<preamble> As spring approaches, I'm once again thinking of having another go at a 24 hour ride. Not a formal race or anything, just go round in circles as many times as I can. Previously I was thinking of trying to find some like minded souls to join me, but that's looking increasingly unlikely.
Last year I put it off as I got into doing some lovely longish MTB rides instead, and I didn't want to do anything that would bury me for weeks afterwards. Given that I have 7 days extra annual leave next year, and am quite likely not to be allowed to use it, I thought perhaps I should just go for it and then take a few days off afterwards to recover.
Also, I'm pushing fifty now and the chances decrease each year. And if there's one thing I've learned from climbing is that unless you try, you definitely won't succeed.
I don't think I've got the figures any more, but last time I think I averaged about 16 mph for around 19 hours. ( Had to pick the kids up from school, cook tea etc). I figure that if I really really focus and get my shit together I could reduce my faff/feeding time to around 2 hours total for the day ( actually I don't think I can, but let's pretend anyway)
This suggests that I need to be 2.2mph faster to achieve my impossible dream, and 1 mph faster to achieve my slightly more realistic target.
I was pretty fit on my last attempt (on the FatITMiddleManager Punter scale), so I'm going to need to get fitter, but even if I do, I'm still a bit off. So in true STW style I thought I could poke some money at the problem. But not much, because I have no interest in TTs in general. </ Preamble>
<The Point> what clip on Tri bars should I get for my bike ( a very comfortable, Flexi upright Trek Domäne)?
Would something like this be any good or is there more to it than meets the eye?
</The Point>
Prime Noosa are nice if they'll fit - you need what is now a fairly old-school round handlebar.
PS, yes I do feel like a bit of a dick asking about Tri bars to do 18mph 😜
I guess they're intended for faster speeds.
Cheers finbar. I notice they are a stack shorter. I presume the advantage is lightness if you want to leave them on the bike?
Should I be looking at short or long ones in general?
I have some, I didn't notice much of a change, nor did I feel particularly aero until I flipped and slammed my stem, so much so that it was nearly unrideable on the actual bars. Then it was great.
I'd like to know if JUST aero bars on your normal road bike - rather than TT bike or approximation thereof - is worth the discomfort.
Most people think that aero bars are about speed but for long distance rides like yours they're more useful for a different hand position, a bit of comfort as your elbows take the strain for a while, and being able to go the same speed but for less effort, so for those benefits i can recommend them
don't go for the long ones that stretch you out and put your body in a position it might not be used to but aim for the stubbier ones that put your hands about level with the ends of your brake levers, i have some Profile Design T2 DL bars that have seen me well across several countries so those Dedas should be fine
The transcontinental lot use aerobars but that's as much about having another significantly different riding position. I'd trawl some videos to see what they go for. Most will be going for a significantly different position to a time trailer.
Back in the day I did a reasonable number of longer timetrails (100 mile) in prep for ironman triathlons. I always messed around with the position on the TT bike from how I had it setup for a 25 because it was not tolerable for long enough and if you are on the hoods because you can't handle the aerobar position any more it's kind have failed.
On a road bike the classic mistake is having too long a clip on and being too stretched. You really want your upper arm relatively vertical when your forearm is on the bars. I actually found an old pair of visontech minis in my box of spares in the autumn and put them on my commute bike to counteract the prevailing headwind on the way home. Kind of worked but forgot how painful they were on your forearms. If looking now for ones for a road bike as opposed to a TT bike I'd be finding ones where the position of the arm rest backwards and forwards is is not fixed relative to the position of the bar clamp. That way you can put the pad behind the bars a little which really helps with comfort (taking care not to over do it and have you knee catching on them when out of the saddle climbing). On those Deda's the bar clamp and the arm rest bracket is the same lump of aluminium I think so no adjustment possible. Memory fades and I have not googled but Profile T2 bars looked very similar but had separate clamps.
And don't worry about the speed. As counterintuitive as it might seem physics says you save more time with aero tweeks at slower speeds than you do at faster speeds. As a percentage the difference is less but the actual time is more.
