Anyone have experience with shorty bar(s)?

[reflux]

Hi all,

My friends and I are doing a long course triathlon relay come the first weekend in May. I will be doing the 56 mile bike leg, thank God. I'm a miserable swimmer and I would prefer no to suffer through a half mary. I digress.

Even though this is purely for fun, we'd still like to put up a halfway respectable time. It has been suggested by friends and vets of the long course that I highly consider putting aero bars on the bike (Kestrel Talon). It's a good idea, but it won't happen for a few reasons. The main reason being that the Talon is a road bike with road geometry. That being said, I'm warming up to the idea of putting a shorty bar on the front. A shorty is temporary, won't completely f&*k with the geometry and weight distribution, and will allow me to get more aero. I know they're out there (Profile is in the market, Oval makes a slick stem-mounted design, etc), but I'm curious if any of the riders or shops on STR have any time with them. I would love to hear any suggestions you might have.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Andrew

[slowSSer]

got a picture? if they're like aero bolt ons, be prepared for a learning curve of steering with your elbows.

sorry- don't want to google "shorty bars" here at work- i'm sure it'll link me ti midget pron or something like that...

[reflux]

I would likely go sans pads. They appear as though they would take over the entire bar.

http://www.profile-design.com/products/aerobars/cgt/

I am lacking in e-intelligence, so please forgive my inability to link the photo.

http://www.ovalconcepts.com/products...nere=1&idCat=1

It is product # A710 Alloy UnderOnly SCCS Clamp.

[stjunkie]

I had a set of Profile Airstryke bars on my roadbike and liked them a lot. With the roadie geometry it seemed I had to move the seat a little farther forward and the aerobar back to get a decent fit. I never did get used to the geometry of my roadbike though. I now have them on a hybrid and they feel better even though they are higher than my seat but so are my regular bars. They don't offer much better aerodynamics on either bike compared to being in the drops of the normal bars. I got them more for comfort than anything else.

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by reflux

I would likely go sans pads. They appear as though they would take over the entire bar.

http://www.profile-design.com/products/aerobars/cgt/

I am lacking in e-intelligence, so please forgive my inability to link the photo.

http://www.ovalconcepts.com/products...nere=1&idCat=1

It is product # A710 Alloy UnderOnly SCCS Clamp.

well, some are damn heavy, others are $$$.

again, be prepared to learn how to steer with a MUCH smaller "steering wheel" area. it's sketchy. I gave my old profiles to a buddy because i couldn't sand them after three tri seasons.

that and the profiles i had added over two lbs to a 19 lb road bike. not worth it, in my opinion, for limited use (20-30% of a ride section of a tri)

as for a tri, i'd figure out what the fast guys are doing differently with their gearing to be able to smoke you with the same cadence

edit: had the much older version of these: http://www.profile-design.com/produc.../split-second/

further edit: how comfortable are you on your road bike? that'll make or break a 50+ mile ride...

[reflux]

Yeah, I'll either look for an ebay deal or visit a local STR-supporting LBS. It really comes down to if the deal is good enough for me to jump on.

Normal aerobars don't agree with road geometry because 1) front end too high 2) slack seat angle puts too much pressure on "the boys" 3) toptube length too long and 4) chainstays are too long. If you've felt the shoddy handling that comes with putting normal aerobars on a road bike, you can see why I'm toying with using shorties.

50 miles on the road bike is no problem comfort-wise. I am looking at being on the bike for around 3 to 3.5 hours, with at least 80% being in the aerobars.

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by reflux

Yeah, I'll either look for an ebay deal or visit a local STR-supporting LBS. It really comes down to if the deal is good enough for me to jump on.

Normal aerobars don't agree with road geometry because 1) front end too high 2) slack seat angle puts too much pressure on "the boys" 3) toptube length too long and 4) chainstays are too long. If you've felt the shoddy handling that comes with putting normal aerobars on a road bike, you can see why I'm toying with using shorties.

50 miles on the road bike is no problem comfort-wise. I am looking at being on the bike for around 3 to 3.5 hours, with at least 80% being in the aerobars.

i don't recall if you posted it, but what's the race/route? 80% in the aero's is a long, flat race, if you ask me...

[reflux]

Originally Posted by slowSSer

i don't recall if you posted it, but what's the race/route? 80% in the aero's is a long, flat race, if you ask me...

Haha, great question. Hell, it's one I should have asked myself some time ago.

http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.c...ong_course.htm

I thought there was more flat to it...apparently not. Anyway, as the saying goes, unless you're going straight up or down, you should be in the bars.

[slowSSer]

from what i understand, wildflower is a good course for aero bars.

have a blast! it's a killer race.