Keefer Madness

Tryin' the Tarmac With Clip-On Aerobars

// April 1st, 2009 // Cycling, Personal Crap

So the Tri-Cyclists’ second annual Time Trial at Iron Gate Winery is just ten days away, and earlier in the week, decided it was time to relocate my cyclocomputer/GPS from the handlebars to the stem to make room for my cheapie clip-on aerobars.

So far, I’ve taken the aerobar-equipped Tarmac out for about 40 miles over the course of two of the dry days (including sneaking in some time today despite weather reports of wet weather). I’m no time trialist by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s fun to switch it up the competition a bit over the season with a time trial or two. Since my pockets aren’t deep enough for a specific time trial ride, the Tarmac Expert with the aerobars mounted gets the job done.

For me – time trial position is always going to be an exercise in balancing act of toleration of being uncomfortable to assist in being more aerodynamic. Maybe, time has made me forget some of the pain, but I think the Allez Comp with the aerobars was both more aerodynamic and more comfortable. I’ve got some tweaking to do in the next ten days to help me stretch out more on the Tarmac. Right now, my forearms are resting in the pads of the aerobars, and really I think I want to get it where my elbows are in those pads.

Regardless, like I said, it’s a good way to add some variety to both the season’s competition, but also to the training routine.

Doc Nichols Repeats
Falls Lake Loop