[Closed] How uncomfortable are aero road bikes?

Depends on how aero. You can always adjust stem height.

It will also help if it has clearance for 28mm tyres.

Most of them seem to be coming with an incredible amount of headset spacers at the moment, so i'd think you'll be fine

but I have entered a 100mile event in may next year and have been looking at a few more “races” around that.

It's a sportive, isn't it? So you need a bike that will sprint between cake stops

I borrowed a Canyon Aeroad a couple of years back with full-bling spec (Dura-ace di2, zipp wheels etc) and other than the so-so braking in the wet on carbon rims I was happy enough with it. I never rode more than 100km on it but it wasn't particularly uncomfortable. For comparison, at the time I was riding a Synapse and a CAAD10 at home and swapped to a KTM and a Tripster AT since.

I'd imagine with just a few parts changed it'd have been no less comfortable than anything else but if you've not ridden many carbon race bikes it might be a bit of a surprise.

On most UK roads you'll be faster on a comfier bike with good 28 to 32mm tyres, on which you can get into the drops and stay there longer. You cause more drag than the bike and tyre rolling resistance will slow down narrow high pressure tyres on averagely poor road surfaces.

Worst outcome is you get an aero bike, find it rattly and uncomfortable, raise the bars sky high and go a bit slower than you would on a less aggressive bike with a good position. Many do : )

Assuming the aero bike fits (reach, saddle to bar drop etc,.) the same as the non aero bike it would be just as comfortable. Why wouldn't it be?

So more a question of whether you can get the same fit on the aero bike.  Do you have a high stem or longer headtube on your current bike?

Depends how stretched out the top tube is and if your back is comfortable with that length.

Aero bikes are not really designed with Sportives or general riding in mind. But if you are obsessed by Strava segments it might suit you.

Assuming the aero bike fits (reach, saddle to bar drop etc,.) the same as the non aero bike it would be just as comfortable. Why wouldn’t it be?

I guess it depends on how long you’re comfortable in that position for, a less compliant frame might batter you over a couple of hours...

As above. Depends how flexible you are. But the bike will probably need a good deal of fine tuning.

Assuming the aero bike fits (reach, saddle to bar drop etc,.) the same as the non aero bike it would be just as comfortable. Why wouldn’t it be?

Becasue the tube profiles and carbon layup are completely different. Aero tube profiles will be far stiffer than a more rounded tube. Stand a matchbox on its long edge and press down - no movement. Do the same with a toilet roll tube and it'll squash. The rectangle is stiffer / less compliant.

OK that's an extremely simple analogy but it's broadly true in aero road bikes. They've got better but they're still generally heavier and less compliant than a more "all-round" or "climbing" orientated road bike.

On smooth roads in somewhere like Spain or France - aero wins. On British roads, I'd go for a more compliant all-rounder frame.

It depends. Some are very harsh, others less to. The Trek Madone for instance is meant to be very comfortable, the Spec Venge's less so.

Also, don't assume a more "head down, backside up" position is less comfortable, my road bikes are all set up like that and I'm much happier with that set up than a more relaxed fit.

Depends on the person, i did that Beast Sportive on an Allez Sprint with 808s and 23mm tyres - 200 miles and 6000m of climbing - seemed comfy enough

My Cervelo s3 was more comfortable than my synapse.

i think saddle, post, and tyres make a bigger impact on comfort than just the frame.

as dirtrider said. Happy to do 130 mile on the cervelo in the alps.

I've just moved from a Look 695SR to an S Works Venge. The Venge is far more comfortable (and appreciably faster too)

On most UK roads you’ll be faster on a comfier bike with good 28 to 32mm tyres, on which you can get into the drops and stay there longer.

This above everything for the "normal" sportive-ist. Yes my full on road bike is fastest on smooth roads and climbs, but when I stick 32mm tubeless tyres on my CX race bike, it sure as hell doesn't get bounced about as much on crappy road surfaces and soaks up more of vibrations caused.

Worst outcome is you get an aero bike, find it rattly and uncomfortable, raise the bars sky high and go a bit slower than you would on a less aggressive bike with a good position. Many do : )

I've seen plenty, of shall we say, the more comfortably proportioned person on a kick ass aero / semi-aero pro type bike with a lovely up right cruising position, kind of defeats the object in the first place.

