Yeah, I had the same thoughts when seeing the pics. That leading edge doesn’t look very aero. Maybe they just added “aero” as a marketing feature, but I also know aero doesn’t always look aero. The profile almost looks like a reversed kammtail, maybe there is a benefit to that odd leading profile in combination with the rear being smoothed over. The design looks more aero if you were going backwards. My older Bontrager aero bars have a more traditional thin airfoil profile, not sure why they changed it.
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I’ve turned my attention to the profile design DRV/AEROa bars for now. They have 100mm of 31.8 tube in the center for stem + clip on. My current stem consumer 51.7mm in width leaving roughly 23mm on either side for a clip on clamp.
Does anyone in this thread with a set of profile design clip ons mins measuring the clamp width for me? I went to ensure they’ll fit sandwiched between the aero shape section and the stem.
Cheers
I think that is a reasonable option, especially given the price vs. the Bontragers.
Another option is the Zipp SL70 alloy bar…I have used this bar in the past with aerobars. Like the Profile bars, a semi-aero design on the tops.
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I think you guys are getting a bit lost in the woods… There are dozens of aluminum bars that are clip-on compatible… Nothing special here… 35cm, 36cm, and 37cm gets a bit trickier, which is kind of where this thread started. (as a side note, I had a set of the 36cm Profile Designs DRV Aero bars in the shorter reach version. They were fine, but the non flared drops are a no-go for me, which is why I ditched them, the PRO Ergo PLT Carbon, and the Prime Primavera. I successfully used Profile Design Clip-Ons on all three of them; Subsonic and Supersonic)
If you’re looking at a handlebar’s actual profile/shape to offer any aero benefit, I think you’re too far gone. Yes white papers and marketing is great at touting these negligible gains, but for me, the width and ergonomics of a bar can mean dozens of watts, versus 2 or 3 watts from an aero profiled top section. So I could care less that the Bontrager is a bit square for less than 6" of its face. I went with them, as they offer a narrow width(35cm) with a decent amount of flare (15mm each side). There are only a handful of carbon bars that offer this. And circling back to this specific case of “long rides”, I don’t want aluminum due to the vibration dampening, which is not insignificant, even given larger tires.
@jamesdrichey I’m referring to the angular section where the bars transition from the tops, and bend to the lever area. Rather than a gradual curve, it’s a more pronounced double bend, as Trek does with all their bars it seems. I have multiple brackets and extensions. I’m likely using the Supersonic brackets, Vision J-Bend Speed extensions, and Profile Ergo+ cups.
Also, as you asked, Profile Design Supersonic brackets need about 19mm of space on each side, so figure with a 45mm width stem clamp, you’ve got plenty of real estate.
@Trix8806 The Tririg angled spacers won’t mate up to the Enve SES Aero Clip on spacing. You need something slotted rather long. Additionally, you won’t want to go more than 10d in my opinion, as you’re only angling the arm pads, and unless you can find a crazy 65d bend extension or something to use backwards, you’re very limited in the height you can achieve of the actual extensions, as those are completely fixed in their starting point where they clamp into the SES bracket. This is the real weakness of the Enve setup. If the two pieces were inverted, so that the extensions clamped into the upper portion, you could fabricate spacers to gains tack, but this isn’t possible.
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Certainly not bad points. While the aero handlebars may not offer “huge” aero increases in comparison to something like body positioning, It’s also not nothing, and if you’re going to need handlebars anyways (like every bike), why not get some that are more aero? As you mentioned, in the ENVE bars there are obviously limitations for aero bar choices.
With that mind, spacers can easily be added (as you can see in my photo above) that bring them up a bit. You can also use different cups, to bring them back a bit if needed. I am moving from a 100mm > 90mm stem, and I think between my bar spacers, different cups, and probably different extensions, I’ll be in good shape. Many people prefer the type of extensions that the kit comes with, but it tends to bother my wrist a bit, so I am looking for something more standard.
There’s a lot of positive reviews on the bar/aero bar set up, and people that are very happy with it. I think a lot has to do with the general bike fit, geometry, and personal preference. It’s just a decision that each person needs to make. Just like saddles, what works for one won’t work for everyone else.
Thanks, this is another great option. Looking closer at some profile design clamps the piece of metal that sits on top of the bar actually extends slightly wider than that of the bottom ‘band’ and may not work with the Profile Design bars I posted.
I will admit to falling for the aero bar shape marketing, though since we’re talking clip ons - the entire point is to pull them off when i’m not doing something that requires them. I personally am looking at these for Triathlon but then be able to change a few quick components and have my road race bike back. Bonus points if I can take my tri clipon setup and throw it on the gravel bike for longer races that allow them.
