Aero Bars

Steve Ball

I took up cycling when I took up triathlon, and have a road bike fitted with
aero bars. Lately, I've been looking to do more riding, so I joined a bike
club so that I could ride on the roads in the (relative) safety of a bunch.

I completely understand not using the aeros when bunch riding, because you
can't brake quickly, plus stability is compromised. However, riding with a
bunch this morning someone told me I should remove them because they're
"quite dangerous". This is a point of view I've never encountered before
and, having now spent a bit of time at Google, I haven't encountered it
anywhere on the net, either.

Does anyone here have an opinion one way or the other?
--
Thanks in advance,
Steve = : ^ )

barry taylor

"Steve Ball" <pretty_good@every.thing> wrote in message
news:C3BD11F4.1C8BE%pretty_good@every.thing...
:I took up cycling when I took up triathlon, and have a road bike
fitted with
: aero bars. Lately, I've been looking to do more riding, so I joined
a bike
: club so that I could ride on the roads in the (relative) safety of a
bunch.
:
: I completely understand not using the aeros when bunch riding,
because you
: can't brake quickly, plus stability is compromised. However, riding
with a
: bunch this morning someone told me I should remove them because
they're
: "quite dangerous".

well I for one wouldn't want you riding anywhere near me in a bunch
whether racing or club/bunch riding

a. your ability to manouvre is restricted while on the aero bars
so take them off when you ride in a group

b. you can't see what's happening in the bunch/group around you while
on the bars
so take them off before the group decides that you are a liability

c: thank you very much but I wouldn't you crashing into me or falling
onto me with those bars
so take them off when you ride in a group

:This is a point of view I've never encountered before
: and, having now spent a bit of time at Google, I haven't encountered
it
: anywhere on the net, either.

you haven't been group riding before and you are not likely to find
any discussions about the pros and cons of aero bars and group riding
because AFAIK aero bars are banned in any form of competitive cycling
except for TT - and one of the reasons why drafting is verboten in
Triathlon in some competitions

: Does anyone here have an opinion one way or the other?

just don't use them for bunch/group riding

: --
: Thanks in advance,
: Steve = : ^ )


--

---

a friendly growl from the bear on the Zephyr that roars

__ __ __ _ __
/__/ / /__/ /_ /_\ /_ /
/_ / _ / /__/ /__ / \ / \ ....Kawasaki Zephyr

barry j taylor < taylorja@aapt.net.au >
Ulysses #25871: netrider #549
Skype: ursusaustralis



~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*) . . . bjbear on his treadly





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zebee Johnstone

In aus.bicycle on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:47:00 +1100
Steve Ball <pretty_good@every.thing> wrote:
>
> I completely understand not using the aeros when bunch riding, because you
> can't brake quickly, plus stability is compromised. However, riding with a
> bunch this morning someone told me I should remove them because they're
> "quite dangerous". This is a point of view I've never encountered before

I think the problem is they stick out. Like horns.

Also, until they know you well, they can't really trust you not to use
them.

Zebee

gplama

Doesn't hold - standard levers 'stick out'.. and if things protruding forward is an issue, then don't look how far out a front wheel sticks out! Think about how many times people have invaded the space in front of your handle bars... and you've lived to tell the tale. Sideways bumps, yep... bar hookups...almost a few times.. but impaling someone on TT bars... never!

Sounds like the roadie policeman was enforcing the law on 'what he had heard' not what he knew.

Just my 2c...

Lama

DaveB

barry taylor wrote:
>
> a. your ability to manouvre is restricted while on the aero bars
> so take them off when you ride in a group
>
> b. you can't see what's happening in the bunch/group around you while
> on the bars
> so take them off before the group decides that you are a liability
>
> c: thank you very much but I wouldn't you crashing into me or falling
> onto me with those bars
> so take them off when you ride in a group
>

He's already said he understands not using them in a group, so all
you're worried about is being impaled. I reckon there's much bigger
concerns thatn that out there on the road.

DaveB

barry taylor

"DaveB" <dbuerckner@NOSPAMMOgmail.com> wrote in message
news:479725d5$0$13919$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
: barry taylor wrote:
: >
: > a. your ability to manouvre is restricted while on the aero bars
: > so take them off when you ride in a group
: >
: > b. you can't see what's happening in the bunch/group around you
while
: > on the bars
: > so take them off before the group decides that you are a
liability
: >
: > c: thank you very much but I wouldn't you crashing into me or
falling
: > onto me with those bars
: > so take them off when you ride in a group
: >
:
: He's already said he understands not using them in a group, so all
: you're worried about is being impaled. I reckon there's much bigger
: concerns thatn that out there on the road.
:
: DaveB

" I completely understand not using the aeros when bunch riding,
because you
can't brake quickly, plus stability is compromised. However, riding
with a
bunch this morning someone told me I should remove them because
they're
"quite dangerous". This is a point of view I've never encountered
before
and, having now spent a bit of time at Google, I haven't encountered
it
anywhere on the net, either"

so the original poster asked for comments on the "quite dangerous"
aspect of using aero bars

"Does anyone here have an opinion one way or the other?"