It happens a lot, I want the super aero race bike I saw on the tour but can you make it comfier, more upright and a bit shorter. Um yes but you could buy this bike that's already comfier, more upright and a bit shorter.

 They’ve got better but they’re still generally heavier and less compliant than a more “all-round” or “climbing” orientated road bike.

Ok but it depends what's causing the discomfort.  If it's road buzz, then yes, but I'd guess most discomfort is going to be due to the accompanying aero position.  Which can of course be fine tuned.

My Giant Propels are smooth and fast over long distances (100+ miles). The Propel has a taller front end compared with a TCR and similar head tube length to my Defy. It is a squeeze to get 28c tyres in, but 25c of all makes are fine. It's a great bike. There is functionally no difference between the SL and the Advanced Pro (I have both), but the SL is a little lighter. Better for the climbs between cake stops.

My Canyon Aeroad is noticeably faster than my Domane and Emonda on British Roads. Comfort wise I've never had any issues, it doesn't rattle.

It may take 28mm tyres, but I wouldn't want to put 28mm tyres on it. It had 25mm towards the end of the summer, but for Crit and Road Races it has 23mm tyres. No comfort problems with these what so ever.

Prior to the Aeroad I've had a Madone, again no issues with comfort or with 25mm tyres on our roads.

My winter bike is a Domane SL (so front and rear ISO Speed thingy) - anyway, I can hardly tell the difference between the Aeroad and the Domane comfort wise. If I was doing a Belgium Classic then the domane with 32mm tyres and lower tyre pressure would be the best bike, but for general riding aero bikes are absolutely fine.

Aero road bikes don't tend to have much more extreme geometry than a normal race orientated bike.  Get a bike/frame size that fits and then you only have to contend with rigidity of the frame and contact points.

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">They're designed for speed first and foremost, but I can only ever remember people consistently saying the original Scott Foil was brutal.  No other aero frames spring to mind as having such consistent comments about comfort.</span>

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Having had an Arkose alongside other road race frames such as Giant TCR, Kinesis Aithein, KTM Revelator, Genesis Zero, the difference should be night and day regardless of whether you choose an aero orientated frame.</span>

My Arkose was steady and perfectly acceptable but it didn't feel fast and didn't inspire me to want to ride fast either.  Unlike my other road bikes....

Another Cervelo S3 owner, very comfortable over long distances, would recommend one to anyone looking for an aero bike that offers comfort as well as speed.

Mrs g is having probs with seat angle on her Boardman there is no adjustment at top of aero seat post can you get wedges to fit  between saddle and post? Aero not as adjustable maybe an issue to you?

Put a short list together of bikes that will fit without extreme adjustments (lots of spacers, a very long or short stem, a daft about of seat post etc) and with the features you are after (discs, you can fit the tyre size you are after etc) at a price you are prepared to pay in a colour you can tolerate. Only after that do you need to worry about the profile of the tubes. I would not get too stressed about it - all the other things are way more important and will make the bike more pleasurable to ride. Riding it more (because it is more pleasurable) and gaining fitness is a much better way to improve your times. Tube profiles is very much in the marginal gains list of things to consider.

The head angle on the Arkose will never make it feel fast. Geometry rather than tubes will have a much bigger effect. You want a nice 73 degree parallel frame for good fast handling. That’s been pretty standard for aeons.

The aero bikes are not as stiff as the non aero bikes. The down tube on my Defy SL is immense compared with the Propel. As is the head tube.

Good bikes ride well, aero is nice and a little faster. About 15 Watts in my testing#, but it’s not a huge deal. Fit and geometry are much more important.

#yes I have aero tested my road and TT bikes and race kit and skin suits at Hillingdon all summer using standard protocol and power meter.

Depends on the person,

Exactly.  To me frame material and carbon layup etc,. is in princess and the pea territory (i.e. I can't tell the difference and I don't care).  What I can tell is when a bike doesn't fit me properly and will become very uncomfortable because of that.

I bought a Giant Propel last year as my summer road bike (I know...) - it’s fassstttt.

Its also up for sale in the classifieds!

Another Cervelo S3 owner, very comfortable over long distances, would recommend one to anyone looking for an aero bike that offers comfort as well as speed.

I chose an R3 over the S3 as I thought it would be the better all day bike, same geometry and rear triangle (at the time) just different profile down and seat tube.

