Are aerobars worth it for bikepacking?
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Článek je k dispozici i v češtině 🇨🇿.
Aerobars - most people think of in connection with road time trials and triathlons. They force their users into an aerodynamic position that means they don't have to fight air resistance as much and they gobble up miles like a hamster on a wheel. For general public, it belongs to the domain of performance athletes.
An all-suspension mountain bike with aerobars looks weird. They don't go together at all. But for bikepacking - whether racing or non-racing - a aerobars have its justification. Speed is only one factor, not the most important one. Comfort is the main one
When you see triathlon bikes there's nothing comfortable about it - but it's all about how you set up aerobars. And since it's all about comfort, it's hard to imagine travelling long distances without it.
In this article we'll explain the main advantages and disadvantages of using aerobars when bikepacking. When it is worthwhile and when you can leave it at home. And what suitable aerobars should have.
🤔 When aerobars useful
Aerobars are useful especially in moments when you can actually use it 😉 On single trails you can hardly get into it, because it would prevent you from braking and a reasonable ability to turn. But that doesn't mean you can't put it on a mountain bike. Even on a mountain bike you can get into longer stages where your hands would like to rest.
On a road bike it will be easiest to use. The flatter the route, the more sense the traction bar makes. It's also possible to get comfortable on a dirt road, so asphalt is not a requirement. If I was going up and down all the time, I probably wouldn't take it.
👍 Advantages of aerobars for bikepkacing
I'll start with the most important one and that is 👇
🛏️ Comfort
It's important to set aerobars correctly so it's really comfortable and you can lay down for longer periods of time. I would definitely use spacers so you can raise it higher above the handlebars. That way you won't be as hunched over and can stay in it longer. Sure it won't be as aerodynamic, but comfort is the main thing.
With a higher position, it's easier to get into it and get up. It may seem easy to move now, but after a few hundred kilometres, those spinal supports won't be what they used to be. When I used to have aerobars without spacers, I didn't even want to crawl into it anymore because I knew it would be too much work and I didn't want to. With spacers, you'll avoid the chafing that the front of your saddle could cause.
The elbow joint should sit on armrests. This is why it's a good idea to have independently adjustable armrests that you can pull closer together. But it depends on the specific geometry of the bike.
What is the comfort? In part, it's a simple change of position. You're engaging slightly different muscles again. You still have a more arched back compared to sitting normally, and it's good to have good flexibility. Get used to riding in aerobars gradually.
The closer your armrests are to each other, the less comfortable it will be and the less controllable the bike will be.
🧟 Relieve the nerves on your hands
Your hands will get the most comfort. When you sit on a bike, there are 3 main points of contact - your hands, feet and butt. When you lean into the bars, you will no longer put pressure on your palms. This is especially helpful if you have problems with finger tingling and damaged nerves. You put your weight in your elbows, which can take it much better. You will also partially relieve your butt and feet because you will better distribute your center of gravity.
And there are other possible grips. Sometimes I relax by riding upright with my hands on the armrests. Or I lean on them while pushing the bike.
🌬️ Speed
Even if you don't have the bars in a very aggressive position, the new seat will still reduce air resistance. You'll be faster for basically free And you don't necessarily have to race to get speed. The faster you go, the more you can travel and have more time to stop.
Again, the effect is most noticeable on straight roads or clear downhills, and it's not entirely marginal.
📦 Mount for lights, bags and navigation
There's limited space on the handlebars and if you still want to put a bikepacking in front of them, you may end up with a bowden cable. Aerobars will help you with this. There are several types of bikepacking bags that are tailored for it and they also have a more aerodynamic shape so they don't slow you down too much. By attaching more in the front, the bowden cables won't bother you.
You can use commercially available bags or you can use a performance bag that fits between the bars.
Some items will even fit right into the bar! I carry a Wolf Tooth EnCase System Bar, but I've heard that batteries can be carried well in there too.
You'll appreciate being able to put the navigation further ahead and higher up. Again, this may seem like an unimportance - but if you're going at high speed on a downhill and want to make sure you're going the right way, every millisecond is good.
It's similar with light. It can be hard to position it well so the cone doesn't reflect back into your eyes because of the bag or bowden.
And last thing - socks dry great on aerobars.
👎 Disadvantages of aerobars for bikepacking
It has some downsides.
🏋️ Weight
Aerobars weigh something, and it's not placed very close to the center of gravity. It depends on which particular model you choose, but I'd reckon about 300g for aerobars and 300g for spacers. You'll notice the bike will lose some of its agility in the field, as cornering won't be as easy.
When I take aerobars off, you can tell on some singletrack.
☣️ It is dangerous
When you get into aerobars, it is much harder to manoeuvre and the braking distance is significantly longer. If you are tired, the difference is abysmal.
Anything can happen on the road. And that's especially true at night. You can't see very far and there could be an obstacle or a deer in your path. You don't react in time, and the crash is inevitable.
I only try to ride when I have a good view of my surroundings and the confidence that I can react to any surprises.
I'd add a paragraph on safety about carbon handlebars and aerobars. I ride that combination, but from what I've read, it's not recommended. You need to choose a tightening torque that doesn't damage the handlebars and also doesn't risk aerobars spinning. My carbon is scratched where it touches, but so far I'm living. So far...
🤌 Poor access to the stem bags
Armrests can restrict access to the stem bags - though a lot depends on the specific configuration. It's much better if you use spacers, but it's still not quite right. I've seen aerobars that had the armrests hinged, which partially solves the problem.
🙃 How to choose aerobars for bikepacking
I would definitely choose aerobars that you can customize to your needs. Ideally:
- You can lift it with spacers.
- You can adjust the position of the armrests independently.
I've seen aerobers that can do one or the other, but only one that can do both - Pro Missile Clip-On. It's not exactly a winner - it's very expensive, and comes with such ridiculously soft bolts that I've ripped three off already, and I'm using a torque wrench. You can buy alternatives at the hardware store ... And its other problem is that you still have to buy a set of spacers separately - that makes it more expensive. And until I rubbed some carbon paste in, one of the armrests would occasionally wiggle slightly.
Being able to raise aerobars is definitely a staple, and I wouldn't go for a model that doesn't allow it. Changing the position of the armrests is great, but you can get by without it.
A cheaper alternative is Deda Parabolica Uno, which lacks the possibility of independent armrest adjustment. It has thinner tubes, so it's a bit lighter than the others, but again, accessories can be an issue.
I searched for a long time for a good mount for the navigation on aerobars, until I finally picked up this one from AliExpress. It has a GoPro mount on the bottom. I was originally hoping it would be all aluminum, but so far it's holding up pretty well.
As for the shape - I prefer ‘S-bend’ to ‘Ski-bend’. This is because with the former, my hands are in such a position that I'm not touching the navigation and other stuff I have mounted on the aerobars.
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