection seat would not have helped. I augured in the
car and woke up face down on the road. I also have racked up 15,000 dollars in medical bills--but I
am riding again.

I think I can stop as quickly on the TT/Tri bike as my road bike - assuming of course, I'm not
on the aerobars at the time. Most of my riding in town is up and down off the aerobars to be
ready to brake.

Of course in this case, it didn't help much... ouch.

Quoted message said:

Heal fast and well!!

I'm doing pretty well, actually. Going to go see a sports physiologist tomorrow to get his opinion.
In the morning I feel like a corpse but by the afternoon, I'm ready (almost) to go for a ride.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

Quoted message said:

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

waxxer said:

They are OK. However I would never use them on a road with driveways or cross traffic. Reaction
time is severely disabled by the reach and angle back to the hoods. I tried S.T.O.P.S. and
found that control while

braking

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was also poor. I would recommend against them on the road--especially if your wheels have a
large side profile.

That's ironic...

habcycles.combikecrash.htmlOpen ↗

I was indeed on my TT/Tri bike, but I also believe I was on the drops. It wouldn't have mattered
much because I simply didn't see the truck squirt through stopped traffic until he was entering
the bike lane, and doing so far too close to even slow down much.

I couldn't swear I was on the drops, because I don't remember every detail - it's just that I
am ALWAYS on the drops any time there's a chance someone will do something dumb. But yes, I
would agree that you should use care riding aerobars in any urban settings - when in doubt, get
on the drops.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

Quoted message said:

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> "S. Segal" <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
> >Does anyone have experience or opinions about using aerobars while on

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> >tour? Are they worthwhile for the comfort and the additional places to
put
> >your hands while riding long days? I could care less about speed, I'm
just
> >out for more comfort.
>
> I once sold an ultra-long distance rider a bike to do the PBP (Paris - Brest - Paris). He
> showed up with his "road bike" equipped with aerobars and with the saddle pushed all the way
> forward on a no-setback post. He had migrated to that position as the most comfortable over
> many years of mega-miles.
>
> I looked over the measurements, smiled, went inside and wheeled out my personal TT/Tri bike
> (with a 78cm seat tube and aerobars). Didn't even have to adjust it - he rode it a few minutes
> and returned saying it fit better than his own bike.
>
> Not everyone will necessarily find the forward seatpost and aerobar more comfortable - but I
> know I have.
>
> Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

I thought aero bars were banned on the PBP ...

Quoted message said:

I thought aero bars were banned on the PBP ...

I built a bike for a guy who rode PBP. He ended up on a tri bike with aerobars.

The funny thing is, he started out wanting a road bike for the PBP, and brought over his current
(old, beat up) bike to get some measurements.

I couldn't believe it - he way he had it set up put everything in EXACTLY the same position as my
own personal TT/Tri bike. I just went in, wheeled it out, and he test rode it (and said it fit
better than his own bike).

Don't know what that has to do with it, other than going fast and going long have certain things
in common.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame