Aerobars scare me to death
27
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726 days
zerorossi posted 20 weeks ago.
There is a learning curve for the lack of control that you get with them, but if you are properly fit on the bike, you should be able to manage.
523
Member
233 days
jsk85 posted 20 weeks ago.
I'd say a big key is making sure you feel balanced on the bike riding regular. If you're gripping the bullhorns for dear life for fear of falling anyways, you: 1) Need to look at whether you have the correct bike fit, and 2) are not ready for aerobars yet
My big issue when I first got them was not so much riding on them, but switching to and from them from the regular handlebars. I just basically rode around my neighborhood a while slowly switching back and forth often and just working on getting comfortable
927
Member
261 days
TriSooner posted 20 weeks ago.
Monash228 wrote:
No, you don't have to accept that. In fact, one wipe out in a group of other riders and no one will ride with you. Just to make sure you know this, etiquette dictates that when you are riding in a group, you don't ride in the aero position. If you insist, at least ride off the back - not the front. This is why roadies don't like to ride with triathletes. The more you ride aero the more comfortable you will be on them. My advice is to practice inside on a trainer if you can, just to get comfortable in the position. Next, take it outside and ride on the tribars on a straight road, at a moderate pace (slow is harder), with no traffic, wide shoulders to accomodate lateral movement, on a low-wind day. Do not try this trick at home, I mean, with other riders anywhere near you, on a busy or curvy road, a road with little or no shoulder or a curb, or on a windy day. In no time at all you will be taking round-abouts without breaking cadence in aero at 40k per hour.
Is wiping out something that I just have to accept?
379
Member
419 days
stewarba posted 20 weeks ago.
I'm just now getting used to my Aero bars. The thing you need to be aware of is that your center of gravity changes as you move one arm over and the other is still gripping the hood. I have found two things help. 1) try to have a decent amount of speed built up and be in a position where you can coast while you make the transition and 2) try to lighten up on the amount of weight you are putting on the handlebars because if you are really pressing on one side or the other with the changed center of gravity, you will tend to over compensate and possibly lose control.
Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines – Brian Tracy
2008 Sprint Tri A race goals
S: 500m in 10:00 – FS Stroke only
B: 22mph avg over course
R: 5K <= 25:00
Place top 50% for my age group
115
Member
1055 days
NotAsFast posted 20 weeks ago.
Technically, going from a standard bar to Aerobars is more of a redistibution of weight forward and a change of how you steer the bike. Instead of steering with your hands, that in most cases being on the brake hoods, you are now taking your hands out of the equation and using your elbows. In doing so you lose extra leverage from removing the ability to flex your elbow. Steering now comes from leaning the bike or more importantly weight distribution on the pads of the Aerobars. With that extra weight forward, steering is exagerated from your normal riding position.
That being said, I will put money you lost control trying to get into and out of the bars. Not while actually in them. Most people, including myself actually go to one side or the other when getting into or out of the aero position, which causes some people to panic and ultimately wreck.
How many of us have actually ran off the side of the road trying to get in and out of the bars? I have. Fortunately, no wrecks doing this. Pedals at lights different story.
TriSooner has the right approach, practice on you trainer, until you dont have that leaning feeling, then use a road or large parking lot that is very empty and practive getting into and out of the bars. Once you are in the bars, practive steering with your elbows and leaning your bike.
Good luck.
946
Member
1117 days
PJT posted 20 weeks ago.
Wiping out from using aerobars is not normal. Here are a couple ideas to try:
1. Don't use a "death grip" on either your regular handlebars or your aerobars. When you tense up by squeezing the bars, handling is compromised and useless energy is expended.
2. When you move in and out of the bars, move slowly and deliberately. Jerking your arm out towards the brake lever is a good way to wipe out.
3. +1 on using them first indoors and on flat stretches. I would wait several weeks before trying to descend in aerobars, especially if your balance is an issue. On very technical descents, blind curves, etc., I still get out of my aerobars and get my hands near the brake levers. Know your bike routes so you can tell the difference in advance between safe strecthes for aerobars and places where discretion is the better part of valor.
