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Aero bar dilemma
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 2006-01-17 9:23 AM |
 Crystal Lake, IL |  Subject: Aero bar dilemmaFor Christmas I got a set of Profile Carbon Stryke bars. I've mounted them on the bars and I have a little dilemma here. I have regular drop bars on my cheap (but I really like it, and it's red) road bike. When I mount the bars wide enough so that my hands are comfortable in aero position, then the elbow pads interfere with my forearm placement if I want to ride with my hands on the hoods. If I move the bars in so that I have enough clearance to ride the hoods, then my hands are mushed together because of the way the bar bends toward the center. The only way I can narrow the elbow pads without moving the whole bar towards the center is to swing them back which compacts my form into more of a road aero position (as opposed to a more forward tri position). I have some more tinkering to do and I'm sure I'll figure something out that works for me, I just thought I'd raise the issue here and see what other people have experienced. Has anyone else experienced this problem and what did you do about it? |
| 2006-01-17 9:30 AM in reply to: #325506 |
Master 1384   Brooklyn, NY | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma Got the same bars with the same exact issue. I'm in the middle of "tinkering" as well. I know there are aero-bars that flip up and out of the way when not used. I'm afraid I should have gotten them. Hope to hear a "majic" answer to this one. |
| 2006-01-17 9:30 AM in reply to: #325506 |
Elite 2777  In my bunk with new shoes and purple sweats. | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma John don't forget possible seat adjustments. Are you going for tt/tri aero positioning (which is a little difficult on a road bike) or possibly the "slam" aero position? Narrow is good, but comfort (in a relative way) is better. |
| 2006-01-17 9:31 AM in reply to: #325506 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma The great thing about the Carbon Strykes is they have a ton of flexibility with adjustments so you can really tweak the position. But if you put them out on the third hole, they can get pretty "wide." And the flair that is on the arm rests is pretty high up there. Are your road bars narrow? Do you know what size they are? |
| 2006-01-17 9:44 AM in reply to: #325506 |
Expert 1213 Los Gatos, CA | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma My elbow rests are spring loaded so they flip up when not in use making room for my hands on the handle bars....my LBS pointed it out as an issue when I got them..... |
| 2006-01-17 9:49 AM in reply to: #325506 |
| Crystal Lake, IL | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma I don't know the size, I'm not very technical about this stuff yet. But they are narrow. While typing the OP I had another idea. This will only make sense to someone who knows the shape of the bars, but I'm considering swapping them and then leaning them inward to the point they practically tough in the front. This might allow me to place the elbow rests as narrow as I need and create a comfortable hand position up front, like an upside down V that another aero bar uses. |
| 2006-01-17 10:05 AM in reply to: #325506 |
Champion 9407 Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma I have the same bars and although I didn't have a problem you can try loosening the bars from the mounts and rotating the bars to change your hand position. I have mine set up fairly narrow and don't have a problem with hand position being too cramped. Do you have picts of the problem? Shane |
| 2006-01-17 10:10 AM in reply to: #325506 |
| Member 16 | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma You can get the flip-up arm brackets for the Carbon Stryke aerobar. I used them with mine when they were mounted on my road bike. Check the Profile Design website, I think the replacement brackets were ~$20. They gave me the room I needed on my road bars. It's called the ZB Bracket Kit. Good Luck, Dawn |
| 2006-01-17 10:10 AM in reply to: #325526 |
Member 19 | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma us50090 - 2006-01-17 9:44 AM My elbow rests are spring loaded so they flip up when not in use making room for my hands on the handle bars....my LBS pointed it out as an issue when I got them..... I got the same ones, they are great. |
| 2006-01-17 10:18 AM in reply to: #325530 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma hangloose - 2006-01-17 10:49 AM but I'm considering swapping them and then leaning them inward to the point they practically tough in the front. This might allow me to place the elbow rests as narrow as I need and create a comfortable hand position up front, like an upside down V that another aero bar uses. I actually have considered this as well. But I don't want to close up my chest so much that it restricts efficient breathing. Being aero does you no good if the engine isn't getting enough air to power the machine enough to get any aero advantage!  |
| 2006-01-17 10:32 AM in reply to: #325550 |
| Crystal Lake, IL | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma dawnawanna - 2006-01-17 10:10 AM You can get the flip-up arm brackets for the Carbon Stryke aerobar. I used them with mine when they were mounted on my road bike. Check the Profile Design website, I think the replacement brackets were ~$20. They gave me the room I needed on my road bars. It's called the ZB Bracket Kit. Good Luck, Dawn Thanks! That's a great tip, I'll check it out. I can't afford to just scrap these bars and get new ones, but I could swing an accessory like this. Thanks again. |
| 2006-01-17 10:42 AM in reply to: #325506 |
Expert 822 | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma I also have Carbon Stryke bars and put them on my road bike. I don't have a problem with the hand position. I don't know what you mean in your original post when you say, "...because of the way the bar bends toward the center," because my bars don't bend toward the center, they have a wider-than-L-shaped bend to them, but you can position the hand grips to any vertical angle you want. I did have a problem with the elbow pads making it impossible for me to use the handlebar's top bar. I just got the flip up brackets, but that's not a perfect solution either (for me). The front-to-back positioning of the flip up brackets is fixed, whereas with the original brackets, you could swivel the elbow pads' bracket arm forward and back for more position options (I'm moving the pads as far back as possible to compensate for my road bike geometry). So now the pads are too far forward on my forearms. I guess I'll get used to it because I really like having my top bar back. Mike |
| 2006-01-17 10:50 AM in reply to: #325550 |
| Master 1384 Brooklyn, NY | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma dawnawanna - 2006-01-17 10:10 AM You can get the flip-up arm brackets for the Carbon Stryke aerobar. I used them with mine when they were mounted on my road bike. Check the Profile Design website, I think the replacement brackets were ~$20. They gave me the room I needed on my road bars. It's called the ZB Bracket Kit. Good Luck, Dawn Extremely cool! I just ordered them thru my LBS. Only draw back (for some), is these take the flexibility of moving the "wings" forward or back if you need to. Thanks for sharing |
| 2006-01-17 12:48 PM in reply to: #325506 |
COURT JESTER 12230 ROCKFORD, IL | Subject: RE: Aero bar dilemma I cast my vote for the flip up pad. Have them on my road bike and it's great to have full access to the hood and top bar. ALSO, if you haven't already, think about moving your shifters to the end of the aerobars IF you can. |
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