and my opinion was offered

: He's already said he understands not using them in a group, so all
: you're worried about is being impaled

and I would also be worried about him taking my back wheel out


---

a friendly growl from the bear on the Zephyr that roars

__ __ __ _ __
/__/ / /__/ /_ /_\ /_ /
/_ / _ / /__/ /__ / \ / \ ....Kawasaki Zephyr

barry j taylor < taylorja@aapt.net.au >
Ulysses #25871: netrider #549
Skype: ursusaustralis



~~~ ~ _@
~~ ~ _- \,
~~ (*)/ (*) . . . bjbear on his treadly






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

dabac

There are brake levers that are compatible with areo bars, that should help with that particular issue. Here's one for instance.

ritcho

I believe you misunderstood the original poster. The OP's riding mate was not only objecting to the use of aero bars in a group, but also to the mere presence of aero bars on the bike. There is no danger posed by the presence of aero bars so the call to remove them for riding in groups is groundless.

The use of aero bars in groups is _extremely_ dangerous... it is possible the riding mate is worried the OP might be tempted to use the bars when riding in a group and that it would be better to remove the temptation.

Ritch

MikeyOz

Depends on the type of Aero Bars they are talking about also, are they the clip on types ?? If so I don't really see the issue, although if there is a stack they could suddenly turn into lethal weapons, then of course there are the full on wider than normal, fully integrated headset type aero bars and they have no place in an organized group ride.

I just wouldn't ride in a group ride with them on, just causes less angst concern in the group, think about the other people instead of the, It will be alright, I know what I am doing, attitude.

Donga

On Jan 23, 8:43 pm, gplama <gplama.33m...@no-
mx.forums.cyclingforums.com> wrote:
> Zebee Johnstone Wrote:
>
> > I think the problem is they stick out. Like horns.
>
> Doesn't hold - standard levers 'stick out'.. and if things protruding
> forward is an issue, then don't look how far out a front wheel sticks
> out! Think about how many times people have invaded the space in front
> of your handle bars... and you've lived to tell the tale. Sideways
> bumps, yep... bar hookups...almost a few times.. but impaling someone on
> TT bars... never!
>
> Sounds like the roadie policeman was enforcing the law on 'what he had
> heard' not what he knew.
>
> Just my 2c...
>
> Lama
>
> --
> gplama

Anyone got the CA race rules handy? I recall that you are not allowed
to have chopped road bars either - presumably because they point
forward and might hook someone - mihgt sound far-fetched but if it's
the rules ...

Donga

Steve Ball

MikeyOz:

>
> Depends on the type of Aero Bars they are talking about also, are they
> the clip on types ?? If so I don't really see the issue, although if
> there is a stack they could suddenly turn into lethal weapons, then of
> course there are the full on wider than normal, fully integrated headset
> type aero bars and they have no place in an organized group ride.
>
> I just wouldn't ride in a group ride with them on, just causes less
> angst concern in the group, think about the other people instead of the,
> It will be alright, I know what I am doing, attitude.

Me again. Thanks for the replies and sorry for any confusion: I was asking
about the mere presence of aero bars on my bike, not their use in a bunch.
The club's rules are that they're not to be used, and that's enough for me.
Beyond that, I understand that they compromise safety when riding in close
proximity to others, and will get off them if I catch up to a similar-pace
riders while I'm riding in the park.

They're far from the pointiest thing on my bike, they don't stick out as far
as the front wheel, they're nowhere near as wide as the handlebars and I
just don't see how having them their presents any danger.
--
Steve = : ^ )

gplama

CA rules don't apply for a non sanctioned 'bunch ride'.

Adrian

ritcho <ritcho.33nnyz@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com> writes:

> barry taylor
>
> [snip Wrote:
>>
>> so the original poster asked for comments on the "quite dangerous"
>> aspect of using aero bars
>>
>> "Does anyone here have an opinion one way or the other?"
>>
>> and my opinion was offered
>>
>> : He's already said he understands not using them in a group, so all
>> : you're worried about is being impaled
>>
>> and I would also be worried about him taking my back wheel out
>>
> I believe you misunderstood the original poster. The OP's riding mate
> was not only objecting to the use of aero bars in a group, but also to
> the mere presence of aero bars on the bike. There is no danger posed
> by the presence of aero bars so the call to remove them for riding in
> groups is groundless.

The presence of the aero-bars indicates (possibly erroneously) to some
people in a bunch that the rider of that bike is a triathlete and only
ever rides alone, swerving wildly from side-to-side, accelerating and
braking at whim, and never getting within 4m of another bike rider -- or
whatever the triathlon regulations are. This is the danger they speak
of, but they are too polite to say "we don't know you, so we don't trust
you"

A bunch of roadies is a sensitive thing, if you want to fit in you have
to look the part.

Perhaps more a perceived danger than a real one.

Adrian

> The use of aero bars in groups is _extremely_ dangerous... it is
> possible the riding mate is worried the OP might be tempted to use the
> bars when riding in a group and that it would be better to remove the
> temptation.

...as is using them while descending Mountain hwy, as a friend of mine
ascending got to witness -- descender hit a bump while heading downhill
at some speed, the aero bars shifted in their mounts, the rider went
almost nose first into the front wheel and very messily across the road
and down into the forest.

> Ritch

Gags

"gplama" <gplama.33myk0@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com> wrote in message
news:gplama.33myk0@no-mx.forums.cyclingforums.com...
>
> Zebee Johnstone Wrote:
>> I think the problem is they stick out. Like horns.
>
> Doesn't hold - standard levers 'stick out'.. and if things protruding
> forward is an issue, then don't look how far out a front wheel sticks
> out! Think about how many times people have invaded the space in front
> of your handle bars... and you've lived to tell the tale. Sideways
> bumps, yep... bar hookups...almost a few times.. but impaling someone on
> TT bars... never!
>
> Sounds like the roadie policeman was enforcing the law on 'what he had
> heard' not what he knew.
>
> Just my 2c...
>
> Lama
>
Agreed.....I am not sure how many BR rides I have been on with DaveB while
he has had the aero bars on but I can't remember ever being fearful of them
being dangerous. The OP clearly realises that he shouldn't use the bars
while in the bunch and so there shouldn't be any problem with him riding in
the bunch with them attached to his bike.

Gags