I find them comfier but I’m not riding pro tour hours. Anyway, here is a small, not very scientific real world test that showed swapping to some aero bars was faster but with the caveat that due to the overall shape, the bar swap also changed the riders position.
The average lap time with the Enve bars is 6s down on the control at 2m 27s – a 3.9% saving. This surprises us, as we hadn’t expected the small difference in bar shape to have such an effect on aero drag, but the improvement in speed wasn’t all down to the bars’ aerodynamic cross section.
They are narrow along the tops and flare out at the drops, so while the overall width is the same, the tops present a smaller frontal area. Plus the shape of the drops encourages the rider to adopt a narrower, more aerodynamic position.
I have a Tarmac SL6 and run the Enve Aero bar and stem combo - they are not the lightest, but I noticed the stiffness right away, one caveat is that they feel like they are made to work together and not to be used with other OEM bars/stems – just the feel I had when I mixed with bars on loan from my LBS.
Additionally, the flare is a plus and I find myself in the drops more than before and can maintain an aero position longer. I previously had the stock Specialized bars that ship with the SL6 and have the Shimano Pro bars as well.
I have Aerofly IIs on my bike. You are riding on the hoods or drops the whole time because frankly (as someone said above) it’s horribly uncomfortable to ride on the tops. The only reason I have them on is they look pretty great aesthetically. They look fast. But they are uncomfortable no question. This is why I will be ditching them in my next build.
on another thread I wrote something to the effect that when you change say 4 things to improve aerodynamics the do not sum. Others chimed in and said they do. This quote says explains what I was getting at much better than I did:
Original quote from cyclist.co.uk article:
This total saving of 6.5% would be worth a significant 2m 27s over 40km. Predictably this result is slightly less than the sum of the individual gains due to the exponential increase of drag with speed, plus the complex way in which multiple aerodynamic elements interact.
The whole rider and bike works as a system and it’s not simply a case of adding one element to the next and expecting them all to behave as if in isolation. Many experts in the field say component integration is where the big future gains lie.
38kmh or 23.6mph on 300W seems really slow to me. Flat smooth roads on the road bike 300W for me is over 26mph easy. It’s possible my PM is off or my speed/gps or both. Does anyone think 300W yielding only 38kph is slow or is it just me?
Lew explains this impressive level of time saving is likely due to James’s relatively high speed. To maintain a 300 watt output he was travelling at around 38kmh, and the benefits of improved aerodynamics increase exponentially with speed.
Their supplier doesn’t make a aero bar narrow enough for him and that is worth more savings
He prefers the shape of the round bar either for aesthetics or ergonomics
His bike could be pushing the bounds of the weight limit, meaning the mechanics had to put a heavier alloy ( at least to my eye ) handlebar to bring the weight up.
When the aero bars are tested do they test different groupsets?
What happens if you angle the aero bars up/down to get a better position, does that ruin the aero’ness?
I’m guessing JA just likes what he likes nothing more.
I’m back to using a round bar, even though I liked my Pro Vibe aero bars quite a bit. They made me look like the Fred I know I am deep down. I feel stupid enough riding around right now anyway, adding some go faster aesthetic in the form of anything “aero” is cringey in my case.
A Fred should be able to waste equally vast amounts of money on meaningless cycling junk. Just like the rest of us idiots.
Do it for all the other Fred’s out there.
Actually, forget ‘just’ aero bars. Hell, get Rapha to make you your own custom aero bars in their latest peach hue. Then arrange to pay even more than the normal ‘stupid’ price. Baller move there, particularly if you mention how much you paid to everyone you ride with.
If you’re gonna go Fred, do it loud and proud. Glue on your aero socks, strap on your TT helmet and Fred the c%$p outta your next coffee ride
This has been tested and properly installed, very little. But angled wrong can have a big impact.
[quote=“AJS914, post:47, topic:63560, full:true”]I wonder whether current windtunnels even have the resolution to test down to 5 watts. Is the margin of error greater?
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Tunnels can repeated identify a drink straw from a BTA bottle being up or down. They have easily that resolution in the good tunnels.
On Youtube critical influencers like Hambini or Peak Torque noted, that Aero Bars in an incorrect angle can cost more than benefit,
Don’ t trust the industry to much.
The problem with industry wind tunnel results is that aero equipment shows the best at say, 15 degrees of yaw. You an look at any of these published charts - hardly any benefit at 0 degrees yaw and a lot of benefit at 15.
What the industry doesn’t mention is that most cyclist experience closer to 0-5 degrees of yaw most of the time. Just the fact that you are moving forward creates 0 degrees yaw to the oncoming air.
Now, say you are racing at Kona where the wind is constantly blowing at your side both up and down the course. Under these conditions you are going to be experiencing maximum aero gains from your equipment.
I trust him about as much as I trust the anti-vaxxers that “do their own research.” His channel exists only to create controversy and get clicks, that is, nothing that I would consider as good data.
