Just put some aero/tri bars on my hybrid... now what?
Discussion
So last night i receievd my tri bars from wiggle. The nice entry level ones just to see what would happen.
These ones here if anybody is interested - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/token-tk9741-2-aero-clip-o...
I put them on my Boardman Comp hybrid, as i'm doing a triathlon in May and was trying to ge a bit of a help with my bike leg. I tried it out last night and was massively impressed!!
Straight away i've cut 10-15 secs per km just from tucking in and using these bars!
My question is though, what else should i do to accomodate the new setup? My saddle now feels too low when i'm leaning on the bars, and my knees are hitting my chest.
Do i need to raise the saddle? Is this normal? I've also heard talk of turning the saddle post? I seem to be slipping off the front of it now, so maybe this would help?
Anyone else got any experiences with these?
These ones here if anybody is interested - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/token-tk9741-2-aero-clip-o...
I put them on my Boardman Comp hybrid, as i'm doing a triathlon in May and was trying to ge a bit of a help with my bike leg. I tried it out last night and was massively impressed!!
Straight away i've cut 10-15 secs per km just from tucking in and using these bars!
My question is though, what else should i do to accomodate the new setup? My saddle now feels too low when i'm leaning on the bars, and my knees are hitting my chest.
Do i need to raise the saddle? Is this normal? I've also heard talk of turning the saddle post? I seem to be slipping off the front of it now, so maybe this would help?
Anyone else got any experiences with these?
Congrats, you have found that cutting the frontal area reduces wind resistance 
A lot of seatposts will not be designed to be rotated to point forwards, you will need to check with your seatpost manufacturer to see if it can be. I know the Thomson setback posts can be rotated forwards - from the Thomson website FAQ http://bikethomson.com/seatposts/elite/
Q Can I flip my set back post around to be a set forward to use my road bike for triathlon?
A Yes you may. You may need to turn the top clamp to face the front of the bike for saddle adjustment.
I can't really say if you need to raise your saddle, is it set at the right height already?
A lot of seatposts will not be designed to be rotated to point forwards, you will need to check with your seatpost manufacturer to see if it can be. I know the Thomson setback posts can be rotated forwards - from the Thomson website FAQ http://bikethomson.com/seatposts/elite/
Q Can I flip my set back post around to be a set forward to use my road bike for triathlon?
A Yes you may. You may need to turn the top clamp to face the front of the bike for saddle adjustment.
I can't really say if you need to raise your saddle, is it set at the right height already?
clonmult said:
I'm continually tempted by these bars, reckon they'll make a fair difference on my commute. From what you say, I'd be knocking 5-10 minutes off my time.
Are they easy to clip on/off?
I'm 100% sure they would cut a decent amount of time off yes! I'll let you know when i next commute! Are they easy to clip on/off?
They were so simple to put on aswell. Literally just use an allen key. Took 10 minutes and i was good to go!
Of course you need to be aware that putting tri bars on a hybrid is roughly equivalent to sticking an aero kit on a shopping hatchback. Yes, it may offer an improvement, but you're doing it wrong. At the very least you need to be putting them on a road bike of some description
Personally they werent worth the tradeoff for me in terms of increased twitchiness and having to take the hands away from the brakes and shifters. Maybe if your commute is on a perfectly surfaced straight and level road they'd be good, but for myself in a mixed urbanish commute its not.
Personally they werent worth the tradeoff for me in terms of increased twitchiness and having to take the hands away from the brakes and shifters. Maybe if your commute is on a perfectly surfaced straight and level road they'd be good, but for myself in a mixed urbanish commute its not.
shouldbworking said:
Of course you need to be aware that putting tri bars on a hybrid is roughly equivalent to sticking an aero kit on a shopping hatchback. Yes, it may offer an improvement, but you're doing it wrong. At the very least you need to be putting them on a road bike of some description
Personally they werent worth the tradeoff for me in terms of increased twitchiness and having to take the hands away from the brakes and shifters. Maybe if your commute is on a perfectly surfaced straight and level road they'd be good, but for myself in a mixed urbanish commute its not.
Yes i realise! But why should i not benefit the extra speed just because someone doesn't think it looks great? Personally they werent worth the tradeoff for me in terms of increased twitchiness and having to take the hands away from the brakes and shifters. Maybe if your commute is on a perfectly surfaced straight and level road they'd be good, but for myself in a mixed urbanish commute its not.
i don't really care what people think of me on my bike 
I probably look like a complete burk though! haha.I explained why i bought them though! I got the hybrid so that i can commute and use it for training aswell. But seeing as i signed up for a triathlon, i thought i'd get them for a bit of an extra advantage!?
I WON'T be using them for my commute! Just a temporary measure for a bit of extra speed!
p.s I will be upgrading to a full road bike at some point this year anyway!
Edited by nick s on Friday 16th March 14:37
clonmult said:
I'm continually tempted by these bars, reckon they'll make a fair difference on my commute. From what you say, I'd be knocking 5-10 minutes off my time.
Are they easy to clip on/off?
5-10 mins is a lot! How long is your commute?Are they easy to clip on/off?
I have heard a rule of thumb around a 10% improvement.
Also, it could cut the commute VERY short if you ever need to emergency brake!!
I seem to remember that tri-bars (as they have become known) were originally developed by a long distance mountain bike tourer seeking a relaxed and efficient alternative hand position. Why on earth would you not use them on a commute?
I have used them quite happily on flat, drop and even riser bars in the past. The only bad moment I had was when I put them on a Moulton APB.
I have used them quite happily on flat, drop and even riser bars in the past. The only bad moment I had was when I put them on a Moulton APB.
shouldbworking said:
Of course you need to be aware that putting tri bars on a hybrid is roughly equivalent to sticking an aero kit on a shopping hatchback. Yes, it may offer an improvement, but you're doing it wrong. At the very least you need to be putting them on a road bike of some description
Personally they werent worth the tradeoff for me in terms of increased twitchiness and having to take the hands away from the brakes and shifters. Maybe if your commute is on a perfectly surfaced straight and level road they'd be good, but for myself in a mixed urbanish commute its not.
Some of that depends on the bike.Personally they werent worth the tradeoff for me in terms of increased twitchiness and having to take the hands away from the brakes and shifters. Maybe if your commute is on a perfectly surfaced straight and level road they'd be good, but for myself in a mixed urbanish commute its not.
I've got two hybrids - my old Trek, that was more like a road bike (bar position was surprisingly low), and the current Specialized Hybrid, thats practically a 29er.
A fair amount of my commute is on fairly uninterrupted country lanes, so reckon a few mph gain is probably quite easy.
Just have to make sure I put on the high pressure road wheels, rather than the squishy pseudo-offroad set.
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