Aero Bars - Good or Bad?
Discussion
Couple of points. Are your hands in line with your shoulders when on the hoods? When you sit on your bike, what is the percentage of weight distribution when sat on the bike, i.e. handlebars/seat? 50/50, 60/40? etc.
You shouldn't need aero bars on a bike to feel comfortable, definitely a bike set up issue.
You shouldn't need aero bars on a bike to feel comfortable, definitely a bike set up issue.
A good bike fitter will sort you out. A chap I know who was particularly large framed had narrow handlebars and was having similar issues. Also the saddle/bar height ratio will have an effect of how much weight is transferred to the bars, which will in turn fatigue the shoulders if it's to extreme and you're not used to it.
TSCfree said:
A good bike fitter will sort you out. A chap I know who was particularly large framed had narrow handlebars and was having similar issues. Also the saddle/bar height ratio will have an effect of how much weight is transferred to the bars, which will in turn fatigue the shoulders if it's to extreme and you're not used to it.
I guess you could say I'm, ahem, large framed.I'll hit the LBS at the weekend and see if they can help me.
Saddle to bar drop won't make your arms hurt on it's own.
If your core is not strong enough to support your upper body when you are riding with significant saddle to bar drop, however, then your arms (palms, shoulders) will ache as your are overloading them.
Are you riding with your elbows locked?
Ideally your arms should be bent, your weight supported by your core, upper body loose and relaxed.
The guy in the shop was (I suspect) recommending aero bars as "something to rest on" rather than recommending planks and deadlifts to strengthen your core, or raising the stem/bars to whatever height is going to allow you to be upright enough for your current core strength.
Generally I try to fit in a decent stretching session (something I'm dreadful for remembering to do) after a good core session, if you can fit in 2-3 a week then you should soon see results.
If your core is not strong enough to support your upper body when you are riding with significant saddle to bar drop, however, then your arms (palms, shoulders) will ache as your are overloading them.
Are you riding with your elbows locked?
Ideally your arms should be bent, your weight supported by your core, upper body loose and relaxed.
The guy in the shop was (I suspect) recommending aero bars as "something to rest on" rather than recommending planks and deadlifts to strengthen your core, or raising the stem/bars to whatever height is going to allow you to be upright enough for your current core strength.
Generally I try to fit in a decent stretching session (something I'm dreadful for remembering to do) after a good core session, if you can fit in 2-3 a week then you should soon see results.
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