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Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don't have to!!
Introduction When it comes to attending spinning classes, nothing is as important as having the right shoes. You could try cycling on your running shoes but once you get a feel of spinning shoes or indoor cycling shoes, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without using them from the start. Running shoes are for running, […]
Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
Giro Helmets started life in a garage belonging to bike racer and designer Jim Gentes in 1985. The first helmet that came out was the Giro Prolight. This design was fine-tuned with the help of a friend at NASA. Giro sort of transformed the bicycle helmet world because their helmets were lighter, better looking and […]
Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
The key to any successful bike setup is being able to get into the gear you need as soon as you need it.
That’s why we recommend a solid set of bar end shifters.
If you are serious about triathlon racing you will have a bike with a set of aero bars fitted...
and for these, you will need a specialised set of gear shifters.
#1 – SRAM R2C TT 10
When it come to triathlon style shifters there is no better name than SRAM.
The RC2 shifters are exceptional, especially if you are one of those triathletes that strives for maximum aero positioning.
Made from carbon and titanium these top of the line shifters are designed for winners.
With only 3mm of action required to change gears you are guaranteed the best aero positioning in the market.
SRAM RC2 shifters review
Here’s a closerlook.
Quality:The SRAM RC2 shifters are designed for triathletes and are used by some of the biggest names in racing. The unique return-to-centre shifting setup keeps you as aero as possible at all times.
Gear changing is smooth and with only 3mm of action required you can dance through the gears instantly.
The blades are made from carbon and the centre pins are titanium so all up you have a very strong unit that only weights in at 175g a pop.
Setup: Setting up these shifters is pretty straightforward but you do need to keep and eye on the cable tension to allow for smooth gear changing.
There is plenty of adjustment available here so you get the exact setup you feel comfortable with, plus you can trim these out to get a smooth chain line all the way through.
Overall Thoughts: If you are striving for maximum aero positioning when on the bike then these shifters should be top of your list. Setup is simple enough but just keep an eye on the cable tension.
The only issue we really have with these shifters is the price, but then again how much is a personal best worth to you!!
If you are wanting to get yourself a first set of bar end shifters then the Shimano Dura Ace kit is perfect.
They work with double or triple cranks so for a lot of guys out there upgrading a standard road bike, these shifters are ideal.
Price wise these are cheap enough but still come with the quality you expect from Shimano.
SRAM RC2 shifters review
Here’s a closerlook.
Quality:The overall build quality is what you come to expect from a brand like Shimano.
Solid design and construction makes for a great set of shifters.
Setup: Setting up is a breeze. There are detailed instructions if you are that way inclined but installation couldn't be any easier.
You can switch between index and friction shifting which really helps on longer journeys. It also helps after long term use when you get some play or stretch in the gear cables.
Overall Thoughts: We particularly like these shifters and at this price point they are a fantastic addition to any bike.
For people transforming their road bike into a tt style setup these are ideal. Get yourself a set of tt bars, clip these bad boys on, any away you go.
We especially like the fact they are compatible with double and triple chain rings so you have many more options available to you gear-wise.
Setting up or fitting a set of bar end shifters is pretty straightforward. There are only a few things you really need to look out for.
Cable tension plays a bit part in the gear changing action of your shifters so make sure you check the instructions to be 100%.
Fitting to the end of your TT bars is simple. Most designs have a small screw under the lever that spreads out the end of the shifter within the bar end.
This causes a solid friction fit and once you bind over the end of the shifter with some bar tape they will never move.
Top Tip: Make sure you have the cables in place before you tighten up the shifter screws or you will have to start over. 🙂
Maintenance
Not much to worry about here except every so often you should add a drop or two of oil to the level mechanisms to keep them running true and free.
After a lot of miles you may notice the cables stretch a bit and tis has a knock on effect on gear changing.
Just loosen off the grub screw on the derailleur, tighten up the cable and you should be good as new again.
Our best Triathlon Bar End Shifters for 2018 season
Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
Triathlon bags or transition bags, while not essential for race day are a must of you want to get to and from a race without stressing on whether you have everything you need to complete. I spend a fair amount of hard-earned money on my tri gear. The last thing I want to happen is for […]
Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
A great modification to your standard road bike is to install a set of clip-on aero bars.
