Aero Bars and Stem

Dizeee

Just after recommendation for a set of Aero bars and stem for my best bike. I currently have 3T Ergonova bars with a £10 aluminium stem. I want the bars and stem to match the rest of the bike which is carbon everything and aero.

So far come across the Zipp SL 70 which I like the look of. Its not a TT bike, but just a more aero orientated carbon road bike.

Thanks

StillGoing

I've had FSA Plasma all in one carbon bars which proved to be a mistake. If you need to change reach or drop, you can't. I've carbon FSA K-Wing Di2 bars with a 3T Integra Ltd carbon stem on my second bike and carbon 3T Aeronova bars with an aluminium 3T ARX Pro stem and 17' drop on the main bike which I find most comfortable. The Aeronova set up feels more secure from the drops.

msaegert

Why not stick with 3T? Aeronova are pretty nice with a 3T stem?

bernithebiker

3T Aeronova all the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0VZQoWNnAQ

I love it even more since I posted that vid. So much so, that I'll be getting another one for the Majorca bike.

okgo

I had the Sl 70, its VERY easy to over tighten them and ruin them with the stem, I used a torque wrench and still there were indentations left which developed into cracks, so they're off the bike.

As it happens the only difference I noticed was they were more flexy than alu bars, so I switched back, and went narrower which is always going to give bigger results than a flat profile anyway.

philbar72

Seems narrow is the way to go. The bars save a bit, but your overall positional change with narrow bars has at least the same effect. I've Sl70's and they are fine, but there is a little bit more "give" in them than their cheapo round tubed equivalents! they are more comfortable, definitely.

have to say the SL sprint stem is absolutely the best I've owned though.

bernithebiker

Get the best of both worlds. Go narrow and aero.

I can't get the 3T's to flex much at all, although I would say there is a teeny bit more give at the ends of the drops.

stueys

Andrew, how did you thread the di2 cables when you fitted? Did you use the plastic sleeves or give up on those? My bar has just arrived and I'm planning to fit on the weekend, a quick glance over and those sleeves look too tight for the di2 connector to me.

Thanks

StillGoing

bernithebiker wrote:

Get the best of both worlds. Go narrow and aero.

I can't get the 3T's to flex much at all, although I would say there is a teeny bit more give at the ends of the drops.

Agreed.

The channels of the Aeronova are tight for mechanical gear cables, but where there's a will, there's a way. I used Jagwire kit for all cabling.

bernithebiker

The Di2 cables are pretty easy to fit - I didn't use the sleeves, just dangled them through.

I found the brake cable a bit trickier; I ran an off cut of cable (no nipple) through the sleeve. Then threaded the outer onto that cable and pulled it through. Had to lever it up a bit through the exit hole. Found my Jagwire too thick and stiff so used Dura Ace outer. Pull out the dummy inner and replace with the real thing.

Easier to do all this with the bar off the bike so you can turn it upside down. Needle nose pliers and my special patented hooking tool ™ ! help.

sloppyschleckonds

Do the alloy 3T Aeronova bars have exactly the same profile as the carbon?

stueys

bernithebiker wrote:

The Di2 cables are pretty easy to fit - I didn't use the sleeves, just dangled them through.

I found the brake cable a bit trickier; I ran an off cut of cable (no nipple) through the sleeve. Then threaded the outer onto that cable and pulled it through. Had to lever it up a bit through the exit hole. Found my Jagwire too thick and stiff so used Dura Ace outer. Pull out the dummy inner and replace with the real thing.

Easier to do all this with the bar off the bike so you can turn it upside down. Needle nose pliers and my special patented hooking tool ™ ! help.

Great, thanks for that. Will give that a go at the weekend

bernithebiker

If you struggle getting the Di2 cables through*, a) shape them in your hands to the right shape, b) use the cotton thread and hoover trick.

*you're right, the sleeves are too fine to pass them through

stueys

Not heard of the cotton thread and hover trick, but that sounds like a nice tip. Thanks for the help, will yell if I hit problems