Proper position for an aerobar?

Rudy

I just spent a chunk of money yesterday to be fitted with an aerobar.

To my surprise, the pro that fitted me suggested/preferred the elbow pads to make contact at a lower point from my elbow... i.e. halfe way between my elbow and wrist. (maybe 4 or 5 inches below my elbow)

I thought this is the total opposite of what it should be. I saw a pic from an article about fit...the rider had his elbow just about on the elbow pads.

One thing though...after the fit, my overall body position is much more comfortable and I have better control of my bike.

Oran

Rudy

????

ric_stern/RST

do you have a picture of you on the bike so we can have a look and make suggestions (if necessary)?

Ric

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Rudy

I wish I do...but..uummm...no. After all I spent $80 for the fitting...ouch..I thought that was too much but I was desperate and thought that it would save my body..so it would be good investment.
I have seen pics that people rest their elbow on the pads as well as some triathlete resting their arms...about 4 or 5 inches from their elbow.
After all the primary purpose here is to support your torso but I thought that at the elbow position, it would be a much stronger position...albeit you're much more forward

Mouse Potato

Excuse a possibly dumb question from a newbie, but isn't that the aim of having a fitting, and doesn't it sound like that aim has been achieved?

With variations in physique (back length, upper arm to forearm proportions, flexibility, etc.) and frame geometry, other body position adjustments and the aerobars themselves, I would have expected that something like "elbow" support position could vary quite a lot.

Rudy

well in a word yes...and then no. My fitting did make me feel more comfortable. But since I've seen pics that show some people's elbow literally on the pads...not 4 or 5 inches below their elbows.

I thought the closer to the elbow, where the pads make contact, is the stronger position. Well after I been out riding yesterday, it's hard to say. Because in order to be in certain position, you almost have to change up the entire setup

armchair_spacem

This year we saw many tour riders "resting" their forearms on their bars - the aim there is to stretch out and relax the lower back as well as a better aero position - depends a lot on your flexibility, saddle/bar delta, top tube and stem length (AND the length of your aeros).

J-MAT

Rudy:

The only true way to find the most aerodynamic position is to accurately measure your frontal area or spend time in a wind tunnel. Neither of these are very easy or practical for most riders to do.

Forget about wind tunnels, but you can measure frontal are by a fairly complicated process of taking a picture of yourself on your bike and measuring the size of the photo.

Image measurement techniques range from using graph paper to computer programs. Wear black clothing and photograph yourself against a white background if you try it.

Just as mass-produced clothing fits differently on different people, mass-produced bikes and equipment fit riders differently.

It's not really good to go off a picture of someone else. It's really impossible to say a cetain position is the only/best way to go.

Pros seem to change their aero positions all the time. Probably very little real testing went into any of the aero positions you see your favorite pro using, except at the very top like Armstrong.
Also, all aerodynamic positions reduce a riders natural power output but this is more than compensated for by reduced wind drag. So, in reality all aero setups will make you quicker, but are technically less efficient.

Your goals are more important. If you are looking to medal in a national championship, a slick/painful position could be the fastest setup, and the one you should probably use.

However, if you want to ride faster over 100 miles with friends, a more comfortable position is necessary. Cycling is a sport where a lot of experimentation and testing is often required to get things right.

Either way, any just about any aero postion will be faster than a conventional riding position.

Happy riding!!!

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Oran

seeing we are on aerobars: I also got aerobars on my racing bike and now I am suffering from lower back pain. Could wrong positioning of the bars cause this? My elbows are on the pads, so am I too far forward.

Rudy

J-Mat good info...thanks.

Oran...It's hard to say without seeing you on a bike...you may be too close forward such that your lower back is not flat thus giving you back problems.
It could be a number of possibilities I guess including seat height.

But one thing is usually a good bet and that is to try to get yourself into a comfortable position such that you can flatten out your lower back more. Thus it's good for your back and at the same time, helps to open up your torso for better breathing.

I'm certainly not an expert but I've learn a great deal after spending some bucks on getting fitted.

Oran

Thanks Rudy, I am going back to the bike shop and hope they can see me on the aerobars.

chris_gr

I think there are two schools lately on aerobars. The traditional tri school suggests a shorter cockpit with the pads under the elbows. This works great with steep angled tri bikes (>76 deg seat tubes). The other school apply to using aerobars on a road bike (73-74 deg seat tube. Here a lot of people suggest shorted bars (eg Jammers) with the pads more under the forearms. Anyway the best resource is www.slowtwitch.com.