These bars will allow you to get into the aero position while on the ride section of the race.
There are many benefits to this riding position – number one is being more aerodynamic.
When you ride normally you sit upright and act sort of like an air brake.
Getting aero pulls you down below the wind and significantly reduces you resistance mass allowing you to cut through the wind.
In this post, we are going to review the best clip on setup and provide details on some of the features of each set.
Best Clip On Aero Bars of 2018 - Profile Design T5+ Aluminum Aerobar
When it come to clip on bars for your triathlon bike Profile Design rule the roost.
Our overall choice for the best tt bars go to the new T5 aerobars.
For somebody starting out they are ideal but are also suited to seasoned professionals.
Yes they are made from aluminum but they still come in well under the weight of a lot of the competition.
Profile Design T5 review
Here’s a closerlook.
Quality:Overall quality is perfection. Profile Design have invested a lot of time and effort into getting their products just right and it definitely shows here.
Finish is exceptional and the coated bars are super strong.
The EVA pads give you plenty of support and comfort even on longer rides.
Setup: Setting up these bars is very straightforward.
You have a couple of options on the bar diameter, 26mm or 31.8 bars will work here.
The trick with setup is to not tighten everything up too much at the start. Leave enough slack on the bolts until you test the fir for comfort.
You may need to slide the bars along a bit in the clamps to get the bar reach spot on.
You also have optional riser clamps you can use to adjust the height of the bars. This really helps if you bike frame size is a bit off or you suffer from sore hips - move you position up a bit and you will notice the difference.
Overall Thoughts: Every time you add something like aerobars to your bike you are increasing your aero-ability (if there is such a word).
By clipping on a set of Profile Design T5's you are getting the best budget aluminium aerobars on the market.
The bars have a nice 13° bend in the extensions to give you that ultra aero position but still give you the comfort of a ski-bend style aerobar.
Armrest Setup
A great feature with the armrests is that the bracket to attach them is separate to the main bar bracket. This gives you plenty of additional adjusting options so you can get really comfortable.
Bracket:
J2 Bracket
Armrest:
F19a Aluminium Armrest
Stack:
60mm to 120mm
Reach:
Max Aft -180mm, Max Fore 70mm
Extension Adjustment:
125mm-275mm (c of basebar-end)
Width:
145mm-300mm (center to center)
Clamp Diameter:
Fits both 26mm and 31.8mm bars
Color:
Anodized Matte Black
Weight:
500g
You can spend anything from a few dollars up over hundreds of dollars for professional clip-on aero bars. They basically do the same thing but when you spend more money you start to get a lot of additional features.
Primarily the bars will be carbon fibre – massive weight reduction compared to the cheap aero bars.
A lot will also depend on your budget and how serious you are about racing. Because of the variety, we have put together this selection to get you started on your decision process.
We may not cover all options for temporary aero bars but hope you can find something here that suits you. These are the most popular on the market at the moment.
What to look out for?
This question always comes up and has many answers.
How much do you want to spend?
What are the aero bars for?
A practice bike for training in the park or for your primary tri bike.
The beauty of these types of triathlon bars is you can swap them out fairly easily. A couple of hex head bolts are usually all that holds them onto the normal handlebars of your bike.
What are they made of?
The cheaper sets tend to be made of some sort of alloy and as you go up in price you start to see carbon fibre introduced into the range.
Carbon fibre is much lighter so if you have the budget then go for these instead.
As stated earlier the beauty of clip-on bars is you can take them off the bike without much effort if they do not suit your riding style or you prefer the standard set-up.
You will find though over time that you will adapt to the aero position while racing and you bike times will reflect this.
Fitting Aero Bars to a Road Bike.
Most of you reading this will be looking to add clip ons to a road bike and here is a great video explaining how this is done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfoy8ANY3Pg
Some great tips in this video explain how to adjust your bars to suit, the type to go for maximum customisation.
In this instance, they focus in on ski type bars. These are ideal because you can adjust the length of the bar to suit you forearm length.
Another top tip is to add a piece of electrical tape to the existing handlebars before you install the extensions because if they do not suit, you don’t want to have unnecessary marks left behind.
Best Budget Clip-On Aero Bars
No products found.
Carbon clip-on bars
If you are serious about triathlon and want to compete at a higher level then you will need something much lighter and sleeker than the intro sets above.
