Clip-on aero bars vs carbon handle bars

[B19GRR]

Hi all,

I've been slogging against the wind too much lately so my mind turned to bunging a cheapo set of aero bars on the bike, so off I go and find a set for £30 that look fine.

Alas on my internet travels I found a comment saying that clip-ons aren't good for carbon bars. I've got a nice set of ITM Volo bars that I really don't want mucking up. Further research seems the only alternative is stem mounted bars such as Oval Concept offerings for round about 5 times the cost of el cheapo bars, cool but ouch!

Any one know of any other options?

Cheers,
Rob

[shalmaneser]

Shouldn't really be a problem, as long as your bars haven't got a funny cross section. Just don't do them up so tight you crack the topcoat of the carbon.

[Uriel]

I prefer the cheap, carbon-safe version:

[IroningMan]

I think that this is one of the questions that the Oval range exists to answer. A710 and A720 can be had for under £80 if you shop around online - add another £30 for one of their stems, which you'll need as the bolts work the other way.

Pricey, certainly, but good value for the extra speed. And cheap clip-ons will bugger your carbon bars.

[Uriel]

If you're prepared to spend a little more...one hell of a deal!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[Omaruk]

On those chainreaction ones where are the brakes and gears?

[shalmaneser]

Omaruk said:

On those chainreaction ones where are the brakes and gears?

Like most handlebars, the brake levers and gear shifters are not included.

[itsnotarace]

http://www.3tcycling.com/productcontent.aspx?m=Pro...

The Team (carbon) and Pro (alloy) both take clip on aero bars.

[B19GRR]

Uriel said:

If you're prepared to spend a little more...one hell of a deal!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Billy bargain but I'm not quite ready to don the all-in-one lycra yet and commit to a life of arse above head cycling I have a feeling the Oval will grow on me and become a must have, best price I can find though is £116 for the bars and £40 for the stem in 31.8 size, that's assuming the shop actually has stock, everything I try and buy online at the moment seems to be magically out of stock

Wish I still had my milling machine, I could probably have wasted loads of ally trying to rip of a stem cap mount design!

Cheers,
Rob

[Roman]

Spinaccis or BBB Racesticks may be better for occasional use rather than full on tri bars. Popular in the pro peloton before the UCI ban:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BBB-Racestick-Silver-Small-B...

[B19GRR]

I always liked Spinacis, wish I'd bought some years ago but good to see BBB are making them, I don't know why they're not doing a 31.8mm version though, it surely wouldn't be hard just to change the clamps to suit.

Hmmmm, can't help but think life would've been simpler if I hadn't been lured by the carbon bars and gone for some 26mm alloy bars. I'm running a 1" steerer after all, ah well other than the inevitable headwinds it's a good bike to ride so overall I'm happy with the build.

Cheers,
Rob

[B19GRR]

I've come across another stem mount design, although it seems to have been discontinued, Profile Design Lightning Stryke, looks like I can probably get it cheaper from the US than the Oval one. Only thing I'm not sure of is the bars are the older sticky up at the end design rather than the more common S-bend available today, anyone care to comment on the pros and cons of the bar shape?


vs


Cheers,
Rob

[IroningMan]

Not sure that one has necessarily superceded the other - the turned-up variety are easier to get used to, though.

[anonymous-user]

a set of century profile bars is all you need. i'm 13 1/2 stone and can happily lean on them all day and they wont budge. i use some old inner tube between the bars and the clamps to hold them better. all hte pimp carbon stuff is fine when you are fast enough to warrant it.