[Closed] Aero bars for commuting?

Commuting ? Race

I don't give a crap about racing, but I hear the riding position gives you a few extra mph for the same (mediocre, in my case) wattage..

Lies?

Lies, particularly in full commute mode - it would also be red rag to a bull territory, asking for full p*** take

it would also be red rag to a bull territory,

+1

I dream of overtaking someone on aero bars on my commuting klunker. Managed all other flavours of bike at one time or another -not because I am more than 'mid-to-last in masters' fit, but because I live relatively close to town compared to the serious commuters who have already been riding for an hour.... and if i was 2 minutes out of my house and you were 17 miles in I might just have a go! 😆

Its not quite as simple as bolting on a set of cheap aero bars. Assuming your position on your bike is correct most aero bars will give too much of a stretched out position. There are a few sets that have enough adjustment(profile t2's) or are designed for the job(profile jammers, look for ITU approved ones). But these aren't that cheap. You'll also loose a few watts but the aero benefits should trump what you do loose.

Will aero bars make a difference to commute times? Be more comfy?

Basically, no and no.

I piss myself laughing when I see people commuting with aero bars. Especially the chap I saw a couple of days ago on the A56 heading towards Manchester from Altrincham. When he got on the aero bars his massive rucksack just tuned into a huge windbreak 🙂

Yes, they will make a difference on any bike. If you have 10 miles where you can consistently take advantage of the tri-bars, I would guess you might gain a minute or two. However, it won't be such a comfortable position for everyday riding, so I don't think it would be worthwhile for that sort of gain.

Lies, particularly in full commute mode

Assuming your position on your bike is correct most aero bars will give too much of a stretched out position.

That's what I was wondering ... I might have to get a shorter stem. I think I'll leave it for a month or two and see how I get on without them, and try some out for a week or two. I don't really give a crap about image, what roadies think or other people overtaking.

Cheers,

😆 aero bars for commuting 😆 Yeah,you'll need to shave your legs too 😆

a minute or two over 10 miles!!! holy crap 20% faster?

there is some serious shit spouted on ere.

If you're using a rucksack, aero bars will make bugger all difference cos the rucksack will be like a big windjammer mounted high on your back.

Aero bars in traffic are lethal. The fit won't be right unless you really start playing around with the stem length which will then impact the more normal riding position.

Unless you've already got skintight lycra, no luggage and deep section wheels, they'll be pointless in terms of saving energy.

And you'll look like a right ****.

HTH. 😉

You'd save more time ditching the hub gear for deraileurs.

My commute is very similar to yours - 20 miles each way with a 10 mile stretch of open road. I've never considered tri bars though as I don't think it would make much, if any, difference. Mind you there might be an improvement on the way home as I almost constantly ride into a headwind as I head south towards the coast. The wind whips off the sea and it can be a fairly brutal wind at times.

[i]I piss myself laughing when I see people commuting with aero bars[/i]

Do you really? Thats a bit sad, why are you so bothered by what other people do.

Damn you HH, you beat me to it! Same thing for the discs, there's weight to shave there.

However, OP ultimately you could just do it to wind up others 😀

How hilly is your commute? What do you wear when you ride and how do you take your luggage? Flappy work clothes and a chunky rucksack compared to lycra and a pannier could make a big difference.

There are a number of variables to adapt to improve your efficiency.

I don't think anyone considering tri bars would do a 20 miles commute in 'Flappy work clothes'.

useful trainingif you are going to tt as it would be same position. you would loose a few watts to start with but gain them bak over a few weeks when body was used to new position. profile jammer bars may be a good option as don;t extend past your hoods but more aero

I don't think anyone considering tri bars would do a 20 miles commute in 'Flappy work clothes'

You've never been on the Etape du Embankment, have you?

Yeh go for it and make sure your helmet has a peak too 😆

a minute or two over 10 miles!!! holy crap 20% faster?

Maths fail. 2 minutes out of 10 miles would only be 20% if you were doing 60mph... At a more realistic 20mph 2 minutes is more like 7%, or one minute is 3%, not implausible.

Under the right circumstances it will be faster. I commute without a rucksack, in all my normal kit, basically just a normal ride! That's not to say I'd want to do it though! You would be absolutely ripe for piss taking.

god dammit. that's where relying on computers to do the maths bit for you gets you...

Only time I'd consider it would be on a commute on licolnshire fens type pan flat and straight windy roads where you could be into a headwind for a while and then I'd go old skool spinachi rather than a full tri bar

As GM said, there's also a few aero barred MTBs around these parts too!

I read the thread title and could only think of the bubbly mint chocolate bars, could give you a bit of an energy boost I suppose, as long as you didn't come up from your tuck to take the wrapper off?

Just to conter all of those above. I have them on my bike as its a fairly flat ride and i have over 2 miles of open heathland which normal has a head wind. I find that they are good for 1-2mph for the same amount of effort put in on a normal day. As a side issue you will (or at least i do) find that you are warm as there is less air flow over you. I to don't car what people think and i use a rucksack but as the bars have me in the same postion as the drops I feel it doesnt make a lot off difference also i find them more comfy than being on the drops as you are resting your body weight on your arms as apposed to your wrists.

I have used sero bars on my commuter and they made a noticable difference even in normal clothes. commonplace to see aero bars on sit up and beg bikes in north holland - as they get a lot of headwinds

I only have 1 road bike, so my tri bars get fitted every summer when I'm competing for 57th place in the local triathlon, and hence I commute with them for a few weeks beforehand.

Yes they are faster
No they are not comfortable
Yes they are lethal in traffic
Yes I do have a quiet laugh to myself as I ride along on tri bars with full mudguards, rack and panniers!

I got mine cheap(er) on ebay, but SJS had some reasonable priced ones a while back.

its a comfort thing innit ...

i find tri bars MUCH comfier than the hoods for long distances.

guy from GCRT commutes on his TT bike down the deeside downhill track (rough as hell road) from time to time with ruck sack etc all ! - i assume hes going to the garlogie TTs after work though rather than commuting on the tt bike out of choice

I think people are over-complicating things with the references to deep section wheels, headwinds, hub gears, stem lengths and rucksacks.

Simply, put, you will reduce your wind resistance significantly by using tri-bars. If you are fitting the bars to a conventional commuting setup, you are unlikely lower your profile significantly, so most of the gain will come from tucking your arms in and narrowing your profile. If you are using a rucksack, I would be surprised if it was significantly less aerodynamic because you are leaning slightly further forward. Flapping clothes will of course slow you down significantly, but as pointed out by another poster, I assume you have already addressed that if you are riding 20 miles.

Don't get too hung up about stem length, etc. If you want to experiment, these are a bargain:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/HBCISPIN/cinelli_spinaci_bar_extensions
These were legal for road racing in '97, and everyone was using them because of the aero gains. I found they worked pretty well on a road bike for the odd time trial as well. Alternatively, get a cheap set of clip-ons with straight extensions (i.e. without ski-jump ends) and you can simply grip them anywhere along their length to experiment with different positions.

Having said all that, I've raced with various different types of tri-bars for many years, but personally I wouldn't bother using them for commuting just to gain a minute or two.

[img] [/img]

I was going to suggest a leaf from this chap's book, but he's not even on the aeros 🙄