Reality is they’re both super comfy and head and shoulders over the frame it replaced, I’d guess the OP would be more than happy with the Bianchi

I also have a propel And it's not uncomfortable at all. Decent 25c tyres and carbon bars make for great ride. However the speed is addictive and the bike begs you to push yourself and it along till you pop. This may mean you will be slower over longer distance till you get faster or you learn to control yourself

However the speed is addictive and the bike begs you to push yourself and it along till you pop. This may mean you will be slower over longer distance till you get faster or you learn to control yourself

I'm heading a bit OT but this and Tired's comment about Arkose HA* vs 73 parallel sum up so much of how a bike gets rated as 'fast'. The feedback loop of feels responsive (twitchy/stiff/nimble etc) > put effort in > go fast > feels responsive >. If I was a bit more cynical I might suggest that brands design steeper HAs and stiffer frames to get that exact effect and make their bikes 'faster' that way.

*Fork offset is adjusted on that bike to keep trail lower / less lazy and get weight distribution 'right', it's not just about HA - but I don't disagree with what you're saying re the feel or effect in general.

Eh, most aero bikes apart from the aeroad aren't even that slammed these days. Giant's propel in M/L has something like a 19cm head-tube. They're made for old rich people with bad backs. Pros downsize to get a size smaller headtube but with more seatpost extension and stem length - because they have to ride the same mould.

If you need to stick a load of spacers on a road bike the bike is the wrong size for you. That's not dick-measuring; it means that if you ride a TCR with 5cm of spacers, you could be riding a Defy with 1cm of spacers and be more comfortable and better equipped and your bike wouldn't look like an abomination.

From a riding position you can adjust to whatever riding position you like, so no different to any other bike in that regard, however my Propel was noticeably stiffer than non-aero bikes. Its amazing how you don't notice frame flex if you're looking for it, but over a number of rides and miles you do start to notice it. The Propel definitely being stiffer and feeling a bit more fatigued at the end of a ride...not by much so it wouldn't put me off having an aero bike again, and part of me thinks why wouldn't you go aero...there are no real downsides, so you might as well bag the aero benefits no matter how small....though your body position on the bike generates far more drag than your bike frame so no point going aero if you're not going to set yourself up in a racy body position in the first place.

Eh, most aero bikes apart from the aeroad aren’t even that slammed these days. Giant’s propel in M/L has something like a 19cm head-tube.

Not sure if it's true for all or even many, but Scott made their "old" foil with a shorter then normal fork and a great big lump of headtube, and a smaller bottom bearing than most too.  I imagine that they may have been able to use that area better in that way to manage airflow (and maybe to stiffen the frame) while still keeping riders in a good position - which isn't always doubled-over onto a slammed stem anyway, as I understand it

Hmm . Think I can see  where you are coming from . Propel with 50mm spinergy carbons + Michelin power race comp tyres just feel fast . The 'feedback loop' is slightly different  though , put in some effort , get going put in more effort and go abit faster  , stiff frame so road noise is transmitted to backside  giving the effect of moar speed.

Little rise,  out the saddle and quick stomp to stay up on the 52 , and the bike seems to accelerate faster  than it should . so you keep  the effort digs going and  the bike responds , but as the frame is squarer + stiffer  it isnt any faster than any other bike, it just feels like it is.

But the flipside is on a club run , when I ride  the Propel intead of the Roubaix, and my buddy Graham rocks up on his team issued Movistar Canyon then there is a general consensus that  todays  pace  will be 'brisker' than usual., ( usual is 16mph av btw as I am old, fat, overweight , stiff  unflexable and rich ( apparently ))

because they have to ride the same mould

They don't, you know. Some have the option of custom frames. Sep Vanmarke rode a Defy SL with a TCR front end geometry in Paris Roubaix. Degenkolb won on a stock Defy SL. My Defy is stiffer than my Propels. The tube profile is totally different.

I don't see any downsides to Aero bikes, but you can get as much speed from a decent skinsuit. I've tested and have the data to show it.

You don't disprove the majority by citing single cases. By and large I'm right - but my point is about sizing and stack really.

Back to the Arkose, I don't think it was anything to do with handling, it felt slower, more sluggish just pedalling up a straight incline.  I had the bars slammed to a similar height to my other bikes and it had similar reach.  So i think it was more a combination of it being around 5lb heavier, perhaps discs rubbing a little and a little in the feel of the frame tubes.  But then it wasn't designed as a road race bike, so it was fine for what I used it for.