(If you have balance issues generally, you may want to get a set of rollers to use indoors. Don't even think about using the aerobars with those for several months, just use them to get better bike balance in general).
927
Member
261 days
TriSooner posted 20 weeks ago.
NotAsFast wrote:
+1 You will eventually steer by pushing down through the elbows.
Steering now comes from leaning the bike or more importantly weight distribution on the pads of the Aerobars.
1636
Member
1004 days
tri-ac posted 20 weeks ago.
if you're that wobbly, you need to get some more time riding in general. you shouldn't be petrified while riding. that's just not fun!
get some rollers ($100 investment or borrow a friend's) and practice riding them without aero bars. this will improve your balance and handling skill immensely. then going from there to aero bars will be cake!
777
Member
797 days
tsilcyc posted 20 weeks ago.
Monash228 wrote:
Last year I ran my first tri on a borrowed bike. I tried the aerobars and wiped out badly every time I tried to use them. I just bought myself a new bike, but avoided putting on aerobars because, quite honestly, they scare the living daylights out of me. I would eventually like to be able to use them. For those of you that do, how did you get accustomed to riding with them. Is wiping out something that I just have to accept? Thanks!!
I'd be curious to see how you were positioned on that borrowed bike. If the bike wasn't a good fit for you, the aero bars would only make matters worse. I "think" the shorty bars are probably best for a road bike. But others might differ with my opinion.
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148 days
Monash228 posted 20 weeks ago.
The bike I borrowed was too big for me, not by a lot, but by enough. I figured it was better than riding some shotty mt. bike though:)
The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.
-- Vince Lombardi
55
Member
1390 days
rlauredo posted 20 weeks ago.
I'm going to committ Blasphemy here:
I own both a tri-bike and a road-bike. While I would never do a half-IM or IM on a road bike (laying on the aero-bars of a tri-bike gives you the kind of rest for your back stabilizer muscles that, if sitting on a stool, you get from resting your elbows on the table or bar), I have often done Sprints and Olympics on my road-bike. It's amazing how horizontal and aero you can keep your body when down on the drops of standard "roadie" handle-bars when you're only riding for 30 to 70 minutes.
OK, made it. Didn't get struck by lightning.
1
Member
200 days
GregMits posted 20 weeks ago.
I haven't gone down yet on them, but I have come close a few times. I have them positioned (they're after market) as close together as possible. I think spreading them out a little might help while you get used to riding with them.
All of the advice above is correct as well. The times when I almost fell I was on a curvy road, going slightly down hill. Practice on straights and flats.
470
Member
470 days
Socket posted 20 weeks ago.
My aerobars are in the process of being shipped and its a bit of a scary thought of having to learn to use these things. Guess I'll have to go find somewhere else to practice as all the roads near me are not flat/straight/lightly traveled/wide shouldered/not chewed up by snow plows/clear of sand, rocks, and broken glass.
Ah, the joys of living in beautiful New Jersey...
31
Member
198 days
chrisgood1 posted 20 weeks ago.
+1 on the trainer. I have been cycling for about 5 years and just put aerobars on about 2 months ago i have no balance problems and very little fear (being 23 and dumb) but i used them on my trainer first to get the fit and feel. Plus it was a different way of sitting and riding and made my neck sore at first.
If your going to do something wrong enjoy it.
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369
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374 days
Leroy Bonkers posted 20 weeks ago.
sounds like general riding skills issues. Get on the road a lot and it will all fall into place.
Last year I ran my first tri on a borrowed bike. I tried the aerobars and wiped out badly every time I tried to use them. I just bought myself a new bike, but avoided putting on aerobars because, quite honestly, they scare the living daylights out of me. I would eventually like to be able to use them. For those of you that do, how did you get accustomed to riding with them. Is wiping out something that I just have to accept? Thanks!!
The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.
-- Vince Lombardi