Tri bar position - help needed!

vermootencp
vermootencp Posts: 1,298
edited June 2007 in Workshop
Hi,

I just got my first ever set of clip-on tri bars. How far apart from each other should they be? I set them up originally so that they are butting up to the stem, but that seems too close together.

I suspect that one answer might be: Close enough together that they feel right or comfortable." Problem is that they don't feel comfortable at all, cos I'm not used to them. Is there a formua to work it out? Or should I simply go to Paul Hewitt's and get a proper fitting done? Actually I think I've just answered my own question there.

All posts appreciated!!

Cheers,
Andy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<font size="1">"I'll do what I can to help y'all. But the game's out there, and it's play or get played. That simple."
</font id="size1">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<font>"I\'ll do what I can to help y\'all. But the game\'s out there, and it\'s play or get played. That simple."
</font>

Comments

  • steviesch
    steviesch Posts: 83
    i dunno m8!....but would be very keen to hear of your experiences as i intend to get some go faster goodies and everything points to aero postion being the best go faster goody...
  • Cyclistm
    Cyclistm Posts: 758
    Depends on your position and comfort factor.
    I tend to have my arm rests fairly far apart - not sure it is more aero, but certainly comfortable.
  • vermootencp
    vermootencp Posts: 1,298
    How many cm apart are your arm rests?

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    <font size="1">"I'll do what I can to help y'all. But the game's out there, and it's play or get played. That simple."
    </font id="size1">
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    <font>"I\'ll do what I can to help y\'all. But the game\'s out there, and it\'s play or get played. That simple."
    </font>
  • Garybee
    Garybee Posts: 815
    Closer together = more aerodynamic. But if you can't ride on them because it's too uncomfortable then you will go slower despite the aero advantage. So set them wide enough apart so that you can comfortably ride on them.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
  • peteracp
    peteracp Posts: 110
    I started out with my bars quite cloase together but with the arm rests a little further out. As I've gotten used to it, I've slowly brought the arm rests in.

    It take a little practice and getting used to but it's worth it in the end.

    Peter
    Peter
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    I'd suggest setting them pretty wide to start with, because they'll then be more comfortable and more stable.

    Ride them a few times like that, get used to them, get confident on them, then move them narrower.

    Repeat until you feel you've gone too narrow.
    why is it sunny all week yet rains at weekends ?
  • vermootencp
    vermootencp Posts: 1,298
    Cool thanks everyone. I tried them out yesterday for the first time on a quiet road, and nearly fell off - lack of balance. So I'll start off wider and bring them in gradually.

    Cheers,
    Andy

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    <font size="1">"I'll do what I can to help y'all. But the game's out there, and it's play or get played. That simple."
    </font id="size1">
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    <font>"I\'ll do what I can to help y\'all. But the game\'s out there, and it\'s play or get played. That simple."
    </font>
  • chriswcp
    chriswcp Posts: 1,365
    Two schools of thought.

    1) set them so your arms are as wide as your legs. This gives the effect of your arms shielding your legs.

    2) As narrow as possible, in effect a single bar. This seems to narrow up the shoulders and reduces frontal area.

    I think a big no no is arms wider than legs as this will increase total frontal area.

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