Thanks for making the point about vibration dampening. I was on the fence about carbon vs aluminum for bars and weight/price were the biggest factors, but i’m now thinking about how harsh my frame is with the existing carbon bars. Going to alloy would likely amplify that past a point of comfort.
Thank you for the measurements. Can you confirm that includes the upper section of those clips also measures 18mm ish?
~18mm assuming you’re going to use spacers/risers. If you’re “slamming” the aerobar brackets straight onto the top of your bars, you’ll need about 35mm each side, given the profile of the bracket. This is true for the Subsonic as well.
Circling back to the Enve SES Clip ons, the bolt spacing for the arm pads on those is something like 27.5mm C-C, with an M6 bolt. So market typical 25mm spaced wedges and cups take a bit of finesse/modifying to get mounted. Shown here are the wedges I bought years ago. I could now 3D print a prettier version to mate up better with the Enve base.
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Thanks so much for taking the time to look into that for me. If I understand your slamming comment, that would imply they need more horizontal distance if being used without risers and just in the lowest position? Great to know. Seems like i’m good to go with bars that have roughly 100mm of 31.8 bar for mounting.
Correct. In the image above you can see that filet just below the right side tip of the caliper. Without spacers, that curved portion is the same diameter(31.8mm) as the rest of the upper clamp portion. With even just the 5mm spacer, you give yourself some wiggle room if the handlebar portion just next to the clamp has already begun to transition to oval/shaped. This is even more the case with the Subsonic bracket(bottom in this pic).
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Another minimalist option if you don’t need a ton of adjustability is the Ritchey Sliver bracket. Same sort of deal with width(35mm of bar per side). You can get the Profile design cups to mount with two bolts(M4).
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@Upcountry Seems like I just need to come shop your parts bin and i’ll find something that makes me happy! Thanks a ton for all the guidance and quick replies. I’m back on the hunt for a configuration that will work for me.
Dude… if you only knew the full status of my hoarding issue/strength…
#Ivegotapartforthat
Example A:
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Enter the beauty that is a 3D printer… 23 minutes after opening Fusion360, I’ve got these…
6.5d and 11d. Tapered to a larger top surface to mate up to the Profile arm cups with a bit more stability.
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I think we need a 3d printer thread. I’ve been busy modeling various brackets also. at 100% infill do you trust the strength or just using for mockup before purchasing metal bits?
with the prices of some of these components you might be better off using some of the sendcutsend type services to mill these for you.
At least you’re organized in your hoarding!
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Oh I have zero hesitation for this kind of use case even at like 50% infill. The force here is strictly compressive, as the bolt goes all the way through the entire cup, wedge, and into the bracket. 3D prints weakness comes in tensile strength, where you relying on the bond of the layers for strength.
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Those with the Enve aero handlebars, what computer mount are you using? I switched to a redshift stem and my k-edge mount designed for my Enve stem doesn’t line up with the new redshift bolt holes. I see redshift has a mount but not sure it’s long enough to work with a garmin 1040 and I want a combo mount for my light/race plate mount.
The space next to the handlebars is pretty narrow. I ordered this mount, but not sure if it’ll be too wide for the given space: Amazon.com: K-Edge | Max XL (31.8mm) Bicycle Computer Combo Mount | for Garmin GPS Devices | Black : Electronics
Looking for other suggestions. Here’s a photo of the space I’m working with. Have a temp aero bar mount on there for now, but not a long term solution as I won’t always have them installed, plus I don’t like the offset.
If repeated installation/removal is an issue, then you may want to look at the Redshift Switch system. The small clamps stay attached to the bars, but the riser/cups/poles slide off.
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I’m not very concerned about this. A few hex screws isnt the end of the world.
Im not using Enve bars but I found the 76 projects ones good for my non round bars.
Lol, I have the older model (please forgive the yellow bag which protects thing under the stairs)
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Since people are posting photos, here’s my cheap n cheerful setup. I bought these aero bars to replace a set that broke when a slow-leak caused me to crash. I found I had to cock my wrists downward too much to hold these bars properly, to the point that it caused soreness in my wrists, so I put some MTB bar ends on the end of the aero bars.
These road bars are 36cm wide so not a lot of real estate left once a light & computer mount are added.
I typically do audax rides around the 160-180w range, & clip-ons add about 2kph to my speed for the time I’m in them. It’s significant. I wouldn’t ride an audax without them.
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