Carbon aero extension bars will definitely be on your shopping list for their massive weight reduction.
Using these carbon aero bars does change a few things though.
You will have to spend a few more dollars to get a set of tri bars you can work with, to keep the weight down and to get down and in the full aero position.
Comfort plays a bit part in this too.
Getting set up with a good comfortable set of tri bars is critical on longer rides.
We suggest you try out a few different sets first if you can to make sure they suit.
Watch out as well if you buy a second-hand pair.
Sometimes the previous user will cut down the stems a bit and they may be too short for you.
I have seen quite a few people start out with detachable aero bars on normal handlebars and then step up a level by purchasing a new Carbon Base Bar.
Go to any Triathlon event and they are everywhere.
This gives you the ability to reuse your existing bars but builds up a full aero set of handlebars without the expense of a pro set.
However, as you progress in the sport you will most likely get yourself a full TT bike with an integrated setup.
Accessories
Addition items you may need when you install clip-on bars are some new bar end shifters.
These gear shifters are designed to sit at the end of each aero bar – making it easy to change gear while you are in the aero position.
We have more information on those throughout the site
Clip on bar benefits
There are many benefits to using aero bars on a bike during a race but the primary one comes down to aerodynamics.
When you are down in the aero position you remove quite a bit of body mass out of the wind.
Because we are not the most aerodynamic of creatures getting down low you are giving yourself a huge advantage over the opposition who will sit upright and act as an air brake into the wind.
The price of entry for a basic set of aero bars is very low.
You can get something from as little as a few dollars.
A couple of things to check out first though is the diameter of your handlebars.
Make sure the bars will fit.
Also as stated at the start of this post you can always remove the bars if you are not comfortable or happy with the riding style.
Disadvantages of using clip-on bar extensions
If there was one thing we could say about the disadvantages of this type of setup is that because you are shifting your weight forward on the bike you are losing some of the stability and ride comfort of the original setup.
It took me quite a while to get comfortable and feel really aero when I first installed the bars.
I had to slide my saddle forward to its limits on the saddle rail and eventually ended up getting a kicked saddle post to move me even more forward.
Road bikes are not designed for this type of setup but if you are looking for any sort of an advantage over a standard road bike set up for triathlons then installing tt bars are going to give you the best bang for your buck.
It’s the closest you will get to a full TT bike setup without having to shell out 1000’s of dollars more for a frame etc.
Any other Aero Tips
What else can you do to increase Aero potential with a road bike? There are really only two other upgrades you can get that will help you in your quest to be an aero speed champion…
After clips ons I would then look to get a decent aero bike helmet. This will really help reduce drag and can make a huge difference in split times for your bike section of the race.
The last thing I would look to upgrade is my wheels.
Aero bike wheels don’t come cheap though and can be a bit challenging in windy conditions.
I strongly suggest you go for something with a shallow enough profile to start with. 50mm deep is standard enough and will suit most conditions.
The 100mm deep tri wheels and full dish rear wheels look awesome but are a pig to use when it’s windy…
The final thing we want to discuss today is how you can quickly modify your road bike and turn it into a triathlon style bike with two quick changes.
Here is a great video showing you how to install a set of clip-on aero bars to your road bike. This handy upgrade is inexpensive but will help get you into that all-important aero position.
First, you will need an angled seat post. This pushes the rider forward in the frame.
Couple this with a nice set of clip on aero bars for a road bike and you are set.
The video below shows you how to do this and the benefits of getting aero for the ride.
We hope you found this post informative and as always let us know with a comment if there is anything else you would like to know or any other products you are currently using that you think we should add to the list.
Also, we would really appreciate if you would spread the word about us and hit one of the share buttons to tell your friends.
Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
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Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
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Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
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Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
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Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
There is a multitude of options available when looking for the best triathlon aero bars for your ride. Whether you are looking for the most comfortable aero position or get way down into the aero ride, you will have plenty of choice with this selection of the best triathlon aero bars. You can also spend […]
Sprint Distance Triathlete. Swim, Bike, Run, Fitness. IronMan is on the cards for 2018. Love the tech behind triathlon equipment and spend far too much time testing everything out so you don’t have to!!
When you are down in the aero position you remove quite a bit of body mass out of the wind.