Wind + aerobars = success?

[dhd.evans]

My route to work follows the coast rather nicely - it's a beautiful route when the weather's nice but by buggery is it prone to headwinds.And i mean coastal gusts that knock me sideways. Oh, and let's not get started on the fact that I always have a 10mph headwind regardless if i'm going into work or coming back... I digress.

So, my flatbar Dawes could do with some clip on aero bars. The last few days i've leant down onto the handlebars, chin almost on my reflector and found that this greatly increases my velocity / reduces my swearing to the Gods about the winds.

Can anyone recommend a set of aero bars within sensible price range (say up to forty quid) that would fit me bike?

 

[BentMikey]

MTBs or hybrids with aerobars never fail to get a belly laugh from me.

 

[betty swollocks]

Something like this?

 

[PpPete]

aero bars are great for getting you down low and reducing wind resistance.... but they make you less stable, so I'd be wary of using them in a situation where you have side gusts.

 

[dhd.evans]

Something like this?

Smashing. That looks like what i need.

When I can afford to buy myself a roadie (i.e. when the wee man leaves the house in 17 years time and i have money to spare!) I'll be investing. Money is scarce and my hybrid is my only steed at the moment!

 

[fossyant]

Tuck your elbows in and adjust position. Aero bars aren't good in gusts.

 

[dhd.evans]

Tucking is fine but i've got sections of lovely straight (sheltered) that i could be powering through.

I'm thinking these might be useful. Does anyone have any experience ordering from this website?

 

[BSRU]

Parker International are a "well known" company with a good reputation, personally never had problems.

 

[dhd.evans]

Parker International are a "well known" company with a good reputation, personally never had problems.

Smashing.

Will update in due course about this.

 

[Maz]

Never been a fan of aero bars mi sen, except for the one below

 

[dhd.evans]

Partner came home early this morning meaning I got out on the bike. Hastily fitted the aerobars (Profile Split Second AL Tribar if you're interested) and set on my route.

Tucked in and gunning it along I knocked 10 miles out in just over 40 minutes. My usual trip time is around 50 minutes.

So, aerobars are a success and i'd heartily recommend them for anyone with a flat route to work like mine.

Secondly, the set I have are easy clip-on too.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

i am debating aero bars, my route isnt flat but has nice long straight descents and flat straight sheltered bits of road, I take it they would make more differnce at 30 mph+ than just pootling along at 20 mph

 

[dhd.evans]

i am debating aero bars, my route isnt flat but has nice long straight descents and flat straight sheltered bits of road, I take it they would make more differnce at 30 mph+ than just pootling along at 20 mph

I'd say so. My average pootle is probably around 15-17mph (my speedo ain't working still) but noticed today that I was keeping pace with cars in a 30 limit. So it is likely i was hitting mid-late 20's.

Wind-noise also dissipatedf and i felt much sleeker.

 

[Cyclist33]

MTBs or hybrids with aerobars never fail to get a belly laugh from me.

Why? Surely they make just as much sense as on a drop bar bike? Arguably more so if the differential between flatbar and aero bar is greater than the differential between dropbar hoods and aero bar?

Stu

 

[Arjimlad]

I have a set which someone kindly gave me when I had to do a 30km race on a flat bar road bike. They definitely made a difference and I got over 40mph on a nice downhill.

I am thinking of putting them on my Defy 2 but it's mainly for commuting, although I will be doing a 100k night ride challenge at the end of June. The trouble then is that I need the space on my bars for lights !