Run Run Away

Question:

Only to be used when riding at the front of the line, but not within. Even then it is not advised because you tend not to point out road hazards when in the aerobars.

Good point.  I flatted two weeks ago on our local weekly roadie ride when this bullhorn butthead was pulling and failed to point out the big, gaping hole he narrowly rode around.   In general, you can’t stop well if you’re on aerobars.  I have seen lots of guys leave their bars on for group training, but they rarely use them (except for the occasional solo attempt off the front). For any intermediate triathletes out there looking to improve their biking times I’d strong recommend hooking up with a training ride.  I spent the spring riding with our collegiate team and found my individual TT improved immensely.  It’s sort of a subtle education when you join group rides, but you learn lots of basics that you miss when you start out as a tri-geek:  like spinning, cornering, climbing, etc.  It’s fun, social, and can be very competitive if you find the right ride (with sprints, breakaways).  When you join a ride, give them a couple of weeks to get to know you and how you ride, and _don’t_ show up in a singlet and running shorts, you’re only asking to be dropped. Unleash the roadie within… Joe Jankovsky

Response:

 Since rst hasn’t had much to debate about lately, I thought I’d throw one  out to the group.  It has to do with a-bars on group rides.  Or a-bars in  snip

IMHO using an aerobar on a group ride is never a wise decision.  The only possible exception would be a solo breakaway.  I rode in a citizens race once where the guy next to me jumped on his aerobars. I remember thinking "this is not such a good idea"  and promptly moved ahead of him.  In a pack you need quick, responsive handling and you can’t do that when you’re aero. Larry O

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In group type rides that rst’ers might be involved with, I’m curious to know what the consensus is regarding a-bar usage in a pace line?  Any comments?  Is it an accepted practice or discouraged?

Don’t do it. It’s unsafe and a good way to quickly develop a bad reputation. Chris Christopher N. Baucom "Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun. But Mama, that’s where the fun is!"

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Since rst hasn’t had much to debate about lately, I thought I’d throw one out to the group.  It has to do with a-bars on group rides.  Or a-bars in tight pace lines.  These rides would be on public roads.  Oh yea, this would also be rides that lean towards very intense. In group type rides that rst’ers might be involved with, I’m curious to know what the consensus is regarding a-bar usage in a pace line?  Any comments?  Is it an accepted practice or discouraged? ______ ______

On my Tues & Thurs nite group rides, the only time I go down into the aero bars is when I am pulling (which is rare since I usually ride with about 12-15 guys, several former or current Cat1-3 racers) or if I have fallen back and am trying to catch them (which is quite often!)  I felt kinda awkward joining them with my tri-geek bike at first, but other than ocassional ribbing they really don’t seem to care! -hug

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Save the aero bar riding for your individual rides, or those with other aero bar riders.  I’ve got a Cannondale R700 with TT bars, so my aero bars are always on.  When I ride with my cycling club twice a week, they’re strictly ornamental.  Granted, you can easily run out of comfortable hand positions on a 100 mile ride. My advice if your hands need a break (or if you just want to get down on your bars): fall about 10 yards off the pack and then use your bars.  It’s usually not too hard to catch back up and your pack-mates will likely notice this gesture and appreciate your group riding etiquette.  It’s safer for everybody and will only help the tri-geek/roadie relationship.

Response:

Aero in a pace line is strictly a no no; unless you’re taking the pull.   Your’re just jeopardizing everyone behind you; and if you’ve ever seen someone take down an entire group, you can appreciate this. If you can’t stay in the pace line without going aero, you’re in  over your head anyway.      Pete

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Having ridden with a bunch of Roadies in my previous workplace, they have, and deservedly so, a BIG fear of the perceived lack of control while in an aero position. When they are in a pack, they are typically in the drops, and in full reach of the brakes. On a Tri-bike, most of us have no, or little brake access from the tuck position. Conditions can change very fast in pack riding, and if you miss a brake cue, you take out more than just yourself. I feel comfortable in a pack of Tri-riders in a tuck position, we all have the same handicap of brake reach, and we all know we cannot react as quickly to a braking situation. With a pack of road riders, I stay on the ends of my bulls, even though I can be more aero in a tuck. I feel safer, and so do those around me. As to the "not breaking enough wind" claim, that is perfectly valid. My buddies hated when I bought an aero bike. They claimed it was very difficult to get a solid draft from me, and I felt much more "inside" their draft zone while I was drafting them. My buddies response to this was to make me take longer pulls. This is all IMHO. Jim Begley

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The only trouble I see with aero-bars at the front is that it cuts down on the amount of draft that goes back to the second person.  I just got back from a weeklong ride in which I rode many pacelines with the roadies. From my experience, they’ll try to drop you if you aero-bar at the front. I suppose they’re right: the purpose of the person at the front is to start the breaking of the wind.  If you’re in the aerobars, you’ll still break it but not as much. Drafting Sucks.  Keep tri-ing!

Response:

I do it only with riders that I know well. I will not ride in the aerobars in pace line with some guys that I have just met, or only if I am the truck pulling everybody… — Fabien

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Since rst hasn’t had much to debate about lately, I thought I’d throw one out to the group.  It has to do with a-bars on group rides.  Or a-bars in tight pace lines.  These rides would be on public roads.  Oh yea, this would also be rides that lean towards very intense. In group type rides that rst’ers might be involved with, I’m curious to know what the consensus is regarding a-bar usage in a pace line?  Any comments?  Is it an accepted practice or discouraged?

Response:

: Only to be used when riding at the front of the line, but not within. : Even then it is not advised because you tend not to point out road hazards : when in the aerobars. Riding with aerobars while riding with a high intensity group is OK; actually using them is not.  I am a triathlete and have been injured when some other triathletes new to group rides thought that they could ride properly at the intensity that wwe were going.  The problem occured when they could not keep up with the pace and stopped pointing out obstacles.  There would be even less chance of pointing out obstacles if you are on your aerobars.  I personally dont think they have a place being used on group rides unless you are dropped and you are just trying to catch up to the group.  I may sound like an ass but since I left some major chunks of my ass, back (nearly down to the bone), legs, shoulder, and arm on the road because someone did not piont out a monster pothole (I was in the rear of the pace line at the time) I think I have a right to gripe.   My underlying point…take it easy until you learn the group you are riding with. If that means not winning every sprint, but being safe, well, remember it is just practice and is supposed to be FUN.  It is not fun to spend an evening in the E-room. Stephen

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