Roadie aero position

After doing my first tt the other week I’ve bought some ‘proper’ clip-ons (profile t1+) and read about the ‘aero position’. I read lots about it being uncomfortable, difficult to hold, needs stretching etc…

I bolted them to the top of the bars, left everything the same (retul bike fit and don’t really want to mess about with everything if I hated riding in that position)

To my surprise I actually find it more comfortable than my usual riding position…. this is against everything I’ve read so far, and makes me wonder if my original position is wrong in some way.

I went out on my local 50 mile loop, it was windy and my average went from mid-high 18s to mid 19s for what seemed far less effort and very little saddle discomfort (have tried several now…)

Anyone else found using aero bars actually more comfortable?

Does feel like the post needs to come up and forward more than my usual position so that will be the next change, and maybe then reversing the stem till I find the best position.

Yes, they definitely can be, particularly if they’re set fairly high as you’re taking the load through your skeleton rather than holding your upper body up with arms/core.

But then if they’re high up like that, they’re probably not doing a huge amount to make you more aero…

They can be more comfortable yes, but for me sticking them on top of normal bars made them really high and of limited benefit.

For my TT I slammed my stem and inverted it, making the hoods almost too low to reach. Was brilliant on the aero bars! I marked the stem and bars to get them back in the right spot afterwards. You might want to try similar.

I read lots about it being uncomfortable, difficult to hold, needs stretching etc…

Just putting clip ons on your road bike without any other changes, you’ll probably find it pretty comfortable and not much of a stretch.

You can probably get a “better” position by doing what molgrips suggests, then you might find some of the above being more noticeable. Then worth getting someone to take some photos so you can start evaluating your position further and making small incremental changes (and have a think about how to determine if position changes have a positive effect, maybe more aero but less power etc.)

Yeah I just did it and raced a 10 without doing anything more than sitting on the bike first (and tilting the saddle forwards). It was pretty uncomfortable on my shoulders and my elbows hurt on the pads, but I seemed able to get power down and it felt sodding fast.

Anyone else found using aero bars actually more comfortable?

As above, but you may not be getting the aero benefit. Ideally you get both, though proper aero positions aren’t always comfortable.

It’s all worth doing though, loads of benefits. If you can adapt to a good TT position then there is a lot of carry over to a more aero position on the road bike too. Having spent a while doing most of my turbo work on the TT bike I found I was comfortable in a flatter and faster position on the road bike.

Try a shorter slammed stem and lower the pads by 5cm to get the proper aero benefits. Saddle to pad drop is what matters. My new (old) TT bike has a fairly extreme position for the brakes and drops – slightly lower than my road drops, but the pads are quite a bit lower than the hoods.

Sounds like I am probably using skeletal structure as mentioned above rather than core to hold position.

I was planning on setting up a camcorder / turbo to see the position to tweek to get more aero – however just by chucking the aero bars on the front my average has increased a decent amount so it is obviously ‘more’ aero than my current road position.

I’ve already started looking at aero helmets….something like a giro attack that could be ridden for most rides rather than just a tt.

DT78 – Member
I’ve already started looking at aero helmets….something like a giro attack that could be ridden for most rides rather than just a tt.

Look at that bikeradar article on aero set ups and bikes. The power saved with a teardrop helmet is similar to aero wheels IIRC.

Also…the watts saved is usually at 40kph/25mph. IIRC this effect is proportional to the cube or square of speed. So the savings at 19mph are smaller…

Also…the watts saved is usually at 40kph/25mph. IIRC this effect is proportional to the cube or square of speed. So the savings at 19mph are smaller…

This is true, but it’s still there at 19mph. The only reason not to is if you’re not competing. If it’s just for monitoring your own fitness then keeping things constant is key, but if it’s competative then getting as close to everyone elses set-up is important (unless you can kick ass on an old 6-speed, in which case getting the crappest bike you can but still win is important).

Indeed, I was getting at the £/mph – a HRM or other training aids may help more.

Absolute power savings may be smaller at lower speeds, but you’ll be producing less power anyway, plus you’ll be out there for longer, so the gains still add up. At least, that’s what Cervelo say.
http://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering/thinking-and-processes/slow-vs-fast-riders.html

Who you calling slow?! 🙂

Sounds like your bike fit was all wrong. You shouldn’t be using your arms or your core to hold your upper body up.

Bike fit was for ‘normal’ road riding I’ve just stuck some clipon bars on it to give TT a go, so obviously not optimised for aero position. But as I said surprisingly comfy.

I read some where the fastest aero position is one you can sustain.

Whats so wrong with resting solidly on your elbows? Head too high?

Been looking on ebay at tt bikes, and alot look very similar setups in terms of minimal drop from saddle to elbow pad.

davidtaylforth – Member
You shouldn’t be using your arms or your core to hold your upper body up.

Bike fit was for ‘normal’ road riding I’ve just stuck some clipon bars on it to give TT a go, so obviously not optimised for aero position. But as I said surprisingly comfy.

Yeeeah, that’s what I mean. In a normal riding position your arms and core shouldnt be holding your upper body up. Or at least I dont think mine do. You should be nice and relaxed with loose arms

So your upper body is levitating?

No, weight is taken through the legs by pressing on the pedals. I have very little weight on my arms, even when on the drops. That’s how I determine fore-aft saddle position.

Just measured; saddle to pad drop is 12.5 cm and leaning over puts a lot more weight on my arms.

Interesting Cervelo article. I’m embarrassed I didn’t get the larger effect at slower speeds previously.

TiRed – Member
No, weight is taken through the legs by pressing on the pedals. I have very little weight on my arms, even when on the drops

I see.

Have you ever tried letting go of the bars when pedalling hard?

I actually tried that on my way to work, it kind of works, but a significant amount of weight is still taken by my arms.

I am not very fit/strong.

…Have you ever tried letting go of the bars when pedalling hard?

Isn’t that what Alberto tried on yesterdays stage?

Topical but mean. Have you got some kind of beef with Contador?

Have you ever tried letting go of the bars when pedalling hard?

Yes. My standard test for bike position is to ride with just forefingers resting on the ends of the drops. You can’t put too much weight through two fingers. If this is not possible, chances are the saddle is too far back (or stem too long, but normally it is saddle position).