I get the alternative position idea but it's never really worked well for me. From Scott AT4s bitd to Profile and generic Taiwan clip ons on my road bike and modifications to the loop bars on my 29er, etc. Seems like I get a bad pedalling position from them on a bike that isn't well set up for them to begin with - a steeper STA, lower bar etc all help with the aero bar position and are things that can make a bike less comfy in general over a long ride. I generally find the different position harder to pedal efficiently in. It does help duck out of a headwind on a flat road though.
Clearly I know nothing as 10 mile to 24hr TT roadies use them, but I think the difference is that they train for that position and build the bike on that basis. Just bunging a set on a bike might not be as advantageous as you'd expect. I don't bother with them now, drop bars have enough options (for what rides of 12-24hrs or more that I do).
I used them for some tris I did, made a massive difference to comfort (and I hope speed but I didn't measure that).
To get my front end low, I turned my seatpost round, I wouldn't have had nearly as aero a position without that.
Forgot to say - it's a bit spendy but you might want to look at the Redshift dual position seatpost. By the same firm that make the suspension stem thing gravel riders are getting moist about. On the fly ability to shunt you saddle forwards (and up a bit to keep the BB to saddle the same) 50mm. Again, popular amongst the ultra distance mob.
I have some clip ons but struggle, as you need some non-tapered bars as they don't fit 🙁
and I still haven't managed to get some yet.
P.
A proper TT position is a rotation around the BB. So the saddle has to move forward and down. To just have a rest, you want them higher. Many have risers to adjust height. I have 3T on my TT bike and they are very good. Better to adjust than the very expensive integrated TT bar sets.
If you are anywhere near the Peak I’ve got a pair you could try to see if they work for you. The main issue with them is to ensure they are compatible with your bars (its not just aero bars but a lot of alloy and carbon bars are butted internally where you would want to fit them and can’t take the clamping forces)
Hi Richie,
Cool. That might be a plan (although Covid might have other views)
I'm near Altrincham, and occasionally head into the peak if I'm feeling energetic. Whereabouts are you?
Convert:
On those Deda’s the bar clamp and the arm rest bracket is the same lump of aluminium I think so no adjustment possible. Memory fades and I have not googled but Profile T2 bars looked very similar but had separate clamps.
These the ones you mean?
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Profile-Design/T2-Alloy-Aerobar/LI
As you say, separate pad clamp. Just wondering about the hand position for s long day. That semi straight design looks moarrr aero, but quite uncomfortable compared to the ones with more kick.Any idea if they are?
Yes - that was what I was thinking of on the arms. You are right though - I've used plenty of s bends but ski would be my choice long distance. I thought you could get that bar in ski too. It all gets a bit complicated....
Here I go....
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/PRO/Missile-Alloy-Ski-Bend-Clip-On-Bars/J2RW
Separate arm rest clamps, tick.
Ski bend, tick.
looks good. Don't be afraid to shorten them if you need to.
Right. Gottem eventually and fitted them to the bike on my turbo trainer so I could tweak the position easily.
Got to say, I'm pretty disappointed, my numbers are coming out little better than they were on the normal bars.
So much for technology...
🤣🤣
Right. Gottem eventually and fitted them to the bike on my turbo trainer so I could tweak the position easily.
Got to say, I’m pretty disappointed, my numbers are coming out little better than they were on the normal bars.So much for technology…
Have you tried it with a large fan blowing on you?
Trolling ? Has to be.....the clues in the name isn't it 🙂
Have you tried taking the bike off the turbo and checking your speed/time on a short out and back route, using and not using the TT bars? 😱😂
Have you tried taking the bike off the turbo and checking your speed/time on a short out and back route, using and not using the TT bars?
Don't be stoopid. Do you know how cold it is outside at the moment?😜😉
And it's dark. Chances of crashing are significantly higher than inside on t' turbo.
It's supposed to be one of those Smart Trainers with a computer in it, so it should be ok. Perhaps the trainer isn't working properly...
Is your turbo super smart then, to recognise when you are in a more aero position and so you will go faster for the same power?🤔
Your absolute power numbers on the TT bars will almost certainly be lower, but it should be more than compensated by the reduced aero drag, so you travel quicker.
I'm guessing you don't want to be holding an aero tuck for 24 hours. As mentioned earlier ultra distance riders often use them simply to give variation in position. Have a look at Josh Ibbett or Mark Beaumont.
