Power difference in drops to aerobars.

NITR8s

I am currently using a road bike with clip on aero bars for my clubs local TT. I have noticed that when i need to put the power down while doing a TT I will switch to the drops. I dont have a power meter or anything like that but i find i will feel that i am putting more power to the pedals when on the drops.

I have only been using aerobars for about 2 months now and still do most of my riding in the drops club rides etc. Could the difference in power be down to the fact I am still fairly new to cycle in the aero position and with more practice I should get more used to it or could it be a positioning issue.

I have lowered the bars and moved my seat forward to accomidate for the aero bars and generally feel that the positioning is ok. Unfortunatly I dont have picutures for you guys at the moment.

Does anyone has any advice.

Grill

Most riders will actually put out less power in a TT position. The difference is by making yourself more aerodynamic it's easier to cut through wind resistance making you feel stronger.

Achieving a proper TT fit on a road bike is nigh on impossible as the geometry makes it a compromise.

slowbike

I don't have experience of TTing - but I believe the TT bars do as Grill says - and are there for a constant effort. If you watch the Pros they also grab their outer bars when accelerating hard...

danowat

I am actually the other way round, I can put out more power, more comfortably, for longer, on the aerobars.........

slowbike

danowat wrote:

I am actually the other way round, I can put out more power, more comfortably, for longer, on the aerobars.........

Ah - power over time ...
I bet for peak power you're still better on the wider bars ...
Can you stand on the pedals whilst on the aeros?

danowat

Slowbike wrote:

Ah - power over time ...
I bet for peak power you're still better on the wider bars ...
Can you stand on the pedals whilst on the aeros?

I'd say, for intervals less than a minute, yes, I am more powerfull on wider bars.

Can I stand on the pedals on the aero's?, yes and have done on a few occasions, but probably shouldn't because the times when you "need" to stand are probably those when the speed is low enough for the aerodynamic benefit of the aerobars to be of a lesser consideration, and also, it's not very stable..........

slowbike

So, if you want to accelerate out of a tight bend where your normal pace has halved do you stay on the aeros or go on the wider bars, accelerate hard and then get back on the aeros asap ... ?

(btw - I don't ride TTs or have aero bars - so it's just questioning! )

danowat

Slowbike wrote:

So, if you want to accelerate out of a tight bend where your normal pace has halved do you stay on the aeros or go on the wider bars, accelerate hard and then get back on the aeros asap ... ?

(btw - I don't ride TTs or have aero bars - so it's just questioning! )

That situation rarely happens to be honest, I rarely go more than 10% up on my target power for a given distance, anymore than that, and you risk affecting your race adversely.

The only time I come off the aerobars in a race is....

1) When I am ascending, first I'll hold the aerobars closer to the stem to open my hip angle, but still keep a reasonably aero position
2) When I am braking
3) When I am fuelling (taking a gel)
4) To give my back/ass a break in a 100 mile TT or 12hr TT

The rest of the time, in a TT at least, aero is important, every time you come off the bars, you are compromised.

Alot of my training is done in the aero position, its a position I feel comfortable in, not sure I'd dare to ride my road bike in a TT, it'll probably feel very hard........

goonz

Isn't power generated from your legs?.....

Grill

danowat wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

So, if you want to accelerate out of a tight bend where your normal pace has halved do you stay on the aeros or go on the wider bars, accelerate hard and then get back on the aeros asap ... ?

(btw - I don't ride TTs or have aero bars - so it's just questioning! )

That situation rarely happens to be honest, I rarely go more than 10% up on my target power for a given distance, anymore than that, and you risk affecting your race adversely.

The only time I come off the aerobars in a race is....

1) When I am ascending, first I'll hold the aerobars closer to the stem to open my hip angle, but still keep a reasonably aero position
2) When I am braking
3) When I am fuelling (taking a gel)
4) To give my back/ass a break in a 100 mile TT or 12hr TT

The rest of the time, in a TT at least, aero is important, every time you come off the bars, you are compromised.

Alot of my training is done in the aero position, its a position I feel comfortable in, not sure I'd dare to ride my road bike in a TT, it'll probably feel very hard........

Church.

danowat

Church?

danowat

goonz wrote:

Isn't power generated from your legs?.....

A closed hip angle, as you get when on aerobars, can reduce the amount of power you can produce, so no, it's not all in the legs.

Grill

danowat wrote:

Church?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=church

danowat

Learn something new everyday!

Jon_1976

danowat wrote:

Learn something new everyday!

Pretty useless though unless you're having a conversation with Samuel L Jackson. I'd imagine saying the word 'church' in that context to 99% of Uk citizens would result in a WTF response.

goonz

So in conclusion its less productive being in a full TT position but riding in the drops can generate more power?

Grill

Jon_1976 wrote:

danowat wrote:

Learn something new everyday!

Pretty useless though unless you're having a conversation with Samuel L Jackson. I'd imagine saying the word 'church' in that context to 99% of Uk citizens would result in a WTF response.

<- Yank :P

danowat

I'd say, it depends, but....

In a solo TT, aerodynamics should always be of primary concern, so much so that you can afford to compromise power output to maximize aerodynamics.

It's a compromise, but one that can be lessened with training and adaptation to the position.

markhewitt1978

Jon_1976 wrote:

[Pretty useless though unless you're having a conversation with Samuel L Jackson. I'd imagine saying the word 'church' in that context to 99% of Uk citizens would result in a WTF response.

word

Jon_1976

Oh god..please stop 8) lol

goonz

danowat wrote:

I'd say, it depends, but....

In a solo TT, aerodynamics should always be of primary concern, so much so that you can afford to compromise power output to maximize aerodynamics.

It's a compromise, but one that can be lessened with training and adaptation to the position.

So for someone very small like myself who could potentially get pretty aero on the drops, there is not any benefit from switching to a TT bike and/or bars?

Grill

goonz wrote:

danowat wrote:

I'd say, it depends, but....

In a solo TT, aerodynamics should always be of primary concern, so much so that you can afford to compromise power output to maximize aerodynamics.

It's a compromise, but one that can be lessened with training and adaptation to the position.

So for someone very small like myself who could potentially get pretty aero on the drops, there is not any benefit from switching to a TT bike and/or bars?

Incorrect. Your CdA will pretty much always be higher on drops than on aero bars. A TT bike will allow for you to maintain a proper position on aero bars which will reduce your frontal area.

NITR8s

So to sum this thread up

1) Its normal to have less power when aero to drops(more so if on an adapted Road Bike)
2) The difference will decrease the more i practice and get used to the aero position.
3) To go faster I should stop asking questions on BR and actually get on a bike and pedal faster. (PS. I will be loading up Sufferfest Downward Sprial tonight and will try and use aerobars for intervals).

goonz

I'll pretend I know what CdA is...

Grill

CdA = aerodynamic drag

diy

I spend a lot of time in my aero bars, I'll only go in the drops for fast bump/windy rides where I need more control. I definitely pick up speed when I go in to the aero bars. For me its the position which allows me to concentrate on cadence. Riding in my drops is a little too low for me to stay there for too long. This probably reflects the fact that I am trying to make my road bike more of a TT fit, by slamming the stem.