You should probably be more concerned with some road tires and a shorter cassette. The "tri-types" probably don't want an inexperienced cross rider weaving all over the place going slowly.

I have Profile Carbon Strykes, and I like them. Try a few sets to see what works for you.

So you want to keep control of your bike to swerve around the splintering carbon carnage of noob triathletes who totally don't have the balls to ride 'cross with their fancypants aerobars and their girly-man shaved legs. You should probably keep your cross rig the way it is without aerobars - it's way more hardcore. And be sure to put extra knobby tires on for the race so you can take it off the course when there are scads of noobs holding you back.

But seriously, there are no "best" clip ons. For one thing, as far as I'm concerned they're all about the same. I happen to like the Profile Design F-19 arm rests more than most others I've tried, but I've heard people with the opposite reaction, and I dislike most of the extensions Profile sells. Almost all bike shops sell aerobars these days, so just go pick out whatever's cheapest and works with your bars and try it out. (do you have interrupter brake levers? If so about the only solution I can think of is the Oval Concepts stem faceplate mounted bars) Or skip the bike shop and epoxy a couple metal pipes to your handlebars. Be sure to sharpen the ends so you can impale any of those dorky tri-types who go swerving into your path, and be sure you have your wet weather canti's on the front because it'll probably be messy.

No worries, the "tri types" won't have to worry about an inexperienced cross rider as I've been riding in the dirt and on the road for 20+ years, first raced cross 10+ years ago and I don't suffer from bike control issues like weaving all over the place.

Maybe my bike handling skills will help me avoid those squirrely riders...

Anyway, I have a road wheelset sporting 23Cs and an 11-21 so I'm ok in the bike department, except for those nifty clip-ons.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Wow welcome to our TRI forum.

The rude side of me wants to reply that having never used aerobars you shouldn't add them since they you'll be giving those of us that have trained with them (and many of us have very good bike handling skills) a bad name if you are squirrelly while you learn to use them.

The side of me that my mom would be proud of is instead going to give you a friendly reminder that not all sterotypes are true -- there are plenty of us that have spent our time learning to ride, and ride well. You are welcome to join us and be a member of our tri community here, but please don't insult us.

urinal mint... what a great handle.

My recommendation is the profile design T2's. They are the only aerobars that I know of where the arm rest can be positioned behind the handlebars. On a road set up that's the best way to get your elbows at 90degrees, and thus relaxed upper arms.

And as a fixie-riding drunken hipster I can't believe you would compare me to a triathlete!

But seriously, just finish the swim first and it's a lot less crowded on the bike. Simple enough right?

A cross bike with aero bars is like a civic with a gun rack. ;p